July 04, 2021

How to Study Smart (Part 1)

What My Study Routine Includes?

There are days when we do not want to study at all and then there are days where we do not know how should we study even when we are feeling motivated. All of us have heard of the term Smart Studying but do not know what it really is. Even though, there are different ways to study smart and different methods suit different people.

So here are some of the ways that I use for smart studying (they are all very helpful):-

Planning:

To study, you know how to start, what to do and when to do it. The best way to keep track of it all is to plan and write down that plan in one place. Make a daily to-do list and write down everything you want to do that day; from the main three priorities to five-minute tasks. And as you would cross everything one by one, you would feel more motivated each time. This happens because Dopamine is secreted, the achievement hormone.

You write down your routines in daily planners or set alarms at the time you want to study. And make a consistent routine of that same time. You are likely to feel less lazy if you are used to studying at that time. Another way of doing it is making goals. For example: Make a big circle on the date 15 days from now, till the date you want to get one chapter or one section of your syllabus and anyhow complete it on dot.

Also, try making one schedule for everything and follow it as well as you can. A routine is always better than motivation. Like I study every day from 5 a.m/ to 7 a.m and thus, I feel myself wanting to study at that time.

Pomodoro:

A very common method for days when you have to study for long durations. Study for a duration like 25 minutes or 40 minutes (an average duration you guess your brain will be active) and then take a small break like 5 minutes to 10 minutes and do it again. At the 4th cycle, take a long break, say for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Your brain needs to recharge now.

I am not very active with this method, but I like using it for revisions or learning something. It is also good for your all-nighter nights.

But during the short breaks instead of using social media or doing anything likely to demotivate you to study, stretch a little or just close your eyes and take a nap. And during the long breaks, you can always go for a light walk or make yourself a meal. It would increase your motivation as you still accomplished something even during your breaks.

Conditioned Stimuli:

I have already talked about it in my Writing Routine blog. Conditioned stimuli basically mean some things that you can relate your task to. Have a studying ritual. Eg: Light a candle before starting to study or use the same music to study or have the same time of studying. It will help your brain prepare. It will know that it is time to study and you will see that you are able to retain more.

Mnemonics:

Make short poems, acronyms, initials or catchy phrases for your notes. You will remember it more because you will find it fun. Make it funny or dirty, as bad as it sounds, people remember things from these two categories more than from others.

Highlighting and Rewriting:

The most traditional method and one that is most likely to work. But I like doing it differently. You got a chapter to study. So, write everything down as it is, just filtering the unnecessaries. Then read your written or typed notes, highlight the important parts and then write down or type the actual notes which would have all the keywords or important points that you need. This way, you would know that nothing is left out and if it is, then you can always go back to the initial notes you wrote. It definitely works.

Flashcards and Quizzes:

This is the best way for revision. Write down all the definitions you need to learn (or have learnt but need to make sure of it) on one piece of paper such that, on one side there is the term and on the other side of the paper, there is its definition.

Also, do quizzes with your friends or ask your family members to ask you questions from the notes you wrote. It will help you boost the confidence you need for trusting yourself when you are actually writing down the answers for exams and is a good way of revising and retaining everything.

Slideshow:

It is not a very popular method but very effective, All you had to do is make a presentation of your notes, which will help you revise and learn even, and present it to however is ready to listen or if no one is, you always have yourself. While you would present the slides, explain them too. As you already know, explaining things helps you remember them in your own words and style.

Music:

When we are trying to concentrate, we become even more sensitive to distracting noises so the best way to eliminate it all is by using a good playlist, which should be as long as your study session. It reduces your chances to get distracted. You may find it disturbing but as you go on, you will feel that it has just become a background. But do not use it while learning. It would be a distraction then.

Study-Buddy:

As much as friends are disturbing, when you two (or more) share a common goal, it is best to discipline yourself together. Having a study buddy is a good way of getting things done because when you try to study alone, there are more chances of you procrastinating than when you have someone else who is going to be there at that time too. You will never cancel or postpone, and if you do, the other person should reprimand you.

But study only with friends you know are achievers and disciplined. If you study with that noisy guy in the group, you would be just wasting your time listening to all of the gossips. And it is recommended that have only one study partner because the more, the louder.

And it doesn't matter, really, if you two are studying different subjects, just study together. Like you do your own studying and they do their own but just sit and study side by side (or virtual meeting).

Cornell Notes Method:

Make three sections of a piece of paper, two columns and one at the bottom. The one to the right is where you will note down the keywords of your lecture. All other sections are for when you review those keywords. In the column to the left, you will write down the questions that are likely to be asked from the notes and in the bottom section, write down the summary of the lecture. Make sure to give a title and write the date. It actually works. But only if you review it the same day, which is highly recommended as it helps you retain as much as you can from the classes.

Pre-lecture Notes:

Review the syllabus of the semester and get started on studying from the moment. When you are already prepared with the topic on the day of that class, you will understand more about what the professor or the teacher is saying and you can clear all your doubts that same day. Then on the day of the lecture, whatever keynotes you wrote from the class, edit it all on your already complete notes and then, all you will have to do is revise.

These were all the methods that I use. It is a great help in preparing and I hope it will help you too.

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