Exams are knocking on the door and you have a lot of chapters to complete? You are studying for hours but still its not effective? You’re learning nothing or too less? Want to boost up your learning process?
Here are some effective ways of learning and studying which can help you study effectively and learn faster.
1. Make Notes after Studying
Making notes after studying is the most effective way of learning. Making notes means writing a summary or key points from the topics taught in the class. Making notes will help you process the information you are learning faster. You can use these notes for a quick revision before exams. When you study your notes, it should remind you of the lessons that were taught in the class.
Organise your notes in an orderly manner, this will help you to relocate chapters and find topics easily. In case you miss a class or presentation, do ask your friends or your professor to help you with the holes. Making notes increases your speed, ability to learn faster, and study effectively.
2. Pick a suitable time and place
You should study when you are most active. Some people wake up early in the morning and study while others stay awake late at night to finish their chapters. You must choose a suitable time to study as per your comfort. Also, the place of studying matters. Find a comfortable and quiet place to study where you can concentrate and focus easily. Find a place with sufficient table space, a comfortable sitting place, good lighting and no or fewer distractions. Gear up with the study materials you need during studying in the beginning. Getting up in between will break your progress and concentration.
3. Schedule your study time
Make a schedule of the number of hours you are going to spend studying. Allocate your study time for different subjects so you don’t get bored studying the same thing. Changing topics after intervals make learning effective. Make a list of chapters and topics and how much time you need to finish them.
Don’t start mugging the whole material together, instead, try breaking it into small chunks. Study the toughest chapters when you are most active and in a mood to study. Save the easy chapters when you feel lazy and fatigue.
Keep a track of how much progress you have made so far and remember the chapters yet to study.
4. Go for group studies
Make plans for group studies with your friends. Studying together with friends help you to clear your doubts regarding a particular topic or subject. It adds an interactive and effective component that provides deeper studies.
Make a group with students who motive and inspire you who are genuinely interested in group studies rather than wasting your time. A study group gives you the platform for discussing your doubts, teaching those who have difficulties in understanding and sharing ideas.
Involve students who pay attention in class, stay focused and make all notes.
5. Review and revise regularly
It’s important to review and revise your notes regularly. It helps you to remember the topics or concepts you studied a day before or two. Make a habit to revise and review 30-45 minutes on looking at the chapters of your notes. This makes to remember things for a longer time and recall later on easily.
Make flashcards of the key points from your notes. Making flashcard sets you recall things faster. The effective way to review your notes is by reviewing them after 24 hours, again after 48 hours, again after a week and finally after a few weeks.
6. Make your strategies
Different strategies work for different people. Making your strategies as per your requirements and understanding can help you to remember and grasp difficult concepts more effectively. Three common studying techniques that will make studying and learning faster:
- Auditory Learning – Learning by hearing. This is the studying technique where people read out their notes aloud and discuss them with others. You can also record and make notes while studying and listen to it later.
- Visual learning – Learning by seeing. This studying technique is used by people who prefer to learn by seeing. You can try using markers, highlight key points with different colours, make diagrams and flowcharts to represent key points.
- Physical/kinaesthetic learning –Learning by doing. This technique involves role-playing, building models, using hand actions while studying etc.
7. Take breaks
Take breaks in between studying. Don’t sit with your books for hours. Maintain a study cycle. An effective cycle consists of 25 minutes of studying and 5 minutes of break and again repeat the cycle. In this way, you won’t get bored during studying and you will grasp the information more effectively.
8. Take care of your health
A healthy mind and body is the only way to learn and study effectively. Eat healthy food, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep minimum of 7-8 hours a day and do regular exercise and YOGA. Maintaining these healthy habits will make you a better and active learner.
Conclusion
These were some common strategies that will make your studying experience better. Always remember different people have their own way that works best for them. The sooner you will start acting on these studying habits, the sooner you will see improvement in your studying and learning process.
