How Do You Review & Study Books, Videos, ...?

[Waves]

I know it's a basic skill, nonetheless I think it's important from time to time to re-examine how we approach the study of self-actualization material. I find that I tend to periodically come back to this question, because I'm not satisfied with it. So a couple of days ago I contemplated "how can I instill important insights and principles from books and videos in my mind?" to get a bit deeper into it, and more questions came up, such as: 

• There is always the next book or video to study; at which point do I accept to move on from the one I've just studied? When do I accept something as assimilated?
• What makes the insights actually stick? Is it the elaboration of the material through thinking, and then contemplating from scratch that do the job?
• How can this process of reviewing insights be made habitual, systematic, but at the same time organic?
• How can I cultivate my curiosity? 

Currently my "routine" is the following:

• Read, highlight insights.
• Write them in the commonplace book.
• Highlight the core insights in my notes, such that it's easier to review.
• Forget about them, often moving on to the next thing before even recording important insights.

What I'd like to improve is the reviewing process. Since things move on I rapidly lose interest for the book I just finished, because my approach to reading has still some "shoulds" and it's goal-oriented: after a while into a book, I want to finish it to get it out of the way, so to speak. I still need to develop a consistent intrinsic motivation to read, that I sometimes felt. And for that I think a strong curiosity and desire to learn are needed.

Do you also have a similar problem? How do you go about consolidating insights? What is your approach to studying this material? Any input is appreciated.

Edited September 11, 2020 by Waves

[BjarkeT]

I also keep coming back to this question I have been researching it for years.
I think the best way to review is to use active recall and spaced repetition. 
the best way to learn something is to practice it using the principles of directness from ultralearning.

I think what make something stick depends on how deep you process it (It’s called depth of processing) and how often it is reviewed in an active way.

try to stay away from passive learning(high lighting, Watching videos, reading etc. ) and move to a move active way of learning (practice, problem solving, teaching and so on.)

Some passive learning are unavoidable but try to focus on active learning when possible.

[Waves]

9 minutes ago, BjarkeT said:

active recall and spaced repetition

I used this when I was studying biology or physiology, it works like a charm if you need to memorize stuff, but I'm not so sure about using it for self-help books/videos. Something that came to mind would be like asking yourself "what are the most important insights/lessons from this book/video?" and then trying to recall what they were for you personally, but it's such an open question that you can't actually check the answer, it's too overwhelming.

17 minutes ago, BjarkeT said:

I think what make something stick depends on how deep you process it

I agree, it really boils down to how involved you are with the topic, how curious you are about it. The more curious, the more you'll tend to explore it and think about it.

20 minutes ago, BjarkeT said:

try to stay away from passive learning(high lighting, Watching videos, reading etc. ) and move to a move active way of learning (practice, problem solving, teaching and so on.)

Right, but I imagine you start somewhere to get the information. What do you do with self-help books, like a classic one from Leo's list, for example?

[BjarkeT]

5 minutes ago, Waves said:

Right, but I imagine you start somewhere to get the information. What do you do with self-help books, like a classic one from Leo's list, for example?

I think start with the input(reading, video) and then apply it to your life some how.

leo did a video on it about balancing theory and practice