Study and learning tips

beerd@beehaw.org to Chat@beehaw.org – 9 points –

I never really managed to get into the habit of studying for school, and even when i tried and sat down somehow always in like half an hour i caught myself thinking about or doing something completely different. Now that im about to enter university im afraid that i will not be able to continue like this without heavy consequences. What systems and tips did you find useful for school related work and doing stuff without interest in general?

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I always went overboard with studying but I always got top grades so I think it was worth it. Best to do the below by hand.

  • First do a mindmap/brain storm of everything you know about the topic- use stick men and drawings to visualise concepts and link them with different colours

  • Once you've done that, get an A5 card and distill what's on the mindmap into one or two sides of the card only. The idea behind doing this is so it imprints on your memory.

  • Next, take a different A5 card and write yourself some questions based on the topic. Build up a few and then once a week/ every few days write out the answers to the questions (repeat as needed until you don't need the card to remember the answers).

  • I would also gamify revision. So if there were terms that I needed to remember the definitions I would write out the term on one bit of paper and the definition on another and flip over and do a matching game. When you find the right pair, write down the term and definition.

  • Also come up with songs about the topic. I remember coming up with a couple of verses about the history of medicine to the tune of the Copacobana. Then in the exam the tune gets stuck in my head so I remember the words.

In case you're wondering, no I did not have a social life. It genuinely worked though.

Other tips- make a playlist of instrumental music or music in a language you don't know. Rainymood can be good as well. Do it in small chunks and treat yourself after completing each one (I had a cup of my favourite tea).

Also I made posters with pictures and one or two words that link back to a topic, then stuck it in my room. Post its with terms on in places where you go regularly as well.

Thank you, these seem really effective! Hope i will have the willpower to implement them.

Good luck! Admittedly I only stuck to it due to crippling depression and anxiety so YMMV