How to study and retain what you have learned.

image source

Studying and retaining information and knowledge can be a daunting task for many students. Some students seem to absorb everything they hear or read and are able to recall it ease. Most student, however, struggle with studying retaining information. What most struggling students don’t realize is that studying is not an inherent talent, but a skill set that can be learned and enhanced. Learning and implementing skills is the first step. The second step is maintaining the discipline to continue day after day.

Fortunately, learning and learning to learn well, will always be one of the most valuable skills in your personal and professional life. My point is that you start building these skills as soon as possible, preferably when you are still a student.
Fast and effective learning is a skill for life and I could talk about it for days. However, to get you started, I will give you 5 powerful tips on how to learn more, how to learn well and how to learn effectively.

7 TIPS TO MAKE LEARNING PERMANENT:

1. CREATING A STUDY SPACE.
   Defining a specific study space that is free from distractions such as cell phones, televisions and family interruptions accomplishes two things. First, it tells your mind that you are ready to focus and second, it cuts your actual studying time in half. Why? Because your mind retains focused study more effectively than unfocused and interrupted study.

2. STUDY IN SHORT, FREQUENT SESSIONS.
   It has been proven that short bursts of concentration repeated frequently are much more effective than one long session. So, even if you only have 10 minutes, DO IT. Take a break. Then study for another 10 minutes. This “distributed learning” approach is highly efficient because it honors the way the brain likes to work. The brain needs recovery and recharging time for “protein synthesis.” The rest periods are when your brain assimilates your effort. This is a powerful tool which many teachers do not acknowledge. To sit and study for hours is not only boring, it create fatigue, stress, and distraction. You cannot learn if you are fatigued, stressed, and distracted!

3. WRITE ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT.
   It’s based on a similar principle: once you reword the information, it has a better chance of staying in your memory.

4. REVIEW THE SAME DAY.
   When you learn something new, try to go over the points the same day. If you wait a few days and then make effort to review the material, it will seem much less familiar. However, a quick review later in the day will tend to cement the information into your brain so that the next “official” studies session; you will recognize it and it will seem easy.

5. HONOR YOUR EMOTIONAL STATE.
   Do not study if you’re tired, angry, distracted or in a hurry. When the brain is relaxed, it is like a sponge and it naturally absorbs data without effort. If you’re emotionally stressed, your brain literally repels data. Forcing yourself to sit and study when your mind is on other things is a complete waste of time!

6. CREATE A STUDY ROUTINE.
   Generally, if you schedule a certain time of the day to study, you will get into a routine and accomplish more. If you just “fit ii in” during the day, chances are that there will never be any time. An effective way to do this is to literally mark it down in your datebook calendar as if you have an appointment, like going to the doctor. For example: “Wednesday 5-7pm.study.”

7. ALLOW YOUR BRAIN TO ABSORB NEW STUFF.
   Everybody has a certain learning rhythm. Some learn best in the early hours of the morning, others learn best late at night. Figure out which rhythm and time suit you best and use this to maximize your learning ability. However, you must frequently give your brain time to absorb new stuff that you are learning. The best way is to “sleep on it” and the second best way is to take frequent breaks and do something completely different.