7 Tips for Effective Studying
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tudying and revision techniques are different for different people with different courses and subjects that one is studying, for example, students studying mathematics would mostly practice past papers seventy per cent of their revision time whereas, history students would hammer dates of the series of events, music students would practice their instruments depending on whether they have a recital or a written exam. When people describe their individual setting preferences for effective studying, it is not the same for everyone and is more of a subjective view. One may find sticking flash cards all over the walls effective and one may not read it at all, one may prefer jotting down notes to learn better and one may simply remember it reading them verbally or using flow charts for a better visual understanding. Instead of going through the personal preferences of studying techniques such as needing a green or white room to study in to focus better, having a large table space to study comfortably, taking caffeine to sharpen concentration, the following core tips are more for prepping the general state of mind for studying. It is often not the content that students find it hard to learn but the highly varied requirementof knowledge for the subject and the vastness of the subject itself.
1. Sleep on it – They say “sleep on it”. A study has shown that when you sleep (yes, sleep!) or nap or even a brief rest after learning new skills, you retain the information for a week. A whole night’s rest energises your mind and makes you even more creative which is the ultimate goal of any learner, to progress. 2. Mornings are the best time to revise – There is no time like a fresh start. A study shows that when you revise the things that you have previously learned, it is retained in the brain for months. The dots of the information that has been wired in the brain makes more sense easily without having to try hard. This is known as semantic processing or deep processing. 3. Have an open mind – To have an open mind is not only the best attribute to learning but also one of the essential life skills. Critical thinking and reasoning skills are acquired once you have an open mind. To have an open mind means to adapt to new experiences – only when you adopt does it make you not only think and acquire the new skills but also reason fairly, comprehend the new information and have an elaborate understanding. 20
