What are some study hacks for students?
Answers
Flowcharts: Every topic has process or timeline in it. So break the topic accordingly and make flowchart. Instead of revising 2 pages every now and then, make a flow chart and save time. Flowchart helps our brain to remember things in easy way. Brain can easily classify and differentiate the topics if we make flowchart.
Two subjects/topics per day-Easy and tough: Don’t try to finish one whole subject in a day or all the subjects in a week. This will result in confusion and pressure. Instead, pick two topics: one easy and one difficult. Finish off the easy topic first. This will increase your confidence that you have at least finished a topic. Then go to the difficult one. This trick will help you in completing your syllabus on time, without any stress.
Understand, instead of cramming: Read the topic first like a story. Understand it. Visualize it in your mind. If you cram, chances are that you will only remember 20% of what you crammed. Under pressure of exam, you may even forget what you studied. To avoid such situation, read very carefully, keeping all your sense open and aware. Literally tell yourself that you are ready to understand and give yourself to that topic. If you understand instead of cramming, you will be able to explain that topic properly to anyone.
20/5 Rule: Being a lazy person who is not very much focused, I find it hard to sit for 3 hours straight and finish my studies. But hey, there is always a way for people like us to make best out of time and resources and be equal to those who have given up everything just to study. Study for 20 minutes with full attention and take break of 5 minutes. This way you can study for 4 hours and not get bored or tired of it. Make sure you get out of your place and roam around. Do some stretching exercises of neck, shoulder, back, waist and legs. Also give your eyes some rest. Talk to people or go out in fresh air. Even jumping for 20 times will help in boosting your mood and refresh your mind.
Make handwritten notes: Make notes in notebook. Avoid storing them on your pc. Search the topic in best of the best books available in library or search them on internet. Make notes from these available topics. Now some might think why to waste time in making handwritten notes when all the topics are just a click away? Well, all the preparation gone into making notes, like searching for the right content, making flowcharts, dividing the topic, picking up important lines/paragraph from material etc, will help your brain to be more acquainted with the topic. Preparing handwritten notes will make it easier to remember the topic for longer duration.