Space
Make room, mentally
and physically, for studying. Usually you’re studying for something specific,
such as an exam. This can seem daunting, like a mountain to climb. If this
sounds familiar, take a deep breath and pause for a moment before you start.
Think of how you make
yourself comfortable when you do something you really enjoy, like watching a
favorite television program. How do you settle in for the show? Do you sprawl
or curl up? Do you have favourite relaxing clothes? Do you choose a particular
drink or something to nibble? Borrow all these favorite things to make your
studying a better experience. If you’re in a good space physically, you can
improve your mental space.
Place
Create your own
personal work zone. It doesn’t have to look like a work-space — that’s what
many students find off-putting. Building on what you did in the previous
paragraph, make the place your own and somewhere you enjoy.
Pace
Find the right pace
for your work. Sprinters work hard and fast in a burst of energy while marathon
runners spread the load and build slowly towards the climax. There’s no right
or wrong way to pace your studying, except what works for you. Notice the way
you like to work, and adjust your pace accordingly. (Just remember, if you
study at a slow pace, you'll need to set aside more time for the task.)
Whether you have bags
of time or a brief study period, remember that breaks are just as important as
active study (10 minutes off for every 30 minutes of study works for many
people), and use those breaks to reward yourself with a small treat.
Memory
It helps to know how
your memory works. Here is the key to memory: in any sequence, people remember
the first and last things best. Whatever you try to remember, you’ll find
yourself recalling the beginning and the end, with less clear memories of the
middle. You can’t change this — it’s wired in, it's how our brains work — so
don’t fight it. Instead, use this fact to your advantage by organizing your
study so the most important bits are at the beginning and end of your sessions.
Method
It’s always good to
have a plan. However big or complex your task may look at first sight, with a
feasible plan you can always find a way to manage it.
When studying, break
your biggest goal into smaller chunks or tasks. It’s best if each of these
chunks consists of a single topic. Often, you’ll discover one or two key
elements that stand out and get fixed in your mind. You can then use those as
building blocks.
Classic tricks used
by memory professionals include ‘the house of memory’ where you place
everything you want to remember in unique locations in the house. It’s also
useful to use humor — play with your key-words and make them funny or
outrageous. You’ll be surprised at how much easier they are to memorize.
Mind maps
A mind
map is rough diagram that you can make to visually outline information.
You can create a mind map by starting with the primary word or phrase of a
topic in the center, with related, lesser categories branching out from it.
Subcategories of these are on smaller branches, still. Your categories can
consist of anything you think is important; they can be important terms, ideas,
or tasks to complete — whatever you need to help you study or organize the
information.
Mind maps are easy to
master if you don’t use them already, and you’ll discover they help you
remember masses of information much more efficiently than conventional lists.
If you're not satisfied with your current note-taking skills, try building a
mind map during your next class or lecture and see if you find it more helpful.
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