You sat down to study, but how to transfer this mass of information from books and notes to your mind? And how to make it stay there? You need to develop good study habits. At first you need to make some effort to change your learning methods, but after a while it will get easier and come naturally to you.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Preparing for the Study
Step 1. Plan your time
Establish a weekly schedule and dedicate a certain amount of hours to study every day. This habit will also improve your grades. The plan varies depending on several factors: Do you go to high school or college? What is your field of study? Make sure you follow a realistic schedule. Don't forget to plan everything: food, clothes, travel, theoretical and practical lessons.
- You have to balance school, work and outside activities. If you have more of a problem following classes and being consistent with studying, it would be best to forgo afternoon or extra-curricular activities until your grades improve. You need to prioritize time. Remember: education comes first.
- For university lectures, you should base the amount of study hours devoted to each subject on the difficulty of the course and related credits. For example, if you take a very difficult 9-credit physics course, you have to calculate 25 hours of personal commitment per credit (this is the standard required by Italian universities), then 225 total hours to prepare for the exam. If you have a 6-credit literature course, characterized by medium difficulty, multiply 25 by 6, then you will need 150 hours to prepare for the exam.
Step 2. Get a rhythm compatible with your needs
Find the best study speed for you and adjust accordingly. Some concepts or courses will feel more natural to you, so you can study faster. Other subjects may require double the effort. Take your time and study according to your needs.
- Studying at 20-minute intervals will make it easier for you to assimilate the information.
- If you study slower, remember that you will need more time to learn.
Step 3. Get enough sleep
Give yourself enough time to sleep well. Getting adequate rest every night will allow you to make the most of your study hours. It is important during the term or semester, and it is even more important just before the exams. Studies have shown that quality sleep impacts tests because it improves memory and attention. Staying up all night to study will seem like a good idea right now, but try to avoid these intense sessions. If you study over the weeks, you won't need it at all. Sleeping well will help you perform better.
If despite your best efforts you still end up sleeping little, take a short nap before studying. Limit yourself to 15-30 minutes. When you wake up, do some physical activity (as you would during a break) just before getting on the books
Step 4. Free your mind
If you have a lot of things to think about, take a moment to write down notes about your worries and feelings before you start studying. This will help you clear your mind and fully focus on your work.
Step 5. Eliminate electronic distractions
When you study, electronic devices can distract your attention. They are connected to social networks, they receive text messages, and the internet can make you think of something else. Set your phone to silent mode or keep it in your backpack so it won't distract you if they call or text you. If you can, don't open the laptop or connect it to the web.
If you are easily distracted by social networks like YouTube, Facebook, etc., download an application to instantly block some of the most damaging sites on your computer. Once you have finished studying, you can unlock access to all pages and use them normally
Part 2 of 4: Prepare the Study Space
Step 1. Find a favorable space for studying
Use it only for this activity. You should be comfortable so learning will be more enjoyable. If you hate sitting at a library table, then find a more pleasant place, like a sofa or ottoman. Try to wear comfortable clothing, such as a soft sweatshirt and a pair of yoga pants. The place where you study should be distraction-free and relatively quiet.
- Don't choose a place that is so comfortable that you risk falling asleep. You need to feel comfortable, but don't doze off. When you are tired, the bed is not the best place to study.
- The street traffic you hear from the window and the whispered conversation typical of a library emit acceptable white noise, but if you are interrupted by your family or someone turns on the music at a loud volume in the room next to yours you will not be able to concentrate - you should go to a place where no one will distract you.
Step 2. Choose your background music carefully
Some prefer to study in silence, others with background music, which can in fact be beneficial because it helps you calm down, improves your spirit and motivates. However, choose instrumental music, i.e. without lyrics, such as classical, trance, baroque or soundtracks.
- If it doesn't distract you, listen to some sung music to your liking. But avoid the one that distracts you from studying. Maybe you are able to study with a background of sung rock music, while you cannot do it with pop. Try to figure out what's right for you.
- Make sure you keep the music at a moderate or low volume. The loud one can distract you, while the low one can stimulate learning.
- Avoid the radio. Commercials and DJ voices can distract you from the studio.
Step 3. Listen to background sounds
They can help you get in the mood and focus on studying without distracting you. The sounds of nature, such as waterfalls, rain, thunder, and jungle noises, can generate enough "white noise" to allow you to focus and block out other noises. There are many sites on which to find these types of sounds, including YouTube.
