The Feynman Technique: How to Truly Understand Anything

For years, I felt like a fraud. I\'d read books, watch tutorials, and sit through meetings, nodding along. I could repeat back the buzzwords and key phrases, but if someone asked me to explain a concept from scratch, I’d stumble. My knowledge was a mile wide and an inch deep. It was a frustrating realization that I was collecting information, not building understanding. Then I stumbled upon the Feynman Technique, and honestly, it changed the entire way I approach learning.

So what is this technique, really?

Forget the complicated academic definitions. For me, it boils down to one simple idea: you don\'t truly understand something until you can explain it in the simplest terms possible. It’s a four-step mental model that acts as a filter for your own knowledge. It’s not about memorization; it\'s about deconstruction and reconstruction. I think of it as a personal stress test for any new idea I encounter.

How I apply it in my daily digital workflow

I don\'t use pen and paper for this; my digital notetaking app is my laboratory. Here’s the exact process I follow, which has worked wonders for me.

Step 1: The \'explain it to a kid\' draft

I open a brand new, blank note. The title is the concept I\'m trying to learn. Then, I pretend I’m writing an email to my 12-year-old nephew. I write out a full explanation of the topic using only simple words and short sentences. I consciously avoid any jargon or complex terminology. If I have to use a technical term, I force myself to define it in that same simple language.

Step 2: Identify the gaps (the painful part)

This is where the magic happens. As I write, I inevitably hit a wall. I\'ll get to a part of the explanation and realize... I\'m just glossing over it. I\'m using a vague phrase because I don\'t actually know the \'why\' or \'how\' behind it. I use my app\'s highlighter tool and mark these sentences in red. These red flags are the gaps in my understanding. Honestly, the first few times I did this, my entire note was practically red. It was a humbling experience.

Step 3: Go back and simplify

With my gaps clearly identified, I return to my source material—the book, the article, the course. But now, I’m not just passively consuming. I’m hunting for specific answers to fill my red-flagged gaps. Once I find the answer, I don\'t just copy it. I go back to my note and try to rewrite that red section in even simpler terms. I repeat this loop until there are no red marks left.

Step 4: The analogy test

This is my final boss battle. If I can create a simple analogy or metaphor for the concept, I know I\'ve mastered it. For example, explaining an API by comparing it to a waiter in a restaurant. If I can\'t find a good analogy, it often means my understanding is still too academic and not yet intuitive. I keep refining until a clear, simple story emerges.

Where i\'ve found its limits

I have to be honest, this technique is not a silver bullet. It\'s slow and deliberate. It\'s not for quickly cramming facts for an exam. It’s for building deep, lasting knowledge. I’ve learned not to apply it to every single piece of information that comes my way. I reserve it for the core concepts that are truly important for my work and personal growth. For everything else, a simple summary note is more than enough. It\'s a powerful tool, but like any tool, it has a specific purpose.