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What you eat directly impacts your cognitive function, and research shows that the
right kinds of food can improve focus and memory, and may even help reduce brain
injury.
Nutrients that have been shown to be particularly beneficial for brain function
include Omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid, which can be found in foods like
salmon, sardines, walnuts, spinach, broccoli, avocados, celery, and blueberries.
2. Avoid these foods
Just as eating the right foods can boost brain power, the wrong types of food can
impair learning and memory, and a number of studies have found a correlation
between diets that are high in refined sugars and impaired brain function.
With this in mind, it�s best to avoid eating highly processed foods or those that
contain a lot of sugar when you�re planning to study. This includes things like
doughnuts and cookies, of course, but also foods that you may not necessarily
consider unhealthy such as white bread, margarine, or fruit juice.
3. Stay hydrated
Your brain is composed of about 73% water, so it�s no surprise that when you don�t
drink enough, your brain can�t function at its full capacity. Even mild dehydration
can affect your ability to learn, and research shows that by the time you feel
thirsty, a 10% cognitive decline may already be present. So don�t wait until you
feel thirsty to get yourself a glass of water. If you have trouble remembering to
drink water throughout the day, make a habit of carrying a refillable water bottle
with you and taking a sip every so often.
4. Chew gum
If you�re feeling a bit sluggish, a simple way to get a quick boost of brain power
is to chew gum. A study from the University of Northumbria found that when subjects
chewed gum, their ability to remember memorised words improved by 35%. Another more
recent study from St. Lawrence University found that when students chewed gum
before a test, their performance on recall and memory tasks was briefly improved.
The effect was strongest right after chewing the gum, and dropped back to normal
levels after about 20 minutes.
The researchers speculate that the chewing motion increases the heart rate, gets
more blood flowing to the head and warms up the brain. Just keep tip number two in
mind and choose sugar free gum.
5. Sleep on it
Sleep and learning go hand in hand, and numerous studies over the past decade have
shown that sleep is important for everything from consolidating learning and memory
to boosting creativity.
Harvard researchers have found that dreaming may reactivate and reorganise recently
learned material, which improves memory and boosts performance, and one German
study showed that even quick 6-minute naps can improve memory. So don�t
underestimate the power of a good night�s sleep or even a well-timed catnap.
6. Try collaborative learning
Research shows that working together with others to solve problems and share
knowledge not only improves communication and collaboration skills, but also
promotes student engagement, leads to a deeper understanding, and benefits long-
term retention.
Of course, there are many benefits to independent learning too and studying with
others may not always be the right option for you. But if you�re lacking motivation
or feel like you�ve hit a brick wall with your learning, collaborating with others
could help you gain a new perspective. Some great tools for online collaboration
include Google Drive, Mind Meister, Piazza and, of course, Skype or Google
Hangouts.
7. Kill your stress
Stress is known to impair the brain�s ability to learn, and one study from the
University of California-Irvine shows that even short term stress that lasts just a
few hours can impair brain-cell communication in the areas associated with learning
and memory. This may also explain why your mind seems to go blank right before an
important test or presentation.
With this in mind, it�s extremely important to calm your mind and find ways to
relax before you sit down to study. There are many different stress-busting
techniques, from physical activity to meditating to breathing exercises, and you
may have to experiment a bit before you find one that works for you.
8. Reward yourself
If you�re lacking the will to study, putting a few small rewards in place will not
only boost your motivation, but may even help you better remember what you�ve
learned, especially if you have the luxury of taking a quick nap afterwards.
A study from the University of Geneva found that rewards or positive reinforcement
can seal information in the brain during learning, and these memories can then be
reinforced by a short nap immediately after the learning period.
9. Get moving
In addition to reducing stress, physical exercise can also boost brainpower and
some research even suggests that exercise can stimulate the growth of new brain
cells. Neuroscientists from Cambridge University found that running stimulates the
brain to grow fresh grey matter. The new brain cells were found in the part of the
brain that�s responsible for forming and recollecting memories, which is why
regular aerobic exercise can improve our ability to learn.
