Most of us love to learn new and exciting things. After all, an inquisitive mind is one of the attributes that helps define us as human beings. But many of us don’t really care all that much about studying, which is the way we simply have to learn while we’re in school. Many students find the task of studying to be boring and repetitious, but it doesn’t have to be that way at all.
Here are a few tips that can help make studying both more interesting and more effective:
1 – Find a study partner. If you’re like most people, you work more efficiently as a part of a team, even if that team consists of only two people. Simply having someone else in the room with you will help reduce the stress and boredom that inevitably comes with a study session. Just be sure to resist the temptation to talk and goof off. You’re still there to study, not catch up on the latest gossip.
2 – Start with the subjects that you find the least enjoyable first. Getting the difficult subjects out of the way before boredom and fatigue set in will make your entire study session seem shorter and more productive.
3 – Play soft instrumental music in the background. While head-banging rock and roll or songs with catchy lyrics would only distract you, a quiet, soothing sound can help calm the nerves and make the brain more receptive to learning new facts and ideas.
4 – Take a short break between subjects. Going straight from Trigonometry to Anatomy can trick the brain into feeling overwhelmed. Five minutes of thinking about something pleasant with your eyes closed will work wonders on your psyche and help you feel refreshed when it comes time to tackle the next subject on your list.
5 – Keep the big picture in mind. Always remember that all this studying today will pay off big time later by giving you the tools you need to get a great job and live a wonderful life.
About the author: Aaron Sandoval is a teacher and life-long student of… everything!