Good Study Tip #50: Mix It Up!
Hooray! We have reached 50 Good Study Tips! I am super excited to reach this milestone, but this won’t be my last good study tip. As I discover more ways to study effectively, I will share them with all of you!
Anyway, this good study tip is all about mixing it up! I know, in the past I have said that it’s beneficial to follow a schedule and stick to a routine. I still believe that is a smart way to study- most of the time. Sometimes, though, you just gotta ignore that schedule and change that routine! Stop doing the same ol’ thing you’ve been doing.
You might think that changing things up is good because it stops you from being bored out of your mind. And, you would be right- partially. Studying in a new place at a new time feels different- even if you are doing the same ol’ thing you always do. But, there is more to it than that.
There is a whole lot of research that says that we learn best when we are not relaxed. Change makes us (our brains and muscles) pay attention. Athletes change their routines, reps and weights because they know that muscle confusion results in the quickest gains. Musicians practice different types of music and various skills each day to keep themselves “fresh.” Just think of your brain as a big, stinky muscle.
While I want you to do things differently, I am not suggesting that you totally stress yourself out before studying (it can be stressful enough!). I am simply suggesting that once in awhile you make some changes so that studying feels new, different, just a bit stressful.
Ways to Mix Up Your Studying
- Environment
Try studying in a new place. Usually study at home? Study at the library. This will help with my next suggestion…
- Volume
Believe it or not, sometimes a little noise can help you learn. Take your books to the cafeteria, and you might find that all that clanging and talking and laughing actually makes memorizing those Spanish verbs a muy bit easier.
- Order of Subjects
Always study math, then history, then physics? Try physics, then math, then history. Live a little. Your brain will thank you.
- Time
Study at 3 pm? Study in the morning before school (you can do it!). Pull out your books after dinner? Try cracking those books right after lunch.
One word of caution: don’t change too much too often! If you find that you are too stressed to actually get your homework and studying finished, you’ve gone too far. Try making one or two changes at a time- and for a short period. Remember, like most things in life, moderation is key.
Happy Studying!
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Good Study Tip #49: Make A Bet
Here’s a good study tip for those of you lacking motivation to study for that Big Test next week:
Tell a friend that you’re going to ace the test- OR you’ll give them $20 (or $5 or $50, whatever hurts).
Every time you feel like watching TV or sleeping or yakking on the phone or playing Angry Birds, think about handing over that cash. Ask yourself, why should your friend profit from your laziness? Think about how your buddy will laugh in your face and skip off to Starbucks- all because you didn’t hit the books.
Makes you want to study, doesn’t it?
You see, we know that getting good grades is important to our long-term success, and we know that studying is the only way to get good grades. But sometimes long-term success feels very… long-term, and we need an immediate incentive.
Like losing money.
Good luck and good studying!
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Good Study Tip #48: Study with Music
Face it: if you want to succeed in high school, college, graduate school or your career (for example, earning a credential or advanced certificate) you’re going to do
a lot of studying. My feeling is that if you’re going to do a lot of anything, it should be as pleasant and enjoyable as possible.
So, why not study with a little music? Music is great. You love music. Music is powerful. In an instant, music can change your mood from sad to glad, which is exactly what you’d like to happen when you sit down to study or do homework!
Hopefully, you’ve taken the Homework Personality Quiz (learn more here), and you know whether or not you are easily distracted. I wouldn’t worry, though, as I have found that most students have no problem studying with background music (watching TV while studying is another matter). Just make certain that you study with the right music playing in your ear.
How to Create the Perfect Study Playlist:
- Set aside a couple of hours to look through your music library or find new music. This is important, and you need enough time to do it right!
- Choose songs that make you feel:
Happy
No sad, break-up songs allowed. You want to put a smile on your face, not remember how awful it felt when you got dumped.
Energized
Every song on your study playlist should be upbeat. Forget anything that sounds remotely like a lullaby. Stay awake!
Relaxed
I know I just said to choose upbeat songs, but you also want to minimize distractions. Studying is not the time to listen to wild dance music or songs with complicated lyrics. In fact, I recommend choosing songs without lyrics (classical music, movie soundtracks, etc.) OR songs where you have already memorized the words. Allow yourself to concentrate on your books and notes- not what Rihanna is tryna say.