Another study from the Radboud University Medical Centre found that people who
completed a high intensity workout four hours after learning retained more
information two days later. However, people who worked out immediately after
learning retained 10% less than those who waited for four hours, so if you do plan
to work out after a study session, give yourself at least a few hours of inactivity
in-between.
10. Listen to music
We are often advised to avoid listening to music and instead seek out a quiet
environment when studying, but research shows that some types of music may actually
help us concentrate. One study led by Stanford researchers showed that music
activates areas of the brain associated with paying attention and making
predictions. Researchers from the Universite de Caen Basse-Normandie in France also
found that listening to music made students more receptive to information. Those
who listened to a lecture where music was played in the background scored
significantly higher on the quiz than those who listened to the lecture with no
music.
Of course, since both of these studies used classical music, it�s unclear whether
other types of music would have the same effect. So if you want to play some music
during your next study session, you�d probably be better off choosing classical
music over Kanye West or Justin Bieber.
11. Make it relevant
When what you�re learning seems relevant to your life in some way, you�ll be far
more motivated and engaged, because you�ll be able to see how that new information
will benefit you in the real world.
Research shows that some of the best ways to establish relevance include looking
for ways to apply theory in practice, relating subject matter to everyday
applications and finding applications in current newsworthy events. If you want to
find out how to make your learning relevant, this article is full of advice on
doing just that.
12. Avoid multi-tasking
Most of us have become accustomed to doing things like texting, reading and
streaming media simultaneously, but when it comes to learning, all this busyness
isn�t doing us any good. Research shows that multitasking reduces the brain�s
ability to store new information, so if you�re constantly switching between tasks,
all that information will likely be going in one ear and out the other. If you
often open your laptop to study only to find yourself distracted by emails or news
sites, website blocking apps such as SelfControl or Anti Social can be useful for
preventing this type of multitasking. But studying offline, at the library for
instance, can also be a good way to avoid online distractions.
13. Try chunking
Your first instinct when learning something new might be to read the information
over and over in order to commit it to memory, but practice testing is far more
effective as a study technique. One study found that students who took retrieval
practice tests after reading for ten minutes retained around 50% more information a
week later than students who used techniques such as concept mapping or cramming.
Even if you don�t have access to practice tests, you can still test yourself by
writing down everything you remember after each new chapter or frequently asking
yourself questions about what you�re learning.
15. Take up a musical instrument
Although in recent years the credibility of popular brain training games and
exercises has been called into question, there is still one very effective way to
enhance your cognitive abilities. One study by researchers from the University of
Zurich found that regularly playing a musical instrument can change the shape and
power of the brain. In fact, the researchers note that learning to play a musical
instrument can increase IQ by seven points in both adults and children. Changes in
the brain were even noticeable in people over the age of 65 after just four or five
months of playing a musical instrument for one hour each week.
16. Think about teaching someone else
Have you ever heard the saying �While we teach, we learn?� A study published in the
journal Memory and Cognition found that students who thought they would have to
teach the material they were learning to someone else who would be tested on it
engaged in more effective learning strategies. So if you�re learning something new,
think about how you would explain the topic to someone else. Even if you never end
up teaching it to anyone, approaching your learning in this way can help you pick
out the most important information and organise it more effectively.
17. Take notes by hand
Very few students still take notes by hand, but research shows that when we write
by hand our brain receives feedback from our motor actions, and the movements
involved in writing with a pen or pencil play an important role in letter and word
recognition and recall.
Although learning is no laughing matter, research shows that humour can enhance
learning by increasing student engagement, reducing anxiety and increasing
motivation. One study found that when a statistics lecture was interspersed with
jokes that were relevant to the topic, students were more likely to recall what
they had learned. Another study that looked at humour in online learning showed
that students logged in to the online system more frequently and were more likely
to enjoy the course when it included jokes, cartoons and top 10 lists.
