We live in a very fast-paced world and it can be hard to figure out how to find the time to learn about anything new. And it can be even harder when the topics we’re trying to learn are complicated.

That’s where the Feynman Technique comes in. It’s a mental model that was developed by a physicist named Richard Feynman, who was known as “The Great Explainer” due to his ability to clearly explain and talk about very complicated subjects such as quantum physics to everyday people.

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In other words, Feynman was able to simplify complex ideas so any Joe or Jane off the street could understand what he was talking about.

There are four steps to the Feynman Technique.

First, pick a topic you want to learn about and start studying it.

It could be anything you’re interested in. As you study, write down everything you know about that topic on a piece of paper. Add to that page every time you learn something new about the topic.

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Second, pretend to teach the topic to a class full of students.

The point of this is to be able to explain the subject in simple terms that every person can understand.

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Third, refer back to the books on the subject when you get stuck.

It will be obvious which parts of the subject you need to work on because you won’t be able to explain them clearly and simply.

Repeat this step with the gaps in your knowledge until you can explain the whole idea or subject fully.

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Finally, repeat the above process, simplifying language and use analogies to connect facts.

Using analogies will help you to strengthen your own understanding of the subject and will, in turn, help you to explain it to others in the best way.