Step 4. Keep the TV off
Generally leaving it on while you study is a very bad idea. It can be a great source of distraction; instead of focusing on the book, you end up watching the program or movie being broadcast at that moment. Furthermore, voices are very distracting because they engage the language center of the brain.
Step 5. Make smart snacks
Eat healthy, nutritious foods while you study and avoid foods full of sugars and fats. Go for foods that give you energy, like fruit, or that make you feel full, like vegetables and nuts. If you're craving sweet, go for dark chocolate. Drink some water to maintain optimal hydration levels, while the tea lifts you up when you feel down.
- Avoid foods that contain large amounts of sugars and carbohydrates, such as instant-cooking foods, potato chips, and candy. Do not drink energy drinks and carbonated drinks: they contain a lot of sugars, which will cause an energy breakdown. If you drink coffee, avoid filling it with sugar.
- Prepare your snacks before you start studying so you won't go hungry and you don't have to get up to find food.
Part 3 of 4: Using Effective Study Techniques
Step 1. Use the SQ3R technique
It is a study method that involves active reading to help you understand and start assimilating the concepts. This strategy allows you to have a general overview of the topic and actively analyze the content of a chapter or article, in order to prepare yourself effectively for reading.
- It starts with the S, which stands for Survey, "research". This means that you have to look through the chapter for tables, figures, titles and other words in bold type.
- Then, move on to the Q, which stands for Question, "question". Turn each title into a question.
- Go to the first R of Read, "read". Read the chapter trying to answer the questions created based on the titles.
- Move on to the second R of Recite, "enunciate". Answer the questions verbally and repeat any important information you remember from reading the chapter.
- Go to the third R of Review, "review". Review the chapter to make sure you include all the main ideas. Then, think about why they are important.
Step 2. Use the strategy called THIEVES
When you start studying a new chapter, the information it contains will be much more meaningful and easier to acquire after examining it in a general way with the THIEVES method, English acronym for Title, "title", Headings / subheadings, "chapter titles. / subtitles ", Introduction," introduction ", Every first sentence in a paragraph," every first sentence of a paragraph ", Visuals and vocabulary," visual parts and vocabulary ", End of chapter questions," questions at the end of the chapter ", Summary, "summary".
- Start with the title. What does the title tell you about the chosen song / article / chapter? What do you already know about the subject? What should you think about while reading? This will help you frame the reading.
- Skip to the introduction. What does the introduction tell you about the text?
- Review the headings and subheadings of the paragraphs. What do they tell you about what you will read? Turn each headline and subtitle into a question to help guide your reading.
- Read the first sentence of each paragraph. They generally contain the topic that will be discussed and help you think about the theme of each paragraph.
- Consider the visuals and vocabulary. This includes tables, charts, diagrams, bold, italic and underlined words, differently colored terms or paragraphs, and number lists.
- Read the questions at the end of the chapter. What concepts should you know once you've finished reading it? As you read, keep these questions in mind.
- Take a look at the chapter summary to get an idea of the topic before reading it in its entirety.
Step 3. Highlight the important details
Use a highlighter or underline the main points in the body of the text, so you can more easily find them when you review concepts. Do not highlight everything: it would be useless. Instead, emphasize only the most significant phrases and words. It is also helpful to write pencil notes in the margins; summarize in your own words or comment on the main points.
- You can also read just these parts for the purpose of quickly reviewing the concepts you have learned while they are still fresh in your memory. This will help you assimilate the main points.
- If the textbook has been loaned to you, then you can attach colored post-its of various types next to the most important sentences or paragraphs. Write down your comments on these cards and place them in strategic places.
- Also, it is helpful to periodically review this way to refresh your mind of the main points you have already learned. It is necessary to remember a large amount of information for an extended period, in preparation for a final or partial exam, whether written or oral.
Step 4. Synthesize or make a lineup of concepts
A useful study method is to write down concepts from your notes and book in your own words. This way you can think independently, without using the language of the manual. Embed the summaries in the clipboard, if there is a link. You can also make a ladder. Organize it according to the main ideas and consider only the most important secondary points.
- If you have enough privacy, it is also helpful to enunciate the summaries aloud in order to engage more senses. If you have an auditory learning style or learn best when repeating aloud, then this method may help you.
- If you have a hard time summarizing concepts in such a way that you can assimilate them, try teaching them to someone else. Pretend to be a professor and to have a student in front of you who knows nothing about the subject. You can also write a new article on wikiHow! For example, this guide was written by a third grade student.
- When making summaries, use different colors. The brain remembers information more easily when associated with a color.