19. Use the 80/20 rule
The 80/20 rule, popularised by productivity guru Tim Ferris, says that you get 80%
of the results from 20% of the work. So what does this mean when applied to
learning? Quite simply, focusing on the most important 20% of what you�re trying to
learn will actually help you learn 80% of what you need to know. Of course, the
exact number doesn�t matter, the takeaway is that it�s important to focus your
energy and use learning strategies that will provide the biggest return on
investment, or get you the best results for the time you put in.
20. Use feedback effectively
We already know that specific and timely feedback can improve student achievement,
but a new study from the University of Surrey found that how students engage with
the feedback they receive is just as important as how the feedback is delivered.
The researchers reviewed numerous studies published since 1984 and found that
learner engagement with feedback is often poor. Students frequently failed to look
at written feedback or look at it only once and then fail to do anything with the
advice they receive. The researchers note that the key message is that students
must look at feedback as a dialogue rather than a one-way communication.
Of course if you�re studying informally and don�t have the support of teachers and
trainers it can be more difficult to get that all important feedback. But there are
still ways to do so, from talking to friends or family members to getting advice
and support from online learning communities.
Get organized
Carry a homework planner at all times. Entering homework, projects, tests and
assignments as soon as they are assigned will make sure they aren�t forgotten
about.
Pay attention in class
It�s important to concentrate and avoid distractions when the teacher is speaking.
Practice active listening by concentrating on what�s being said and taking notes in
your own words. This will help make sure you hear (and understand) what is being
taught in class.
Steer clear of distractions
Writing clear and complete notes in class will help you process the information you
are learning. These notes will also become study notes that can be reviewed before
a test. Talk to friends or the teacher if you have missed a class to ensure your
notes are complete.
Ask questions if you don�t understand
Raise your hand and ask questions if you don�t understand something. If you don�t
feel comfortable asking in front of everyone, write yourself a reminder to talk to
the teacher after class.
Make a study schedule/plan
When making a study schedule, look at your planner and think about what needs to be
accomplished. Think about the types of questions that will be on the test and the
topics that will be covered so you know what you should focus on. Set specific
goals for each study session, like how many topics you will cover by the end of the
session.
After school, review and expand on the notes from class. Reviewing notes helps move
material learned from short-term memory into long-term memory, which will help next
time you have a big test.
Talk to teachers
Teachers are there to help you do your best. Talk to your teacher and ask for
clarification or extra help if you need it before your test. Taking the initiative
to ask for help goes a long way with teachers!
Designate a study area
The best study spot is one that is quiet, well-lit, and in a low-traffic area. Make
sure there is a clear workspace to study and write on. Everyone�s needs are
different, so it is important you find a spot that works for you.
Study in short bursts
For every 30 minutes you study, take a short 10-15 minute break to recharge. Short
study sessions are more effective and help you make the most of your study time.
Find out more about taking a study break that works.
Simplify study notes
When studying, many people do not want to mix topics �so as not to get confused�.
So if they need to learn to apply one particular idea, they study to the exclusion
of everything else. That is called mass (or block) practice.
Course material and textbooks do not help: they are often neatly organized into
distinct chapters, distinct sections� each one covering one specific topic.
Interleaved practice feels much harder (e.g., �you feel confused�), and it feels
discouraging because progress appears to be slow. However, this confusion you feel�
that is your brain learning.
Interleaved practice is exactly what a real project forces you to do. This means
that real-world experience where you get to solve hard problems is probably a much
more efficient learning strategy than college. Given a choice between doing
challenging real work, and taking classes, you should always take the challenging
work instead.
There are a number of different things that you can do to improve your memory.
Basic tips such as improving your focus, avoiding cram sessions, and structuring
your study time are a good place to start, but there are even more lessons from
psychology that can dramatically improve your learning efficiency. Check out some
of these memory improvement tips to maximize your memorization and retention of new
information.
