10 Effective Ways to Study and Make Better Grades.

1. Eliminate human distractions. Pick a study location where you can work uninterrupted. If it’s your room, post a “do not disturb” sign on your door. If you’re interrupted anyway, be sure the guilty party knows that these interruptions are not acceptable. You should play hard. But when the time comes to study, you should study hard too - your friends should be able to accept that. Oh yeah, turn off your phone(s) too.


2. Clear your mind. Now more than ever, our brains are inundated with information. Gone are the days when college students had to manage a handful of things - class, social life, and well, social life. Today’s college students are bombarded with cell phone calls, rss feeds, facebook updates, internship concerns, and email in addition to social life and class work. Before you crack your books, take a few minutes to clear your mind. Close your eyes, breath deeply, and relax. I highly recommend the 10-Minute Supercharger from Learning Strategies Corporation for this purpose. It’s ten minutes well spent to prepare your mind for maximum learning before you ever begin. You’ll be relaxed yet energetic and ready to start learning.


3. Begin with the end in mind. Now that your mind is clear, take a moment to set some goals for what you will learn. If you’re studying from a textbook, use the objectives printed at the beginning of the chapter as a starting point. If that’s not an option, use your course syllabus to set you on the right track. As the old saying goes, “if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” The road to learning specific information is, itself, very specific. Chart your path in advance and you’re in for a very productive session.


4. Use earplugs. I’m a big fan of wearing earplugs when I study. They block out ambient noise, such as doors closing in the distance, chatter in the hallway, and sirens from outside the building. As an added benefit, I’ve found that using earplugs actually allows me to “hear myself think.” Because the ambient noise is no longer there, I am able to hear the conversations I’m having in my head thereby enabling me to build networks of information (versus memorizing alone). Call me crazy, but it works.


5. Recognize the power of smell. Smell is said to be the sense with the greatest attachment to memory. Some think it’s proximity to memory centers in the brain is responsible for this connection. Experiment with the effects of smell on your memory while you study. If it’s safe (and permitted), burn a scented candle or incense during your study sessions. Then when you’re stumped on a test or quiz, close your eyes and recall the smell of the candle or incense. It might just jumpstart your memory.


6. Develop a standard notetaking method. Different students like different note taking methods. Whether you prefer mind mapping, Cornell notes, outline format, sentence format, or another method, find one that works for you and stick to it. Over time, you’ll develop your own version of note taking and will be able to use this method for the rest of your life.


7. Take regular breaks. Your brain can only take so much in one sitting. When your mind starts to wander, or you find yourself daydreaming or reading the same paragraph over and over again, it’s time to take a break. Spend 10 minutes away from the books, but don’t enter another activity that requires concentration or would result in distraction. In other words, don’t check facebook, don’t visit with friends, don’t read email or rss feeds. Instead, take the opportunity to go to the bathroom, drink a bit of water (500mL is good), and stretch your back, neck, arms and legs. Streching promotes blood flow in the body and will serve to wake your brain up allowing you to get back into 100% concentration much faster. When you’re ready to get back to it, don’t forget to clear your mind and begin with the end in mind again.


8. Hydrate. Drink water while you study. If you’re brain is getting a workout, it needs water to function efficiently - just as your muscles do. Take advantage of internal interruptions like daydreaming or “oh-yeah, I’ve gotta do that” moments by taking a drink of water, writing down the interruption, and then get back to learning. The goal is to sustain a 100% concentration level. Water will help to make this happen. As an added benefit, drinking water will also force you to take regular breaks as your kidneys do their job.


9. Snack on brain food. Just as your brain needs water to operate in a highly productive state, it also needs food. Snacking lightly while studying prevents you from getting hungry (another internal distraction). Light snacking also prevents you from having to eat large meals that result in the post meal coma that we’re all so familiar with. Remember, healthy snacks are important.


10. Tweak your routine. After you’ve established a routine, don’t be afraid to tweak it to perfection. Over time you’ll find that you prsefer one candle over another, like the purple earplugs more than the orange ones, and learn more in the library than you do in the coffee shop. Constant improvement is what makes you a bona fide lifelong learner.