Why teaching others makes your brain stronger
Ever tried to teach someone something and suddenly felt the pressure? Maybe you were showing a friend how to use new software, helping your kid bake a cake, or explaining a concept at work. Chances are, your brain felt like it was working harder — because it was.
This experience has a name: the Protégé Effect. Teaching a skill to someone else deepens your own knowledge, sharpens memory, and makes learning stick. When you prepare to explain something, you automatically organise your thoughts, spot gaps in your understanding, and strengthen the pathways that help information stay put. No wonder it feels more effortful!
Talk it through out loud: Explain an idea as if you’re teaching a beginner, even if your ‘student’ is just the family dog.
Simplify the story: If you can break it down in plain language, you know you understand it.
Make it hands-on: Let the other person try while you guide them. Teaching by doing cements the skill for both of you.
Teaching also builds connection. Explaining a recipe to your kids, showing a friend a shortcut, or guiding a colleague through a task helps build trust and confidence on both sides.
So the next time you get a chance — or you’re struggling to make a topic stick in your own mind — try teaching it to someone else.