2
Keep Learning (and Practicing) New Things
Students learning
Prasit photo / Moment / Getty Images
One sure-fire way to become a more effective learner is to simply keep learning. In
one article published in Nature, it was reported that people who learned how to
juggle increased the amount of gray matter in their occipital lobes, the area of
the brain is associated with visual memory. When these individuals stopped
practicing their new skill, this gray matter vanished.
Another one of the best ways to learn is to focus on learning in more than one way.
Instead of just listening to a podcast, which involves auditory learning, find a
way to rehearse the information both verbally and visually. This might involve
describing what you learned to a friend, taking notes, or drawing a mind map. By
learning in more than one way, you�re further cementing the knowledge in your mind.
According to researcher Judy Willis, �The more regions of the brain that store data
about a subject, the more interconnection there is. This redundancy means students
will have more opportunities to pull up all of those related bits of data from
their multiple storage areas in response to a single cue. This cross-referencing of
data means we have learned, rather than just memorized.�
4
Teach What You've Learned to Another Person
Teach to learn
Hero Images / Getty Images
Educators have long noted that one of the best ways to learn something is to teach
it to someone else. Remember your seventh-grade presentation on Costa Rica? By
teaching to the rest of the class, your teacher hoped you would gain even more from
the assignment. You can apply the same principle today by sharing your newly
learned skills and knowledge with others.
Start by translating the information into your own words. This process alone helps
solidify new knowledge in your brain. Next, find some way to share what you�ve
learned. Some ideas include writing a blog post, creating a podcast, or
participating in a group discussion.
5
Utilize Previous Learning to Promote New Learning
Student
Mike Kemp / Blend Images / Getty Images
Another great way to become a more effective learner is to use relational learning,
which involves relating new information to things that you already know. For
example, if you are learning about
Romeo and Juliet, you might associate what you learn about the play with prior
knowledge you have about Shakespeare, the historical period in which the author
lived, and other relevant information.
, you might associate what you learn about the play with prior knowledge you have
about Shakespeare, the historical period in which the author lived, and other
relevant information.
6
Gain Practical Experience
LWA/Dann Tardif / Brand X Pictures / Getty Images
If you are trying to acquire a new skill or ability, focus on gaining practical
experience. If it is a sport or athletic skill, perform the activity on a regular
basis. If you are learning a new language, practice speaking with another person
and surround yourself with language-immersion experiences. Watch foreign-language
films and strike up conversations with native speakers to practice your budding
skills.
7
Look Up Answers Rather Than Struggle to Remember
Reading a textbook
Hero Images / Getty Images
One study found that the longer you spend trying to remember the answer, the more
likely you will be to forget the answer again in the future. Why? Because these
attempts to recall previously learned information actually results in learning the
"error state" instead of the correct response.
8
Understand How You Learn Best
Student thinking
David Schaffer / Caiaimage / Getty Images
Another great strategy for improving your learning efficiency is to recognize your
learning habits and styles. There are a number of different theories about learning
styles, which can all help you gain a better understanding of how you learn best.
The concept of learning styles has been the subject of considerable debate and
criticism, but many students may find that understanding their learning preferences
can still be helpful.
While it may seem that spending more time studying is one of the best ways to
maximize learning, research has demonstrated that taking tests actually helps you
better remember what you've learned, even if it wasn't covered on the test. The
study revealed that students who studied and were then tested had better long-term
recall of the materials, even on information that was not covered by the tests.
Students who had extra time to study but were not tested had significantly lower
recall of the materials.
10
Stop Multitasking
Multitasking
ImagesBazaar / Getty Images
For many years, it was thought that people who multitask, or perform more than one
activity at once, had an edge over those who did not. However, research now
suggests that multitasking can actually make learning less effective.
How can you avoid the dangers of multitasking? Start by focusing your attention on
the task at hand and continue working for a predetermined amount of time.
