If you search online, you’ll find hundreds of “study tips,” but not all of them will be worth your time. “Studymaxxing” sounds great, but it’s not everything, and some of the “best” study methods can leave you feeling stuck and overwhelmed. It’s more important that you tailor your studying regimen to your learning style, schedule, and major.
The best “study tip” is to study — that’s all there is to it. Starting the study process is half the battle, so once you begin, you’re well on your way to a productive study session. Here are my best tips for studying well:
Create a regimen.
When you study, consistency is key. To earn your best exam results, you need to dedicate time to studying daily. The good news is that if you study nearly every day, you won’t have to dedicate as much time per day. Remember that studying for an hour or two each day is better than studying for seven hours the night before your exam. Set a schedule that allows you to commit to less study time per day, and your studying will be more meaningful.
How To Find the Right Study Method
Choosing your study strategy may depend on your major, but there are three main methods to choose from: active recall, spaced repetition, and the Feynman technique. These “big three” can help you make the most of your study sessions.
You’ve probably practiced active recall since elementary school without even knowing it. This method involves reading the material, taking some notes on what you read, and quizzing yourself to see what you retain.
Spaced repetition is a bit more versatile than active recall. With spaced repetition, you try to recall a bit of important information, ensuring that it sticks, take a break, then move on to the next important chunk of information. You then repeat this process at increasing intervals, leaving a day between the first and second pieces of information, then three to four days between the next chunks of information. You repeat this process until you’ve learned everything that you need to know for your exams. Spaced repetition is a great method for long-term retention, but it’s quite time-consuming, so only choose this method if you have at least a week before your next exam.
The Feynman technique can actually make a boring study session a bit more fun. The Feynman technique relies on stripping a concept of its complexities and explaining it to yourself as if you were a child. Familiarizing yourself with vocabulary matters, but ridding yourself of jargon can help you more deeply understand complex concepts. It may sound silly, but it works.
What if these tips don’t work for me?
Your study regimen is yours, so above all else, you need to find what works for you. If you try these tips, but they don’t work for you, then you can search internet forums, like Reddit and Quora, but don’t let online noise make you feel like you need the “perfect” study regimen. Test out different strategies to see what works best for you.
Studying can feel overwhelming, but remember that if you worry too much about studying the “right” way, it’ll be harder to focus. So take a deep breath, open your textbooks, and schedule breaks. You’ve got this!
Featured Photo by Michael S on Unsplash.
