Study smarter, not harder. It may sound boring, but when you grasp the meaning of the word and realize what a good study technique will do for your time and results, you will be more triggered and motivated by it. Interested in learning more? Keep reading below.
The Study Subscription As a Basis
For full-time study, you are expected to spend 40 hours a week on self-study. Therefore, planning and disposition are an important factor in success. A trap for many is to go and wait for a good opportunity. “I just have to finish my daily tasks. I just have to find my focus. I’m just going to.”
Do you recognize yourself? With self-study, it’s important to be realistic and set aside time. Plan your study sessions and what they should contain. What will you study, when will you study it and where? This way, you can manage your time better. But! Planning your study sessions does not exclude the fact that you can take a break and study for a while when you feel motivated and eager to learn new things.
But When?
Let’s look a little further at what time of day you might schedule your study sessions. For example, studying for a few minutes before going to bed makes it easier for us to remember knowledge when we wake up the next day. Cool, right? Indeed, during the sleep period, the brain tends to process new information. However, we would like to stress that it is important that you find the time of day when you feel most focused or motivated.
Where?
From when to where. While it’s a good idea to study before bed, it’s said to be a not-so-good idea to bring your studies to bed. A comfortable study position has everything going for it, but if it’s too comfortable, it’s easy to lose focus and even nod off. But testing in different environments is not a bad idea. Namely, it makes us form new associations to what we are studying. At home, in the library, at the coffee shop, on the train. Find the right place for your concentration.
The Pen at Its Best
For many, a pad and pencil create fantastic conditions. Take lecture, for example. Taking notes while listening can help you focus better. Listen to things, write down key words and summarize them in bulleted lists. Often, the feedback you write down for yourself can streamline the learning process. But don’t put pressure on yourself and your note-taking. Your notes should consist of associations that you make yourself and need not be relevant to anyone but yourself.
If note-taking gets in the way of your listening, reflecting on the lecture can be just as effective. What is important is what is going on in your head, not on the pad in front of you.
Rehearse More
If you are more of a “pen and paper” type of person, we recommend that you review your notes the day after you write them. Then try to rehearse once more after a week. You can also talk out loud to yourself or someone else. There are many ways to rehearse knowledge. If you are studying remotely, the lessons are also recorded, so you can watch them afterwards. Any form of repetition is good repetition!
“Three-Step” Literature
Course literature is a type of literature, and should be read accordingly. If you want to enhance the learning process, we can advise you to first read the table of contents and imagine what the different chapters of the book might contain. This way, you will have an idea of what the book is about. Next, we recommend that you go through the entire book and spend a few seconds on each search.
Now is when you get familiar with the book, understanding comes later. From the overview reading, as we can call it, to the in-depth reading. We suggest you read for half an hour, then go back and make small summaries. Underline, leave little comments, and reflect on what you read.
There you are! With those top tips, studying will not be such a hassle anymore. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