Elaborate and Rehearse
Rehearse information to improve memory
Chris Schmidt / Getty Images
In order to recall information, you need to encode what you are studying into long-
term memory. One of the most effective encoding techniques is known as elaborative
rehearsal. An example of this technique would be to read the definition of a key
term, study the definition of that term and then read a more detailed description
of what that term means. After repeating this process a few times, you'll probably
notice that recalling the information is much easier.
6
Visualize Concepts
Use visualization to improve memory
yang wenshuang/E+/Getty Images
Many people benefit greatly from visualizing the information they study. Pay
attention to the photographs, charts, and other graphics in your textbooks. If you
don't have visual cues to help, try creating your own. Draw charts or figures in
the margins of your notes or use highlighters or pens in different colors to group
related ideas in your written study materials. Sometimes even just making
flashcards of various terms you need to remember can help cement information in
your mind.
7
Relate New Information to Things You Already Know
Relating information can improve memory
Blend Images - Mike Kemp / Getty Images
When you're studying unfamiliar material, take the time to think about how this
information relates to what you already know. By establishing relationships between
new ideas and previously existing memories, you can dramatically increase the
likelihood of recalling the recently learned information.
8
Read Out Loud
Teach others to improve your memory
Hero Images / Getty Images
Research suggests that reading materials out loud significantly improves? your
memory of the material. Educators and psychologists have also discovered that
having students actually teach new concepts to others enhances understanding and
recall. You can use this approach in your own studies by teaching new concepts and
information to a friend or study partner.
9
Pay Extra Attention to Difficult Information
Focus on difficult information first to improve memory
101dalmatians / Vetta / Getty Images
Have you ever noticed how it's sometimes easier to remember information at the
beginning or end of a chapter? Researchers have found that the order of information
can play a role in recall, which is known as the serial position effect.
While recalling middle information can be difficult, you can overcome this problem
by spending extra time rehearsing this information. Another strategy is to try
restructuring what you have learned so it will be easier to remember. When you come
across an especially difficult concept, devote some extra time to memorizing the
information.
10
Vary Your Study Routine
Change your routine to improve memory
Isabel Pavia / Getty Images
Another great way to increase your recall is to occasionally change your study
routine. If you're accustomed to studying in one specific location, try moving to a
different spot during your next study session. If you study in the evening, try
spending a few minutes each morning reviewing the information you studied the
previous night. By adding an element of novelty to your study sessions, you can
increase the effectiveness of your efforts and significantly improve your long-term
recall.
11
Get Some Sleep
Sleep can help improve your memory
James Woodson / Getty Images
Researchers have long known that sleep is important for memory and learning.
Research has shown that taking a nap after you learn something new can actually
help you learn faster and remember better.
In fact, one study found that sleeping after learning something new actually leads
to physical changes in the brain. Sleep-deprived mice experienced less dendritic
growth following a learning task than well-rested mice.
1) Effective Learning Takes Practice, Experience, and Memorization
Learning is a skill. Like any skill, learning takes practice, and you get better at
it with experience.
The best way to practice learning is to use the tips in this article while you are
constantly self-improving and learning practical, masculine skills. Simply by
taking your time to learn useful skills, you are getting a better idea of how you
learn from hands-on experience.
A good jiu-jitsu practitioner must memorize and practice the steps for various
takedowns, sweeps, and submissions. Each one takes a considerable amount of time
and effort. In order to instinctively know when to use one technique versus
another, he must know both from practice (of which, again, memorization is a huge
part of) and experience which to draw from and when.
As another example, a student learning calculus needs to recall many of his lessons
from algebra and trigonometry. Therefore, he must have memorized (and be able to
use) the lessons he learned previously from subjects that calculus draws its
information from.
Memorization is not the only process used when you learn, however. What you
memorize must be put to practical use as well, through the ways that we will
discuss further in this article. But that said, you must memorize in order to
learn.
We must note that experience learning makes you better at learning. The more you�ve
learned, the better you understand what you�ve learned from. This makes you a more
effective learner down the road.
Additionally, learning new skills also has many benefits that you cannot fully
predict. Having a wide set of skills to draw from also enables greater problem
solving, and it gives you fresh, creative perspectives on many things in life. For
more on this, read about the importance of the talent stack.
