Whether you’re a middle school student or a college student, you’ve probably wanted to know how you could study better and more efficiently. Who wouldn’t want to learn more and get better grades?
While there isn’t a magical formula that automatically helps you remember answers or learn a bunch of information, there are some tips and tricks that can.
Medical and Law students have to retain tons of information. Over the years, many of them have developed tips and tricks that can help anyone learn how to study like a pro. It isn’t that difficult, it just takes some time and intentionality.
Organize, Organize, Organize
If you’re disorganized, it is almost impossible to prioritize what you want to study or even know where to begin.
Below are some organizational tips that will ensure you make the most out of your time.
1. Organize your notes. If you don’t know what to study or what topic an idea falls under, you won’t be able to learn the material effectively. Use a computer or notebook to keep and organize class and reading notes.
2. Declutter your desk. Having a place where you can study without distraction is extremely important to retaining information. Move all of the trash and gadgets out of your study area.
3. Have the tools you need. You wouldn’t fix a car without any tools, right? If you’re looking around for a highlighter or pen while you’re studying, you’re wasting time.
These three vital tasks will ensure that you can make the most of the time you set aside for studying.
Train Your Brain to Study Like a Pro
While you can spend hours and hours looking at the material, it only counts if you remember it. That is why people who retain tons of information have developed ways to more easily memorize and recall it.
1. Make mnemonics. A mnemonic is a small phrase or story that can help you remember a term. When you hear the word, you are reminded of the story and can recall what you need to.
2. Spaced Repetition. If you look at material multiple times across several days. Your brain has a greater chance to process and retain the information.
3. Acronyms. When you have a list of information to memorize, a word or phrase can be used to remind you of the first letter of a fact or idea.
To learn more about memorization techniques and the ways that the brain processes information, check out this YouTube video by Thomas Frank.
Give Your Body and Mind the Rest it Needs
The brain needs sleep in order to function and process information correctly. It is the crucial time of the day where your mind can push out the ideas that don’t matter and categorize the ones that do. That means a lack of sleep can deeply affect your performance in school. Check out the reasons why you need to sleep below.
1. Your brain files away information. While you’re sleeping, your brain determines what information you are consistently using and what can be dumped out to make room. If you don’t sleep, you won’t remember new information.
2. Better Recall. When you’ve got a full night’s sleep, you can much more easily retrieve the information you’ve been studying all this time.
3. Less anxiety. Have you ever done poor on a test because you were anxious? A lack of sleep, especially when mixed with high doses of caffeine, can cause a lot of anxiety and decrease your ability to perform well.
When you follow these simple steps of organizing, memorizing better, and resting, you’re sure to study like a pro and see an improvement in your scores.