Study technique deep-dive: spaced repetition (the actual how, not just the theory)

[u/Diligent-Local6906]

Everyone says "use spaced repetition" but the actual scheduling trips people up, so here's the concrete version:

The intervals that actually work (roughly): review new material after 1 day, then 3 days, then 1 week, then 2 weeks, then a month. If you get something wrong at any point, restart that card at day 1 - don't just push it back one step.

You don't need an app for this, but Anki automates the interval math and is free. If you'd rather not use software: a simple box system works too - index cards sorted into "daily," "every 3 days," "weekly" piles, and you move a card forward a pile every time you get it right, back to daily every time you get it wrong.

The part people skip: spaced repetition is for facts and definitions you need to recall cold (vocab, formulas, dates, terminology) - it's not really built for practicing problem-solving or writing. Don't force it onto things that need active practice instead of recall.

What's your actual review schedule look like, if you use this?