LPT: If you’re struggling to understand a topic, “teach” it to an imaginary student who asks annoying, detailed questions.

If you’re stuck on a difficult subject, pretend you’re explaining it to a younger sibling or a clueless but curious friend who keeps interrupting with “why?” and “how does that work?”

How to do it:

1. Take a blank sheet of paper or open a document.
2. Write down or say aloud the topic you’re trying to understand as if you’re explaining it to someone with no prior knowledge.
3. As you explain, force yourself to answer “why” after every major point—just like a little kid would.
4. If you get stuck, that’s your weak spot—go back to your notes or textbook until you can confidently explain it.

Why it works: This forces your brain to fill in the gaps and reorganize information in a way that makes sense, activating deep processing instead of passive memorization. It’s far more effective than rereading notes because you’re actively engaging with the material.

Bonus tip: If you can explain something without using jargon, you truly understand it. If you can’t, you need to simplify your thinking!