How to Study Effectively
There’s probably been times when you’ve tried to study, and you just can’t bring yourself to do it, for whatever reason. And then when you finally do study, it seems like nothing works, and you question if it’s worth it. The most likely outcome is that you are not studying in a way that benefits you. The PLSR System tells us to Preview, Attend and Review, all of which are fairly easy to complete. It’s just a matter of flicking through what you’re about to learn, going to the place to learn it whilst being active, and then making sure that you understand what’s being taught to you. But the fourth step, and as a result the fifth step, rely on your personal ability to study, and if you can’t do this effectively, then you’ll be unlikely to complete the cycle. So, how can you study effectively? The good news is, is that there are many options, routes and choices that you can make, that should help you to become a powerhouse in studying.
First of all – DON’T CRAM. Just like reading, cramming isn’t helpful. Often times you will give yourself too much to learn in a short amount of time, and most of it will go in one ear and out the other. The best time frame to use whilst studying is to use short, deep, and focused bursts. We all have interests outside of studying, and if you want to enjoy these then you should enjoy them, but you need to be reasonable. Discipline is a key factor in studying. You need to be disciplined in your approach and your reasonings. For example, if you want to go out with some friends but you also need to study, set yourself the goal of studying to a high degree, before you can do it. Essentially, complete a challenge in return for a reward. No good has ever come from spending three hours in the same place, trying to figure out the answer to one question, so spread your time out. Your brain and body work in routines, that’s why we feel hungry at certain points in the day, and why we go to sleep and often wake up at similar times. Learning is no different. If you sit down, and are productive for an hour, every day of the week, then eventually your brain will learn to be especially focused and disciplined during that time. So, for starters spread your learning out, and make sure that it’s worth it.
Now that you know how to use the time to the best of your ability, now you need to know where to study. When we say that there is no right or wrong way to study, what we mean by this is that what works for you, might not work for me, and what works for me, you can’t stand, and there’s no better example of this than where to study. Studying is a bit like sleep. We’re all different. Some people like silence, some people like noise. Some people like light, some complete darkness. It’s all subjective. If you study best whilst listening to music, then listen to music. Don’t let others tell YOU what environment to study in because it didn’t work for them. They are not you. Find what works for you, and stick with it. It’s all a matter of personal preference at the end of the day, so do what you know makes you tick.
Finally, problems are a good thing. How many times have you heard the phrase ‘learn from your mistakes’? There’s no better time to apply that, then when studying. If you don’t understand something, good. Learn how to understand it. If you put something off because you don’t understand it, then you’ll never learn, and you’ll never be able to progress forward. By repeating it until you get it right, you not only get to the right answer, but you also become aware of the pitfalls and the mistakes that can be made along the way and when it comes to the real deal, you’ll know how to avoid them.
Studying can be a tedious task. It can be a difficult task. But it’s a task we all have to do sooner or later. By knowing how to study effectively, and how to best use your time will not only drastically make your final product better and more successful, but you’ll also understand how to make studying more enjoyable for yourself. You won’t get bogged down with all the insecurities and fears, and you won’t feel the mental fatigue or lack of motivation. All that will be in your head, is exactly what you’ll need to know, and what’s better than that?