Most of us study like this:
- We cram before an exam.
- We feel like we “know everything” that night.
- A few days later, we realize that half of what we studied is already forgotten.
That’s where a spaced repetition schedule comes in.
Instead of seeing a piece of information once and forgetting it, you meet it again and again, but with gaps in between. Those gaps are what help your brain move things from short-term memory into long-term memory.
The problem is: when people try to use spaced repetition, they often:
- Struggle to stick to the plan.
- End up with too many reviews on the same day.
- Get bored or overwhelmed.
- Or they just forget to check their schedule at all.
Let’s fix that in a simple, realistic way.
A simple weekly spaced repetition schedule
To keep things easy, use these four clear review steps for each new topic or card during the week:
- Day 0 (learning day): First, learn the material. Next, review it immediately afterward.
- Day 1: Review the same material once more, focusing on recalling key points from memory.
- Day 3: Review the material again, checking if you can still recall the main concepts without referring to your notes.
- Day 6 or 7: Conduct your third review by repeating the key steps from your previous reviews just before the end of the week.
That’s a basic spaced repetition schedule for one week.
Example: let’s say you start on Saturday with Lesson A:
- Saturday: Learn Lesson A and conduct a quick review immediately afterward.
- Sunday: Review A + learn Lesson B.
- Tuesday: Review A again.
- Wednesday: Review B.
- Thursday or Friday: Final weekly review of A and B.
Don’t aim for exact days—just make sure reviews happen in this order: today, the next day, a few days later, then about a week later.
Common problems with a spaced repetition schedule (and how to fix them)
1. “I can’t stick to the schedule.”
This is a common experience. You start off strong for a day or two, but then life gets in the way.
How to fix it: Use a single system that is easy to view and check daily.
- Use something you’ll actually look at:
- A printed weekly table on your desk.
- A simple spreadsheet (Google Sheets or Excel).
- A flashcard app like Anki or Quizlet, if you like digital tools.
- Golden rule:
Always check today’s reviews on your schedule before learning anything new. - Make a habit:
Spend 20–30 minutes on scheduled reviews first, then move on to new material. - Pick a regular review time:
- After breakfast.
- Before bed.
- On your commute (if you use an app).
Having a regular time each day makes it easier to stick to your spaced repetition schedule.
2. “I end up with way too many reviews on one day.”
This usually happens when you add a ton of new material on the same day. A few days later, it all comes back for review at the same time.
How to fix it: Decide on your maximum number of new items per day and stick to it.
For example:
- Max 1 big lesson per day, or
- Max 10 new flashcards per day.
If your spaced repetition schedule feels overwhelming, consider pausing new content additions and focusing on reviewing what you already have. The goal is to challenge yourself, not to feel overloaded.
3. “The schedule feels too strict and boring.”
If your schedule feels rigid, you may resist it.
How to fix it: Adjust your schedule as needed to fit your life.
- Missed Tuesday’s review?
Don’t panic. Do it the next day and adjust your schedule. - Busy day?
Do only the most important or most easily forgotten items.
Your spaced repetition schedule should help you, not make things harder. It’s better to be mostly consistent for months than to be perfect for just a couple of days and then give up.
4. “I forgot to track what I reviewed.”
Some people do their reviews, but they don’t track them, and then their whole spaced repetition schedule falls apart.
How to fix it: Set up a simple system for tracking each review you complete.
Create a table like this:
Each time you review, just add:
- A ✅ check mark, or
- The date (e.g., 14/11), or
- Even just a dot •
Seeing the check marks build up is motivating. It’s like watching your spaced repetition schedule fill up with progress.
5. “Review takes too long. It feels like I’m re-studying everything.”
If review sessions turn into full lessons, of course, they’ll feel heavy.
How to fix it: Keep your reviews short and smart.
During review:
- Quiz yourself with quick questions.
- Use flashcards (one question on one side, its answer on the other).
- Try to write a short summary from memory:
“What are the three key points from this lesson?”
If you remember it well:
- Move on. No need to go back to the full lesson.
If you don’t remember it:
- Focus only on the parts you forgot, not the whole topic from scratch.
The main idea of a spaced repetition schedule is to review lightly and frequently, rather than going through the entire textbook each time.
A practical 1-week spaced repetition schedule (example)
Let’s say this week you have three new lessons: A, B, and C.
Here’s one way to organize your week:
- Saturday
- New: Learn Lesson A.
- Quick review right after (Day 0 for A).
- Sunday
- Review A (Day 1).
- New: Learn Lesson B + quick review (Day 0 for B).
- Monday
- Light day: maybe just skim A and B, or take a break.
- Tuesday
- Review A (Day 3).
- Review B (Day 1).
- New: Learn Lesson C + quick review (Day 0 for C).
- Wednesday
- Review C (Day 1).
- Thursday
- Review B (Day 3).
- Friday
- Review A, B, and C (on Day 6 or 7 for most of them).
In one week, each lesson appears around four times at spaced intervals. That’s the heart of a good spaced repetition schedule.
Small tips to make it feel nicer and more human
- Start tiny, then grow.
You don’t need a perfect system from day one. Start with just one topic or a small set of vocabulary words. Once that feels natural, you can add more. - Mix different subjects.
Instead of doing 100% math or 100% language, mix:- Some vocab.
- Some rules or formulas.
- Some practice questions.
Variety keeps your spaced repetition schedule from feeling dull.
- Reward yourself after finishing your reviews.
Even something small:- A snack you like.
- A short break.
- 10–15 minutes of guilt-free scrolling.
Your brain will start to associate “I finished today’s reviews” with a positive feeling.
- Keep your goal in mind.
You’re not doing this just to fill boxes in a table. You’re doing it so that future you walks into exams or conversations saying, “I actually remember this.” That’s the real power of a spaced repetition schedule.
Final thoughts
You don’t need a complicated app or a perfect system to get results.
If you:
- Learn something today.
- Review it tomorrow.
- Review it again in a few days.
- Review it once more around a week later.
…you’re already using a spaced repetition schedule.
Start simple, stay kind to yourself when you miss a day, and keep going.