Study Better Using These 25 Tips
Edited by Andrea Jaenen, Eng
Tips for Improving How You Learn.
Studying can be difficult, and sometimes tedious. But if you improve your study habits and implement new ways of retaining information, you can feel more comfortable with the information you are given. With these tips you can help yourself study better.
- 1Look at your deadlines and the times that you have exams and write them down. You can improve the quality of your studying by knowing what to study. Take a look at your syllabus or course outline for the class and prepare accordingly.Make a List.
- 2Students are busy. Whether with family, work, or extra-curricular, time just seems to be flying by. Set aside a couple hours a week to sit down and review the material.Set Time Aside Just to Study.
- 3It is difficult to pay attention to mathematical problems and memorizing the names of every person of historical significance if your phone keeps lighting up with messages. Social media like Facebook and Snapchat are fantastic means to reach your peers and family. However, they are also fantastic distractions from studying. When you sit down to study, turn off your phone, television, and electronics. If the temptation is too much, remove yourself or the item of interest from the room.Unplug and Shut Off Your Devices.
- 4It is exam week. You have three midterms and a project due by the end of the week. The pressure is on, and you need to get yourself prepared. But you also haven't eaten or showered today, and the last time you took a break seems like a year ago. So pause. Take a breather. Your comprehension of the material will increase as you give your mind a break to process what you have learned.Take a Break.
- 5Your environment dictates your productivity. If you find yourself re-reading the same paragraph for an hour, chances are you're probably not in the right state to be studying. Find a space that has an atmosphere of learning. The library is your best bet, but if you can't handle the noise try a classroom or private study area. If you are a person who prefers to study at home, clear away the clutter. Make your space seem inviting and open.Find Your Space.
- 6Take your textbook to the gym. Study while you're jogging miles on the treadmill. Or you can listen to an Audiobook or lecture as you drive or even as you are walking from one class to another. Many universities offer programs that incorporate learning into exercising, and some may even allow you to exercise in the library as you study.Move Around.
- 7You should get yourself a private study area or stay home if you plan on reading your study guides aloud, otherwise you may get some nasty looks or kicked out of the library. Reading what you are studying out loud allows the brain process the material in a more clear manner. This technique can help you understand everything you are learning much better.Read Out Loud.
- 8The material you are studying is difficult. Perhaps you missed a hand-out or neglected to take notes. Or you just have difficulty understanding what you are supposed to be learning. Having a study partner can significantly improve comprehension, and allow for a more fun experience.Bring a Study Partner.
- 9Are your friends too talkative? Perhaps you should stick to studying alone. In doing so you are preventing yourself from other people distracting you. Having others around you can sometimes dilute the information you are receiving, so studying alone can oftentimes be beneficial to how well you are learning.Or Study Alone.
- 10We all learn in different ways. A tutor provides a different perspective and can help you study. A session specific to what you are meant to learn enables better studying as you can expand upon the topic at hand and ask questions. Tutors can also provide important tips to studying better.Book a Tutor Session.
- 11Caffeine is known to promote alertness and attentiveness. This allows for increased productivity. Before you hit the books, swing by your favourite coffee shop and grab your dose of caffeine.Grab a Drink.
- 12Studying in the complete silence is boring, and sometimes depressing. Grab some headphones and turn on the music, as this can help stimulate your thought process.Find Your Jam.
- 13You have been scratching that same itch for an hour straight, and it is consistently distracting you. So take off the itchy sweater and get comfortable. This can mean throwing on some pajama pants or it could mean reclining in a cozy chair. Fight any distractions before they can affect how you study.Get Comfortable.
- 14This tip is one that all college students eventually learn. Writing down terms on a flashcard and going through them before an exam or as a studying method can help significantly. Using a flashcard isolates the information and allows you to focus better. When preparing these flashcards, keep the information brief, and use only key terms. Discard individual cards as you master the material.Grab Some Flashcards.
- 15If you keep losing your textbook or misplacing your study guide, chances are you need to organize. Utilize binders, paper clips, and sticky notes to ensure that you are keeping everything you need to study properly in order.Organize Before and After You Study.
- 16Looking at a page of black ink is unattractive-not to mention uninteresting. Keep yourself interested by marking key information with highlighters and underlining terms. If you are writing your notes out, be sure to use different coloured pens as you do. You can create an entire studying system as you do this. Different colours can be used to designate what information is key and what is supportive, or use a specific color to emphasize a definition or transition in information.Utilize Underlining, Colours, and Highlighting.
- 17There are studies that show you can actually retain information better if you study before falling asleep. These studies vary with results, so give it a try and study while you are drowsy, it might just suit your needs!Learn While You Are Falling Asleep.
- 18If you are given a handout of information or you type out your notes during a lecture, be sure to manually write out the information you are given. The process of sitting down with a pen and re-writing information is a study technique that can improve comprehension and ensure that you understand what you are being taught.Write It Out.
- 19It is difficult to memorize every bone in the body if you are scanning your news feed in between each paragraph. Put down your phone or minimize out of that browser and focus on the material in front of you.Don't Multitask.
- 20You are likely taking more than one class. If that is the case, occasionally switch up what you are studying. This will keep you interested and productive.Change It Up.
- 21Not everyone learns the same way. Provide yourself with examples pertaining to the material that fits with your lifestyle and how you understand things. Simplify the material, or expand on it. Make the connection that will help you learn better.Make Your Own Connections.
- 22Be the teacher. Ask yourself questions that you as a teacher would have to know the answer to if you were to properly teach the information. This can assist you in expanding on the information and learn what is essential.Try to Teach It.
- 23What makes up good notes is subjective. Information is received differently by every individual. So take notes that fit your style of learning. A general rule of thumb is to write down key ideas first, and then add supporting information. Follow this up by taking everything you have written and summarizing. Collaborate with a fellow classmate and join notes. This can help both parties acquire information that one may have missed. If you are slow at writing or your lecturer speaks too quickly, record the lecture. However, every academic institution has policies around recording lectures, but most universities will allow students to record information if it is not being shared or published.Take Good Notes.
- 24Did you take a full week and study for the exam and then immediate forget the information afterwards? Chances are the information was memorized simply for the purpose of completing that exam. Memorization works short-term. But if you are completing a degree or if the information is needed to supplement different material, you could be in trouble. Carefully studying the information and implementing what you learned to your daily life can help you master what you have learned and turn it into useful knowledge. Be diligent and try not to simply memorize.Know the Difference Between Memorization and Knowledge.
- 25You won't learn if you don't enjoy it. Or you will learn it eventually, but you will suffer the whole time. There is a reason why so many children hate school, or why people change their majors in university. End your suffering by focusing your study on things that you love, whether it's writing or taking care of people. If you enjoy the material, you will learn it better.Take Classes That You Love.
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
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Categories : Communications & Education
Recent edits by: Andrea Jaenen