Step 5. Create flashcards
This method usually requires cards. Write a question, term or idea on the front of the card and the answer on the back. This is a practical technique because you can carry the flashcards with you and study while you wait for the bus, waiting for a class to start or in times of boredom.
- You can also download programs to prevent cards from taking up too much space and eliminate the cost of creating them. You can also use a classic sheet of paper folded vertically. After folding it, write the question on the front side; open it to write the answer inside. Keep asking questions until you are able to answer them confidently. Remember, repetita iuvant.
- You can also turn notes into flashcards using Cornell's system, which involves grouping notes around certain keywords. This way, you can ask questions later by covering your notes and trying to remember concepts while only seeing the keyword.
Step 6. Make associations
The most effective way to assimilate information is to connect it to the information already existing and fixed in your mind. Using memory techniques can help you remember difficult or consistent data series.
- Make the most of your learning style. Think about what you've already learned and remember easily: song lyrics? choreography? Images? Adapt them to your study habits. If you have trouble memorizing a concept, write a catchy jingle about it (or a musical text, matching it to the melody of your favorite song). You can also do a representative choreography or draw a cartoon. Better be all silly and extravagant: Most people tend to remember concepts expressed in this way more effectively than those stated in a boring way.
- Use mnemonic techniques. Rearrange the information into a sequence that you find meaningful. For example, if you want to remember the notes of the G major scale, create the sentence: Do You Know The Story Of King Midas, Fabio? (Sol, La, Si, Do, Re, Mi, Fa). It is much easier to remember a sentence than a series of random notes. You can also build a memory palace or use the Roman room technique, which is very useful for remembering something in chronological order, such as the list of the top 13 American colonies. If the list is short, match the elements using an image in your head.
- Organize information with a mind map. The end result of the scheme should have a web-like structure of words and ideas somehow connected in the writer's mind.
- Use your visualization skills. Build a movie in your head that illustrates the concept you are trying to remember and repeat it several times. Imagine every little detail. Use the senses: what is the smell? The look? The sensation? The sound? The taste?
Step 7. Break concepts into smaller pieces
A useful method of learning is to divide the topics into lower sections. This helps you to assimilate the information gradually, instead of trying to understand everything at once. You can group concepts by topic, keywords, or other techniques that you think make sense. The key is to decrease the amount of information you learn in a session, so you can focus on learning these concepts before moving on.
Step 8. Create a study list
Try to condense the necessary information into a single sheet or at most two, if strictly necessary. Take it with you and watch it whenever you have a break in the days leading up to the exam. Take notes and chapters and organize them into related topics. Extract the most important concepts.
If you write them on your computer, you can exert more control over the arrangement of information by changing the font size, margin spaces or lists. If you learn better visually, it can help you
Part 4 of 4: Study More Efficiently
Step 1. Take some breaks
If you study for several consecutive hours, take a 5 minute break approximately every half hour. This way you can stretch after sitting for a while. This also allows you to relax your mind, which can help you remember concepts more effectively. Plus, it helps you stay focused.
- Exercise to promote good blood circulation and be more awake. Do jumping jacks, run around the house, play with your dog, do squats or any other type of movement. Achieve enough to get your heart rate up, but don't wear yourself out.
- Don't always sit down while you study. For example, walk around the table while reviewing information aloud or lean against the wall when reading your notes.
Step 2. Use a keyword to regain focus
Identify a keyword related to what you are studying, and whenever you lose focus, feel distracted or your mind wanders elsewhere, start repeating this word in your mind until you get back to the right topic. For this technique, the keyword doesn't have to be a single, fixed term, but changes based on your study or work. There are no rules for selecting it and you can use any word you think will help you regain focus.
For example, when you read an article about the guitar, you can use this keyword. As you read, whenever you feel distracted, unable to understand or concentrate, start repeating the term "guitar, guitar, guitar, guitar, guitar" until your mind has returned to the article and you can move on
Step 3. Take good notes
Make sure you write everything down correctly when you are in class. This doesn't mean being tidy or writing complete sentences, but grasping all the important information. For example, sometimes you might write a term said by the teacher, then look up the definition at home and write it down in a notebook. Try to write everything you can.
- Taking good notes in class will force you to stay awake and pay attention to everything that happens in the classroom. It will also help you avoid falling asleep.
- Use abbreviations. This helps you jot down words quickly, without writing them down completely. Try to create your own system of abbreviations or use existing ones, such as "eg." instead of "example", "min." instead of "minimum", "so-called" instead of "so-called" and "par." instead of "paragraph".
