Why are you reading all information the same way?

Let me ask you a question.

You are reading a chapter. In it there is a formula, a theory, a research finding, a few dates, and a method of solving a problem.

You read all of these the same way, don't you? At the same speed, with the same attention, using the same technique.

This is where the biggest waste happens.

Because these five are completely different kinds of information. And each one needs a different process.

But before that, one fundamental point.

Think of reading in two steps — intake and digestion.

Intake means taking something in through the eyes. Digestion means understanding it, connecting it, and making it your own.

Almost all of us are good at intake and weak at digestion. Because intake is visible — how many pages I read, how many chapters I finished. Digestion is not visible.

As a result, we swallow too much and cut down the time for digesting. The result? Forgetting up to 90 percent.

The syllabus gets finished. The learning does not happen.

And keep one more thing in mind — the goal is not to remember "everything." The goal is to remember what you need in such a way that you can truly use it to build arguments and solve problems.

Now the actual framework. Its name is PACER.

As you read, place each piece of information into one of five categories —

P — Procedural (method-based) How to do something. Steps of a solution, rules of mathematics, procedures for experiments or exams. 👉 What to do: Practice. Apply it hands-on as soon as possible. This is not something to read and memorize. No one learns to swim by memorizing a book on swimming.

A — Analogous (similarity-based) Something like what you already know. "This works a bit like that." 👉 What to do: Critique. Test the comparison — "Where does it fit? And most importantly, where does it not fit?" It is exactly where it does not fit that real understanding is built.

C — Conceptual (idea-based) Core theories and concepts. These are the framework of your knowledge. 👉 What to do: Mapping. Build a network among the concepts with a mind map. Which one causes which, which one results from which, which one is the opposite of which.

E — Evidence (proof) Research findings, statistics, case studies, examples. 👉 What to do: Store. While reading, just collect it — in notes, in a second brain, or in flashcards. Don't sit down to memorize it right now. Later, at a separate time, you will rehearse it.

R — Reference (source material) Names, dates, definitions, formulas, classifications. 👉 What to do: Store + Spaced repetition. This is where Anki-type flashcards help the most. This is the real place for active recall and spaced repetition.

Now, the most important rule.

Don't sit down to memorize while you are reading. Don't waste time reading the same thing again and again.

Give that time to procedural, analogous and conceptual information — because these three are the core foundation of your knowledge. Evidence and reference can be refreshed later; the foundation cannot be built later.

How to start today?

In the margin of today's chapter, write five letters — P, A, C, E, R. As you read, mark beside each paragraph which category it belongs to.

The first day will feel a little slow. After three days it will become automatic — and you will notice that much more is getting done in the same time.

Tomorrow is day 09 — Memory Ladder: deciding exactly how much effort to put into which memory.

From the chapter you read today, find one example each of P, A, C, E and R. It is a 5-minute task, but it will open your eyes.

May Allah grant us beneficial knowledge. Ameen.

This article is about one part of the book "The Art of Learning". The full framework, the remaining chapters and the section on knowledge, dua and ruqyah are in the book — See the book