Studying Like a Genius: Bizarre but Effective Learning Techniques Used by Top Thinkers
Traditional study methods like rereading notes and highlighting textbooks can only take you so far. If you really want to absorb information and retain it long-term, why not take inspiration from some of history’s greatest minds? From Salvador Dalí to Albert Einstein, unconventional thinkers have used strange but effective techniques to boost memory, focus, and creativity. Here are some out-of-the-box study hacks that might just take your learning to the next level.
1. Salvador Dalí’s Micro-Nap Method
The Surrealist painter Salvador Dalí swore by a technique called the “slumber with a key” method. He would sit in a chair, hold a key between his fingers, and place a metal plate on the floor beneath him. As he drifted off, the key would slip from his hand, hit the plate, and wake him up just as he entered the first stage of sleep. This brief micro-nap helped him tap into creative ideas hidden in his subconscious.
How to use it: If you’re struggling with a creative or complex problem, try a controlled micro-nap (5-10 minutes) to refresh your brain and spark new insights.
2. The Memory Palace Technique
This technique, dating back to ancient Greece, involves mentally placing pieces of information inside an imagined location—like a house or a street—and “walking” through it to retrieve what you’ve stored. It’s a favorite among memory champions and was famously used by Sherlock Holmes.
How to use it: If you need to memorize key concepts, imagine placing each idea in different rooms of a house in your mind. When you need to recall the information, take a mental tour of the house to retrieve it.
3. Einstein’s Thought Experiments
Albert Einstein often relied on Gedankenexperiments (thought experiments) to solve complex problems. Rather than working solely with numbers on paper, for example, he visualized himself riding a beam of light to understand the theory of relativity.
How to use it: When tackling difficult concepts, try visualizing them in an imaginative way. If you’re studying physics, picture yourself as a particle moving through space. If you’re learning history, imagine yourself as a witness to key events. Engaging with ideas creatively can make them more memorable.
4. The Rubber Duck Method
Programmers use a quirky technique called “rubber duck debugging,” where they explain their code line-by-line to a rubber duck. By verbalizing their thought process, they often catch mistakes they wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.
How to use it: When stuck on a tough subject, try explaining it out loud to an inanimate object—or better yet, a study buddy. Teaching forces you to process information deeply and identify gaps in your understanding.
5. The Feynman Technique
Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman believed the best way to learn something was to explain it as if teaching a five-year-old. If you can break a concept down into simple terms, you truly understand it.
How to use it: Write down a concept in your own words, as simply as possible. If you struggle, go back and refine your understanding. Keep simplifying until the idea is crystal clear.
6. Studying in Different Locations
Research suggests that varying your study environment improves memory retention. When you study in different places, your brain forms multiple associations with the information, making it easier to recall later.
How to use it: While studying, rotate between the library, a coffee shop, a park, or even different rooms in your home to reinforce learning.
Final Thoughts
If traditional study methods aren’t working for you, don’t be afraid to get a little unconventional. Experiment with these unusual but effective techniques and see what works best for you. Who knows? Your next big breakthrough might come from something as simple as taking a micro-nap—or talking to a rubber duck.
