Unusual Learning Methods That Actually Help You Remember More

Exploring the Science Behind Why Unconventional Study Hacks Seem So Strange Yet Accidentally Work Better

When people think of studying, the classic image that comes to mind is a student sitting quietly at a desk, highlighter in one hand, textbook in the other, dutifully underlining sentence after sentence. For decades, this has been the accepted model of “serious” learning—linear, focused, and repetitive. Yet for all its familiarity, research in cognitive psychology suggests that this method may not be the most efficient, especially when the end goal is not just short-term recognition but long-term recall with real-world applicability.

Why? Because the human brain is not a file cabinet. Information doesn’t simply slot neatly into empty folders. It thrives on connections, novelty, and context. Neuroscience increasingly shows that memory is strengthened when learning experiences engage multiple senses, emotions, and movements rather than relying solely on passive reading and rote repetition. In other words, the stranger and more unexpected the method, the more “sticky” the memory becomes.

Several unconventional study techniques may sound almost silly at first glance: speaking aloud to imaginary audiences, doodling information as absurd cartoons, switching study locations frequently, or even pairing learning with odd smells or gestures. Initially, these approaches can feel counterintuitive precisely because they defy the picture of what we were taught learning should look like. Yet when learners try them in practice, they often report that facts not only linger but resurface more quickly under pressure—whether in exams, presentations, or problem-solving scenarios.

Take the example of movement. Studies show that physical activity increases blood flow and stimulates neural activity in ways that enhance memory formation. Something as simple as pacing around while reciting concepts can help convert abstract information into embodied knowledge. Similarly, introducing novelty—such as recording yourself explaining a concept in a funny character voice—adds an emotional charge that makes brain cells fire together more strongly, reinforcing the memory trace.

The key lies in disrupting familiar patterns. Traditional study methods often fail not because they don’t expose the brain to information, but because they bore it into disengagement. When learning feels monotonous, the brain doesn’t prioritize retention. But when you introduce elements of curiosity, surprise, or even mild absurdity, you create what researchers call “distinctive encoding”—unique mental anchors that stand out in recall situations.

In essence, what seems weird often works because it prevents the mind from slipping into autopilot. And when the time comes to retrieve that fact in a stressful moment, it’s the odd association—the comic drawing, the silly voice, the place you were standing—that triggers instant recall far more effectively than rereading a highlighted paragraph for the tenth time.

Moving Beyond Comfortable but Inefficient Habits Toward Playful, Experiment-Driven Learning

If we accept that brains thrive on novelty, it’s worth asking: why cling to outdated routines? Highlighting, rereading, and quietly copying notes may feel productive, but they often yield disappointing returns. To truly remember more, learners must be willing to embrace methods that may seem, at first, almost too playful or unconventional. In practice, these techniques shift learning from a tedious obligation into an engaging personal experiment, where the challenge is not only to retain information but also to explore how memory actually functions.

Consider a few unusual yet surprisingly effective strategies:

• Teach it wrong first, then correct it. Deliberately mis-explaining a concept forces the brain to reconcile the error, cementing the correct information more deeply. The “Aha!” of correction becomes a sticky emotional imprint.
• Turn facts into bizarre stories. If you need to remember a list of biological terms, turning them into characters in an over-the-top adventure story not only makes studying more fun but also leverages imagery and narrative—two of memory’s strongest allies.
• Move while you memorize. Balancing on one foot, pacing the room, or even dancing while reciting formulas may look eccentric, but it encodes knowledge through kinesthetic cues that help recall later.
• Play with unconventional time patterns. Instead of neat 30-minute study blocks, experiment with uneven rhythms—study for 12 minutes, break for 7, then review for 5. These strange intervals exploit the spacing effect and keep the brain alert to change.
• Record your voice in characters. Explaining concepts as a movie narrator, pirate, or cartoon character may leave you laughing, but that humor translates into an emotional anchor. Listening later won’t feel like monotony—it’ll feel memorable.

What all these methods share is not silliness for its own sake but respect for how memory truly operates. Our brains evolve to notice and retain unusual, emotionally charged, or contextually varied experiences—not uniform, predictable routines. By practicing deliberate disruption, learners create multiple retrieval paths to the same piece of information. Under exam pressure, this redundancy is often what saves recall.

The broader lesson here is that effective learning is not about fitting into an image of seriousness but about embracing curiosity, play, and creativity as tools for retention. A desk and highlighter may look studious, but if the facts fade away under stress, was the time really spent well? Meanwhile, the student marching around the room inventing ridiculous rhymes or recording silly explanations may look unconventional, yet will likely remember more when it counts.

Closing Thoughts

Unusual learning methods often succeed precisely because they feel unusual. They jolt the brain into engagement, creating richer neural connections and stronger retrieval cues. Moving, drawing, laughing, smelling, pacing, correcting, exaggerating—these aren’t distractions from learning; they are learning. When students give themselves permission to innovate with their study routines, they discover that memory isn’t about forcing facts to stay put, but about giving them reasons to stay alive in the mind.

In a world where knowledge is increasingly valuable but attention is constantly strained, perhaps the real mark of a smart learner is not how neatly they copy notes, but how boldly they experiment with the bizarre. If you want to remember more, the first step may simply be to stop looking so serious and start studying like a curious, creative human being—because that’s what your brain has been waiting for all along.