- Download your playlist on all your devices.
Make sure that you always have your study playlist with you- and that you can listen to it where ever you are. I know, I know, you always listen to music on your iPod, but what happens if you (gasp!) forget it one day? Burn a CD and leave it in your backpack; you can pop into your computer for just such emergencies. Don’t forget your earbuds!
Good luck and good studying!
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Good Study Tip #47: Learn How to Take Good Notes
This good study tip might seem familiar because I discussed re-writing your notes in Good Study Tip #21, reviewing your notes before a test in Good Study Tip #37, and even using stars in your notes in Good Study Tip #38.
Those are all fabulous tips, but ask yourself:
Do You Know How to Take Really, Really, Really Good Notes in the First Place?
Be honest! Are your notes complete and organized? Can you read them? Do you want to read them? Do they accurately reflect what your teacher and professor lectured about- and what you need to succeed in the class? Obviously, if your notes don’t contain key words and ideas, dates, theories, etc., there is no point in re-writing, reviewing and starring them!
Taking stellar notes is a skill that will serve you for the rest of your life (like knowing how to make a perfect omelet). And while some people have a knack for note-taking, the rest of us must learn how to do it well. Don’t wait for someone else to show you how to take notes. Find a system that makes sense to you, and teach yourself.
There are many ways to take notes, but I recommend learning the Cornell system. I like Cornell Notes for the simple reason that the students at my school who use them do better on tests than the ones who don’t.
Sometimes, it really is just that simple.
There are thousands of links and books to help you learn Cornell Notes. For a quick introduction, read this article from James Madison University. Once you become adept at taking and processing your notes, you will have to spend less time studying for tests, quizzes and exams.
Better grades with less studying?
Now, that sounds like a plan!
Cornell Notes rock, but how about even more studying and organization tips? Check out the ebook How to Organize Your Homework and Study Each Subject So You Can Get Good Grades and Have A Life!
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Good Study Tip #46: Work that Whiteboard
In the 11th grade, I took AP Biology. My teacher, Mr. Thiel, was fantastic, and even though I’m not usually a “science geek,” I did well- until we came to photosynthesis. For some reason, I had a really difficult time with photosynthesis. I couldn’t remember the steps, I kept forgetting the terminology- it was like I had a mental block, and my usual study tricks (like
good study tip #40,
#27 and
#3) weren’t working. If I didn’t do something- fast- I was going to get a big, fat ‘F’ on a major test- not to mention screw up on the AP Exam.
Not acceptable.
One afternoon a few days before the test, I taped a piece of butcher paper on my bedroom wall, opened my science book and copied the graphic explanation of photosynthesis onto the paper. I didn’t understand most of it, but I did it anyway. (Desperation makes you do some strange things, doesn’t it?) I told myself that I had done all I could do. I glanced at my drawing while doing other things in my bedroom, and sometimes I laid on my bed and stared at it, but I no longer actively studied photosynthesis. Then, a funny thing happened:
It clicked!
The drawing became clear. I understood what Mr. Thiel had been trying to explain for weeks. I saw the Big Picture. I understood photosynthesis! (No doubt there is some heavy science behind this, such as visual metacognition, but I told you that I’m not a science geek.)
What does this have to do with whiteboards? When I was trying to master photosynthesis, we didn’t have nifty stuff like personal computers, and I had certainly never seen a whiteboard outside of an office (I’m not 100% certain they existed inside offices). But, these days, you can buy a whiteboard at almost any store. Write or draw whatever definition, a theorem, a scientific process, etc. you need to master on your personal whiteboard and let it “seep” into your brain.
By the way, I aced that test, and I got college credit for passing the AP exam.
Good luck and good studying!
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Good Study Tip #45: Teach A Study Session
In
Good Study Tip #42, I shared how to plan and hold a study session (check it out for a quick refresher). Those who attend your incredibly helpful study session will tell their friends in class. When your teacher finds out that you’re responsible for the improved test scores, she will no doubt ask you to share your awesome study skills with everybody! Next thing you know, you’re standing in front of the class like a real teacher!
