Have you spent countless nights burning the midnight oil for an upcoming examination, only to find that nothing is sinking in?
Don’t just study hard: study smart too. If you’ve always found studying to be a little challenging, here’s a list of things you can put to the test. We hope they will help you to study in a more effective manner!
1) Create your own notes or revision material
While it can be really convenient to rely on course handouts, or type out what lecturers say word-for-word, don’t forget to organise everything into your own notes after. This will help you to sift out important information and reflect on key concepts covered in class. Being able to translate everything into your own words is also a good indicator that you’ve really understood and absorbed what you’ve learnt.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your revision process, you may find active recall helpful! Here’s what you need to do: write down a series of questions for each module, and go over them a few times as you study for your tests and exams. This promotes memory retrieval and enhances long-term learning[i]. For tips on this method, do check out the video below!
(Video credits: Ali Abdaal)
2) Take a ‘coffee nap’
You haven’t read wrongly: try drinking some coffee—or tea if that’s what you prefer—and taking a power nap right after.
In a recent study conducted on university students[ii], those who drank coffee before taking an afternoon nap showed improved outcomes in terms of alertness. So how exactly does a ‘coffee nap’ enhance your productivity? The study explains: firstly, caffeine helps to improve alertness by blocking adenosine, a naturally-forming chemical that promotes drowsiness[iii]. Secondly, when consumed before a nap, it can help to counteract sleep inertia.
Do avoid taking such naps at night, however, as caffeine has been found to significantly reduce both sleep time and efficiency when consumed three to six hours before bedtime[iv]. Please refrain from overdoing caffeine naps as well, as caffeine can have negative health effects when consumed in excess[v].
3) Apply various learning strategies
Everyone learns differently, which is why there is no right or wrong way to learn! If your studying sessions aren’t as productive as you’d like them to be, why not liven things up a little with these activities below?
| Visual Learners (Seeing) |
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| Auditory Learners (Hearing) |
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| Reading and Writing Learners |
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| Kinaesthetic Learners (Hands-on) |
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You needn’t restrict yourself to the activities belonging to your preferred learning style. If an activity or learning strategy sounds interesting, go for it and see if it’ll work for you!
4) Become the lecturer for a day
The next time you gather with your classmates for a virtual study session, try taking turns to become the teacher! Your group could assign each person a topic everyone wants to improve on or learn more about, and have them give a ‘mini-lecture’. Alternatively, you could also explain tough concepts to any inanimate object—be it a rubber duck or your favourite stuffed animal.
Why do this? Learning-by-teaching, in a nutshell, helps you master the material better. Firstly, you’ll have the opportunity to review past material as you prepare your ‘lesson’. You’ll also need to anticipate and answer questions that your ‘students’ will throw your way, which will help you to identify gaps in your own knowledge that need filling in.
As a bonus, learning-by-teaching will also help you to build on your communication and presentation skills. These skills will be especially useful when you enter the workplace!
5) Take care of your body
Last but not least, do look after your mental and physical wellbeing. Stay active and get enough rest, so that you’ll have enough energy to stay focused and alert.
Eat and drink healthier, too! Some suggestions we have for things you can snack on while studying, for example, include dark chocolate and nuts. Dark chocolate and cocoa powder have been found to contain a high percentage of flavonoids that could benefit human brain function[vi], while nuts are great for a quick energy boost.
Consider pairing these foods with some piping hot tea, as research has found that regular tea drinking may improve brain efficiency and slow down age-related cognitive decline[vii]. As usual, please consume all things in moderation and have a balanced diet.
Are you ready to hit the books now? Before you do, check out 5 ways to stay focused when studying and other videos in our Keep It Lit series for more actionable tips. We wish you a fruitful session!
[i] https://learninglab.psych.purdue.edu/downloads/2012_Karpicke_CDPS.pdf
[ii]https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340218517_Effect_of_prenap_coffee_on_daytime_sleepiness_in_university_students
[iii] https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Adenosine.aspx
[iv] https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.3170#d3e435
[v] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5445139/
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