- When questions come to your mind in class, ask them right away. Engage in class discussions. Another way to ask questions or make links is to write them in the margins of your notes. You can watch them when you are at home to find an answer or deepen a relationship while you study.
Step 4. Rewrite your notes at home
When you do, focus on recording information, not understanding or ordering. Rewrite them as soon as possible after the lesson, when the concepts are fresh in your mind. This way you can completely fill in the missing parts thanks to memory. The rewrite process is a more active approach to studying, because it directly involves the mind in absorbing information. If you just read, you can easily lose focus. Writing forces you to think about concepts.
- This doesn't mean you shouldn't try to understand or organize your notes. Just avoid wasting time doing something in class when you can take care of it or fix it at home. Notes taken in class should be considered a draft.
- You may find it easier to keep two notebooks: one for class notes, another for rewritten ones.
- Some people write notes on the computer, others find that handwriting helps them memorize them better.
- The more you paraphrase, the better. The same goes for drawing. For example, if you are studying anatomy, redraw the system you are assimilating from memory.
Step 5. Make the study interesting
Logical arguments won't motivate you to study. Thinking "If I study a lot, I will graduate and get a good job" will not seem tempting. Find something exciting while you learn. Try to understand the beauty of each material and, above all, try to connect it to events in your life and aspects of your interest.
- This connection may be conscious, for example you decide to work out chemical reactions, physical experiments or manual math calculations for the purpose of proving a formula, or unaware, such as going to the park, looking at the leaves and thinking, "Um, let me review the parts of the leaf. that I learned in class last week."
- Use creativity to study. Try to come up with stories that fit the information you are studying. For example, try to write a story in which all subjects begin with S, all objects begin with O and there are no verbs containing V. Try to create a meaningful story with the vocabulary you have to learn, with historical figures or others. keyword.
Step 6. Study the difficult subjects first
Address the more complex disciplines or concepts at the start of the study session. This way you have enough time to absorb them and you will feel more energetic and awake. Leave the easier ones for last.
Learn the most important facts first. Don't just read chapters from start to finish, pausing to memorize any new information you see. New concepts are acquired much easier when you can relate them to the materials you already know. Do not waste too much time learning notions that will not be the subject of examination. Focus all your energy on important information
Step 7. Study the important vocabulary
In the chapter, look for lists of words or terms in bold type. See if the book has a lexical section, glossary, or list of terms, and make sure you understand them thoroughly. You don't have to memorize them all, but try to focus on the fundamental ones: whenever there is an important concept in a particular field, there is usually a special word that refers to it. Learn these words and try to use them fluently: it will be of great help to you to master the subject itself.
Step 8. Form a study group
Get together with 3-4 friends or schoolmates and ask everyone to bring flashcards. Exchange them and ask yourself questions. If anyone has doubts about a concept, explain it to each other in turn. Better yet, turn your study session into a Trivial Pursuit-style game.
- Divide the concepts among the members and ask each of them to teach or explain this topic to the rest of the group.
- Divide the group into subgroups and assign each of them a chapter to summarize the key concepts. Subgroups can then present them to the rest of the group, create a playlist or a one-page summary for the others.
- Organize a weekly study group. Each week, dedicate it to a new topic. This way you study throughout the term or semester, not just at the end.
- Make sure you call people who are actually interested in studying.
Advice
- Instead of just memorizing what you've learned, you should also make sure you understand it well enough that you can explain it to a person who doesn't know anything about that subject.
- Studying with a partner who takes the subject seriously, just like you, can motivate you to work harder. Organize the study session into parts, go over your notes, make a list of chapters and discuss the various concepts (try teaching each other, so that both of you are sure you understand them).
- Inspire yourself to improve by reading quotes that energize and motivate you.
- Study only one subject at a time, otherwise you may get distracted from what you need to learn next.
- If you can, it helps to reward yourself by giving yourself a special bonus after finishing an important job.
- Don't put it off - start studying early to avoid stressing yourself. Get used to not procrastinating: it's a bad habit. In the end you will be happy that you have studied regularly, without reducing yourself to the last minute.
- Every time you finish a paragraph, reward yourself for motivating yourself.
Warnings
- Avoid the temptation to postpone. Focus your efforts in a targeted way, without wandering. Otherwise, you will waste time and regret it.
- If you can't concentrate because you are too tense or there is something bothering you, you may need to learn to control your emotions before you can study regularly and successfully. If you are unable to do this on your own, you may need to see a psychologist.