Teaching a class or study session is not only a good study tip, it is one of the easiest study tips because you have already done all of the preparation. Once your teacher gives you the go-ahead, you simply repeat what you did at your first study session.
The best part is that by the time you have prepared and twice taught your study session, you will be a total expert!
For more good study tips- including tips #1 -#5, check out my ebook: How to Organize Your Homework and Study Each Subject So You Can Get Good Grades and Have A Life. The title says it ALL!
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Good Study Tip #44: Protect Your Weekend
This good study tip might seem familiar because in
Good Study Tip # 29 I encouraged you to reward yourself, possibly with a short study break. Now, I want you to go a step further and
make certain that you schedule free time to include at least one weekend day.
Taking a complete and total day off from studying means absolutely no studying, no reading school books, no reviewing notes, no talking about upcoming tests! Even if you want to hit the books (ha!), it is important to give yourself at least a full 24 hour break from studying each week.
Choose either Saturday or Sunday to be No Study Days, but don’t waste your free day worrying about school or feeling guilty for not studying. Try to do something fun and/or relaxing:
- Hang out with family or friends.
- Take the dog for a long walk.
- Go shopping.
- Create some art.
- Redecorate your room or home.
- Exercise- get your blood flowing!
It’s not always easy to take time off- especially if you are a serious student. However, you will find that if you protect at least one weekend day to relax and enjoy yourself, you will find yourself even better able to study the rest of the time.
Good luck and good studying!
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Good Study Tip #43: Translate Your Notes
This is one of those good study tips that not everyone will be able to use. Nevertheless, I am sharing it because it will be truly helpful for so many.
Do you know another language? If so, use your awesome knowledge to help you study:
Translate Your Notes from One Language to Another.
For example, if your science notes are written in English, translate them into Spanish. You can do this by re-writing your notes (always a good idea) or by reading them out loud to a family member or friend.
Translating your notes is such a good study tip because if forces you to really, really think about a subject: ideas, names, dates, vocabulary, etc. By the time you finish translating a few pages of geography notes, for example, you will definitely understand and (hopefully) remember what it’s all about! Plus, you might teach somebody something!
Good luck and good studying!
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Good Study Tip #42: Teach Your Own Study Session
In past good study tips, I have told you to
work with a study partner, always
attend study sessions and
pretend you are the teacher. These are all great ideas, but there’s more!
Now, I want you to combine all three of those good study tips and teach your own study session:
- Comb through all of your class notes, tests and guides.
- Create a study guide.
- Give the study guide to your classmates (the ones that will actually look at it!) and invite them to a study session to be held in the next few days.
- Create a test. Make it hard!
- At the study session, review the study guide and hand out the test.
- Correct the test with study participants.
- Get ready for some great discussions!
I guarantee that you won’t want to look foolish in front of your classmates. Preparing the guide and test and holding the study session will force you to become an expert on the subject matter! Who knows, your classmates might tell the “real” teacher how good you are, and you’ll end up teaching in front of the whole class! Whatever happens, you will definitely be well prepared for the test or exam!
Good luck and good studying!
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Good Study Tip #41: Don't Go Straight Home
This is one of those good study tips that makes you wonder why more people don’t do it.
Every day, my friend’s husband picks their ten year-old son up from school and takes him directly to the local public library. Son studies and does homework; Dad reads. Dad is available to help and answers questions, but mostly his son works independently. After an hour or two, the boys leave the library. Homework is finished, and the rest of the afternoon and evening are free for sports, TV, friends, family time, etc.
Going to the library right after school or class is a super idea:
There are no distractions (TV, phone, etc.) to prevent you from working.
There are plenty of books and reference materials at your fingertips.
What I like best about this good study tip is that my friend’s son has learned strong, life-long study habits. He’s been going to the library with his dad since first grade, so at this point, doing homework and studying right after school is just part of his daily routine. What a gift Dad has given his son- and the rest of the family!
This might not work for every family and student, but every student could benefit from the idea of taking care of business sooner rather than later.
I love this study tip!
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