This blog entry is about simple secrets, solutions and strategies to improve study habits. I actually compiled everything I’ve searched before about effective studying habits, tips from my professors and my own studying habits.
I actually made this for my friend, Koliko, last April 25. I want to help her since she’s taking up medicine(course). I’ve also shared this to some of my friends like Sun-A Kim and Joyce Supnet.
Now, I’m sharing this to everyone. I hope just like them, this blog entry can help you in establishing your own healthy study habits.
1. Analyze yourself. Set your goals.
- Change bad study habits. Improve study habits. Make learning fun in your own way.
-Write down your goals and your objectives plus on how you would achieve those.
-Read those every night to remind you of what you are trying to achieve. This will make you more dedicated and will give you a feeling of self-fulfillment whenever you had achieved some.
2. Manage your time. Set priorities. Do your daily schedule. Activities should be balance.
*Study before doing anything unnecessary. One should STUDY BEFORE SURFING THE NET. DISCIPLINE IS A BIG CHECK! J
-In a day that you don’t have classes, spend time reading. Wake up at 4AM. (Research said that during this time retention is better.) Do “short frequent reading”. (2 hours of reading then 1 hour break. Then go back reading. Your brain needs a break.)
-Set a topic that you will read each day. You don’t need to force yourself reading an entire book each day because it will be useless because not everything will be retained.
-In a day after having classes, read the lecture that you’ve had that day. In that way, more information will be restored. This also prevents cramming during examinations. Cramming is not effective because lessons that you’ve studied will just be short-term. Reading lessons everyday after classes gives students long-term memory.
3. Exercise at least 30mins, 3x a week.
Rationale:
a.Physical exercise increases oxygen to your brain and reduces the risk for disorders that lead to memory loss, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Exercise may also enhance the effects of helpful brain chemicals and protect brain cells.
b. Exercise promotes circulation at the same time gives you energy to study for long periods of time. You will be surprise on how much energy you will have if you do regular exercise.
4. Sleep well.
-Have at least 7 hours of sleep each day.
Rationale:
a. When you’re sleep deprived, your brain can’t operate at full capacity. Creativity, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking skills are compromised. *This is so true!!!! I’ve experienced 24-hours of no sleep because of our group work/presentation during our 2nd year days. Almost half of the class are sleepless. haha! We were pinching each other to keep ourselves awake. I really can’t absorb anything because my eyes wanted to shut. Nursing can make you realize that sleep is one of the precious things that life has to offer! :-))
b. Research shows that sleep is necessary for memory consolidation, with the key memory-enhancing activity occurring during the deepest stages of sleep.
*I really love to sleep. haha! Well, who doesn’t?
5.Eat nutritious foods.
a.It’s better to have small frequent feedings (6 small meals each day) rather than having 3 big meals.
b. Don’t skip BREAKFAST!
c. Eat foods rich in carbohydrates. For energy that lasts, choose complex carbohydrates such as whole-wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, high-fiber cereal, lentils, and whole beans.
d. Eat foods rich in omega 3 (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines etc.) Rationale: More and more evidence indicates that omega-3 fatty acids are particularly beneficial for brain health.
e. Limit intake of saturated fat (red meat, whole milk, butter. Cheese, sour cream and ice cream) Rationale: Research shows that diets high in saturated fat increase your risk of dementia and impair concentration and memory.
f. Eat more fruits and veggies. Rationale: Fruits and vegetables are packed with antioxidants, substances that protect your brain cells from damage
Vegies: spinach, broccoli, lettuce etc.
Fruits: mangoes, cantaloupe, etc.
g. Drink red wine or grape juice in moderation, cranberry juice, fresh grapes, berries and peanuts. Rationale: Keeping your alcohol consumption in check is key, since alcohol kills brain cells. But in moderation (around 1 glass a day for women; 2 for men), alcohol may actually improve memory and cognition.
*F.Y.I: I don’t drink alcoholic beverages. I don’t even smoke! I’m a good girl you know! :-)
6. Be happy.
a. Maintain healthy relationships with people.
b. Laughter is the best medicine. Be with happy people. They say that when a person is happy, there is better retention.
Rationale: Laughter involves multiple regions across the whole brain. .As psychologist Daniel Goleman notes in his book Emotional Intelligence, “laughter…seems to help people think more broadly and associate more freely.”
7. A big NO to STRESS.
Rationale: chronic stress destroys brain cells and damages the hippocampus, the region of the brain involved in the formation of new memories and the retrieval of old ones.
8. Pray.
Have faith. Prayers make wonders.
Other reminders:
1. Listen and focus on each lecture. Involve as may senses as you can for this helps in better retention.
Rationale: The physical act of rewriting information can help imprint it onto your brain. Even if you’re a visual learner, read out loud what you want to remember.
2. On difficult concepts, try to dissect it into simpler terms that you can easily remember and understand. In this way, you can retain the information longer rather than focusing on the broad concept.
3. Use mnemonics for easier memorization. With regards to normal values for different tests in medical field, you can write them and place them in the wall of your room. As day goes by, you will notice that you can recall the normal values easily because you see them everyday on your wall.
That’s it! Did this post help you? haha. Okay, you guys study well. :-)
Ciao!
(photos are from deviantART.com)
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