Although it’s not often said, studying is a fulfilling way to spend time, or it can be at least. What many may not realize is that there’s more to studying than reading and revising notes. There’s the pressure to maintain a scholarship, or pass the state license contractor exam. But there are also certain habits and techniques that can help make studying a more fulfilling and productive experience. Make the most of your study time by effectively absorbing study material. Here are some study tips you never thought you needed.
Get Enough Sleep
Scrolling through your phone in bed is a trap we all fall for. Instead of getting enough sleep, we spend hours hooked on our phones. Placing your phone on the other side of the room or anywhere far from your bed will help you sleep better. This limits your exposure to blue light right before bed, which is the reason why we don’t feel sleepy anymore when we’re using our phones. The blue light emitted by phones reduces the production of melatonin, a hormone that aids sleep. Placing your phone beyond your reach also eliminates the habit of reaching for your phone first thing in the morning.
Use Apps to Schedule Your Study Load
Although it’s common practice, cramming everything you have to study into one study session is not effective. The most effective approach would be to space out your study sessions. This causes less strain and more memory retention. A popular way to schedule a study load is by using a digital planner.
A great thing about planner apps today is that they are accessible on any device as long as they are synced. They’re accessible, lightweight, and highly customizable. Break down your courses as detailed as you want and it’d still be organized and tidy. Planner apps are highly customizable, allowing you to formulate your own layout and schedule study sessions effectively (depending on your preference, alarms can be set as reminders too!).
Break Tasks Into Chunks
It’s difficult to concentrate when your mind is racing with a million thoughts. Combat that struggle using the Pomodoro method. The Pomodoro method is a time management approach that involves setting a timer for 25 minutes for studying and then taking a break for five minutes after. This goes on until you’ve finished your work. Francesco Cirillo introduced the concept in the late 1980s when he was a student and used a tomato-shaped timer to study. Many apps today perform the same function but in a digital format. It will undoubtedly assist you in having a fruitful study session.
Quiz Yourself Frequently
Pop quizzes are probably the least favorite surprise of students. But according to one study, practice tests effectively enhance learning and memory recall. It’s through these practice tests that exercise your brain’s ability to recall the information you were studying. It’s similar to exercising a muscle. The more practice tests you take, the stronger this muscle becomes. Not only does this make recall faster, but it also helps retain information too.
Learn From Your Mistakes
Speaking of practice tests, it’s most likely that you’ll get a couple of wrong answers in the first one you take, and that’s okay. That’s another advantage of practice tests. They can serve as diagnostic tests too! To make the most of it, take note of these mistakes and go over them again. Study how you got these items wrong and why you might be having a hard time with them. This could be a topic that needs more of your attention too.
Don’t Forget to Take Breaks
Hustle culture gives a perception of what productivity looks like, and it’s usually a glorified version of it. When your brain is fried, there’s no need to push it to be productive. It’s both harmful and ineffective. Breaks are necessary for the brain to be awake, well-rested, and operate at its best. Be it a power nap or a five-minute break, take it and take breaks often.
Go On a Group Study
If you don’t mind studying with a group, then go on a study group with friends or classmates. Retention is always better when spoken and explained out loud to people that reciprocate too. Take advantage of this opportunity to ask about the things you’re confused about in the study material. Your other group mates probably have the same problem, and they can benefit from the discussion too. Your study group can even test each other both oral and written. This way, the style of testing is varied, making recall a little more challenging.
Studying can be fun, especially if it’s done the right way. It’s fulfilling knowing that you got something out from the study session, and it should be that way. With these tips, hopefully, you get to have more productive study sessions ahead.
