Study Before You Snooze.
It is definitely important to rest up before a big test, but
make sure to add a short study session before you settle in
for the night. Do a quick refresh or just run through some note
cards. We strengthen new memories while we sleep, so this can
help with reinforcing everything you’ve studied.
Try Teaching Someone Else.
You spend hours in the classroom hearing the lessons and
following the teacher’s lead. When you study, try switching it
up and play the role of teacher. It usually helps you understand
things better when you try to explain them to someone else. This
makes you really hone in on the specific steps of a problem.
Strive for Permanence.
Quiz yourself often with the goal of permanently
retaining the knowledge. Oftentimes, we study just enough
that our memory of the data is tied to a trigger. Multiple choice
questions are great for this type of studying but the answers
might not contain choices that trigger your memory. Study with
the aim of remembering the information for good so you can
know the correct answer without having to see it.
Make it Fun.
Most people look at studying as a stressful, monotonous
task. It’s a necessary evil to pass a class and get a good grade,
but you can train yourself to view studying in a more positive,
exciting light. You can do this by giving yourself rewards and
treats for completing your goals for studying—however, the
ultimate reward will be making that A+!
Create Helpful Surroundings.
The environment you create for yourself to study is just
as important as how you study. An ideal study environment
is one with limited distractions and consistently low noise levels.
There are also learning apps that give you the benefit of being
able to study virtually anywhere which is useful if you’re on your
phone a lot.
Create Your Ideal Study Space:
• Remove any and all distractions (phones,
video games, people, etc.)
• Have all essential study materials handy
before you begin.
• Set the ideal temperature for your room
(researchers recommend 72-77 degrees).
• Find a source of natural light.
www.potentialmagazine.com
Fall 2020 | 25