Have you ever found yourself staring at a textbook, only to realize you have absorbed nothing? Developing effective study habits is just as crucial as mastering the topic itself; not only will these habits improve your scores, but they will also help you become an efficient lifelong learner. Furthermore, these study techniques are backed by extensive scientific research.
First, before studying begins, it’s important to prepare a proper environment. Therefore, habits such as working in a quiet room, turning off the TV, or placing one’s phone in another room can help prevent or eliminate any distractions. While it may not be possible for some students to study in a completely quiet environment, libraries provide an excellent option for quiet study sessions. Additionally, it may be tempting to check your phone, but turning your phone off and placing it in a different room can stop the temptation; you can also ask a sibling or guardian to temporarily hold your phone for the time being. Overall, it’s important to stay concentrated on one task at a time, in this case studying, rather than switch your attention between multiple sources. According to Brian Anderson, a cognitive psychologist from Texas University, “Multitasking is a fallacy.” Therefore, eliminating distractions is critical for maintaining focus because a divided attention reduces your focus on the task at hand. Hence, the same principle applies to listening to music; to optimize information intake, it is advised against listening to music, especially with words. Steven Smith, a cognitive neuroscientist from Texas University, has some words of advice for those who wish to listen to music while studying: “So if you want to listen to music while you study, try to listen to something that does not have words, or if it does have words, hopefully, it’ll be in a language that you don’t understand at all, otherwise that’s going to distract from the stuff you’re trying to study.” Now that you’ve heard some guidance, once you’re ready to go, grab a snack and a drink.
After you have gotten acclimated to your environment, the studying commences! A significant, but often overlooked, studying technique is active rehearsal. Active rehearsal is the consistent and spaced (throughout hours, days, or even weeks) repetition of content, which improves the recall of information. The efficacy of this studying technique has been backed by a 2006 study on rats published in the National Library of Medicine, which stated that active rehearsal resulted in the incorporation of repeated information into short-term memory in the rats studied. So, how can you actively rehearse information? Platforms like Quizlet and Knowt are great for practicing information in small increments, but traditional flashcards work well too! Be sure not to cram information and opt to study for a few minutes daily. When you feel like you have mastered the content using the aforementioned methods, it’s time to test yourself. You can have a family member or friend quiz you or practice explaining the topic to a pet, sibling, or stuffed animal—bonus points if you can draw connections to your personal life!
Finally, after a long session of studying, feel free to take a break and reward yourself with a game, some Netflix, or any activity that you enjoy. Taking a small break helps reward your studying and find enjoyment from your efforts. After your first break has elapsed, make sure to continue studying with breaks in between (Pomodoro technique). You got this and happy studying!
Sources:
- “Does Listening to Music Really Help You Study?” Texas A&M University, 21 Mar. 2021. https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/blog/2021/03/10/does-listening-to-music-really-help-you-study/.
- “Regular Rehearsal Helps in Consolidation of Long Term Memory.” National Library of Medicine, 1 Mar. 2006. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3818677/.
- https://quizlet.com/login?redir=%2Flatest