Studying Truths

Let’s face it.  No one really likes to study, but everyone wants to get good grades.  So studying is often inevitable.  Going through studying motions can be stressful and monotonous.  There is an incredible amount of pressure to be the best and to be the most successful, which adds to stress and anxiety.  This post will provide insight and tips for studying that presents new ways of thinking about the act of studying.

Try to develop an overall interest in the material or subject that you are learning.  If you have a genuine interest, the information will stick better in your mind.  Trust me on this one.  For a personal example, this semester I have a class about toxicity and oil spills.  At first, I was not looking forward to it at all and the information was incredibly difficult to remember because it was very “sciency”, as I like to say.  But, once I decided to take a genuine interest in the information, I have grown to like learning about the topic and actually talk about what I’m learning in my free time quite often.  Which leads me to my next point:

Don’t try to just memorize, try to learn and understand

If you’re just staring at a piece of paper waiting to develop a photographic memory, good luck with that! (And P.S., if you ever figure out how to do that, let me know) Anyway. While beginning at the top of your notes, your textbook, or your assignments, read each line of information, understand it, and make connections to the next line.  Understanding how the information works and flows together will enhance your recall of the information when it is presented in various forms on a test. 

Be participatory in class.  It’s easy to sit in the classroom, space off, and watch the clock tick.  Try and engage yourself in discussions and lectures.  It will make the information memorable.  And don’t forget to ask professors for help if you ever need it.  Seriously, they get paid to teach you.  Utilize them.

Read your notes whenever you get the chance.  “A little a day, will bring the A”.  I just made that up.  Copyrighting it right now.  But really.  Even just skimming your notes whenever you get the chance is increasing your exposure and memory, even if it might not seem like it at the time. 

Study with friends and teach them what you know.  Sometimes teaching can be the best form of learning.  Make a night out of it at the library or your favorite chill restaurant, it won’t be all bad!    

The MOST important thing to remember about studying, in my opinion, is to remember to take breaks.  If you’re feeling like you are reading the same page over and over again and not absorbing anything, it’s definitely time to take a break.  Your mental health is important too!  Spending too much time consecutively studying can cause more stress and can be ineffective after a certain period of time.  The Huffington Post has a great article about the importance of mental health for students.  Take a look at it here, it’s a read worth your while.

Thanks for reading everyone!  Until next time!