You highlight a recipe ingredient to remember it for the store, but forget it anyway. You watch a tutorial on fixing your bike chain, then can't recall the steps when you actually need them. You read a great article about organizing your closet, but when you open those doors, your mind goes blank.
There's a simple reason your brain treats information differently depending on how you encounter it, and it's called the generation effect.
Research suggests that information you create yourself tends to stick better than information you simply receive. When you generate something, whether it's a summary, a solution, or even just filling in a blank, your brain processes it more deeply than when you passively absorb it.
This matters because most of us consume information all day long. We read articles, watch videos, save posts for later. But studies indicate that actively creating information requires deeper thinking, which may create stronger memory connections.
The act of generation forces your brain to work harder, and that extra effort appears to translate into better retention.
Think about learning a new recipe. If you just read through the instructions, you might remember the general idea. But if you write out the steps in your own words or mentally walk through each action, you're generating the information yourself and you're far more likely to remember it when you're actually standing in your kitchen.
So, how do you leverage this in your daily life? Stop highlighting and start summarizing.
When you read something you want to remember, whether it's a news article, a how-to guide, or a book chapter, pause and write a few sentences in your own words. Not a quote or a copy-paste. Your interpretation.
If you’re watching a video tutorial, pause it and explain the next step out loud before they do.
If you’re reading instructions, close the page and try to write them from memory.
Research points to three mechanisms that may strengthen this effect: elaboration, effortful processing, and retrieval practice, all of which happen when you generate rather than receive.
Make your shopping lists from memory first, then check what you missed. Plan your day by writing it out rather than just thinking about it. When someone gives you directions, repeat them back in your own words instead of nodding along.
The shift is subtle but powerful, you move from being a passive receiver of information to an active creator of it, and your memory rewards the difference.
Did this resonate with you? Forward it on to someone who could use it too. These insights are better when shared.
Cheers, Alex
Disclaimer: I'm a curious researcher, not a licensed psychologist. I study these concepts because I believe understanding how our minds work can help us navigate life more effectively. This content is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional advice. Please consult qualified professionals for personal guidance. Individual results may vary, and readers should use their own judgment when applying these concepts.