Studying is part of life, and not just when you’re young.
As we age, our approach to studying needs to change – there is no one-size-fits-all approach to cramming information into your brain, especially if the key is to retain said information.
Each person has unique learning requirements and requires different learning techniques, so to be the most effective at learning, you need to stay adaptable. What works for you during your formative years may not necessarily be what works best when you reach college age or older.
Below are five of the top ways to study smarter and not longer; try each one out until you find the appropriate solution for your study needs:
- Clear The Clutter
That applies to both your physical and psychological environments.
Take the time to clear the clutter, pack things away where they belong, and create an environment conducive to studying. Clean up and tidy up your working or studying space, as well as your sleeping area. Both areas need to be neat and organized to get the best results.
- Leave Your Phone Outside
Not outside your house – just outside your study space.
Phones and other smart devices are notoriously distracting. We have reached a point, generationally speaking, where we get addicted to checking our phones so often that we frequently lose track of what we are doing.
There is every chance that the demanding nature of social media has broken the way we think. The good news is that it is never too late to go back and rectify harmful thought patterns and behavior.
- Get To Know Your Mind
So many people go through life without ever feeling the need to get to know themselves on a deeper level. We tend to focus on the small things that don’t matter, and we forget that they often make up the larger part of who we are as people.
By knowing how you tick, you can find effective learning tips to help your mind get into the right gear to facilitate absorbing new information.
- Study Intervals
While your ideal study interval will depend on your learning preferences and what works best for you, it is fair to generalize and say that not everyone shines by cramming in as much information at the last minute.
Space out your study sessions in separate blocks, grouping like-minded subjects or topics.
- Get Enough Rest
Sleep is one of the most crucial components of a studious brain.
By allowing your body and mind the rest that it deserves after a long and arduous day, your body can recover and replenish – ready to start over again the next day. When you sleep, your brain collates the data it has processed throughout the day and files it away more effectively – so to speak.
Your body also uses this time to repair cells, and getting enough sleep does wonders for your immune system – all things that you’ll desperately need during exam periods.
To End
Don’t panic if studying doesn’t seem to come naturally to you. We all learn and adjust our studying techniques from time to time, ensuring that we can perform at our highest level as often as possible.