So you will see a lot of overlap between the skills you learn. Therefore, if you
are good at one discipline, you will be better at learning other related skills.
For instance, properly performed heavy weight lifting will strengthen your entire
body, and the core and lower body strength, in particular, will make you more
coordinated for other sports and physical activity. Therefore, lifting can make you
a better dancer, for instance, if you take the time to learn how to dance properly.
The two skills may not have a lot in common conceptually; you will still have to
learn the dance moves, timing, rhythm, and so forth. But lifting will help you
become a better dancer by strengthening the muscles used while you dance, just as
lifting helps with general athleticism and improves your kinesthetic intelligence.
Even if you learn a very different third language, such as Japanese, the experience
of learning a second language will be very useful when you study for the third
language. This is true even though the vocabulary, alphabet, grammar, and sentence
structure are nothing alike.
You may have to modify your routine a bit to learn Japanese since there are more
new concepts to learn and because it�s more challenging for an English speaker, but
the experience from learning an unrelated second language will prove to be an
invaluable base to help you through your Japanese learning process.
In fact, if you want to learn how to learn, picking up a second language is one of
the best ways to do so. This is because you�re learning something massive and
totally new from scratch. It takes tons of memorization, elaboration, practice, and
consistency to get it right. Feedback when speaking is immediate.
Anyway, as you can see, having a wide web of knowledge and experience makes it
easier to learn new knowledge and skills.
On a related note, and to cap this subsection off, let�s briefly mention a feature
of the brain.
As you know, the human brain is extremely complex. Various structures of the brain
are assigned to very different tasks, but we won�t get into them right now.
For now, I will simply state that the neurons of the brain are an intricately
connected web that strengthens as you learn. The more you learn, the more the web
between various neurons is strengthened, and the more neural pathways are enhanced
to utilize the knowledge more efficiently.
The more you retrieve a lesson or skill set, and the more elaborated it is (see
section 4), the stronger the connections are between the associated neurons in your
brain. This makes it faster to recall and it makes it more useful in your brain.
Therefore, as I�ve said, having a wide body of knowledge and experience makes it
easier to connect previous knowledge to new knowledge.
2) Retrieval is Critical to Remember Lessons Better
You have to consciously retrieve something from memory to make it readily available
for later. You have to do this enough times until it is well consolidated, that is,
solidified and easily retrieved in your brain. There is more on consolidation in
the next section.
This can be easily done with any material that you desire to learn. If you read an
online article, especially one as important as this one, a very effective way to
retain it better is to simply quiz yourself on the information afterward.
I find myself doing this all the time when I�m reading articles online; I summarize
the main points in my head when I�m going through and have finished the article. It
only takes a little bit of time and it is huge for long-term retention of the
material.
To practice this concept, summarize the main points of this article to yourself or
someone else.
The process of connecting new information to what you already know is called
elaboration, and it will be explained in more detail soon. All of these require
retrieval of the information.
This is pretty obvious, but if you read an article or book a long time ago and want
to truly relearn its information, go back and reread it. This will interrupt
forgetting and strengthen learning.
However, if you actively use the information in question, it will be much less
necessary to read it again because you are using that information in your daily
life. Rereading a book or article on that information will probably reteach you
things that you aren�t using instead.
For instance, if you practice your deadlift technique in the gym all the time and
think you�re an expert, reading an article might give you an extra trip to improve
your form that you weren�t aware of.
While reading the article, test yourself by explaining the information in your own
words and/or by visualizing yourself using the information, and then actually put
it into practice the next time you�re deadlifting.
You�ve known since grade school that if you want to learn new information, you have
to recite it. However, what is often emphasized less in school is that you need to
put new information into context and elaborate it to make it useful for the future.
So you cannot simply memorize something and expect to be able to use it effectively
when you need it, you absolutely must give it meaning to your own life. This is all
effective retrieval, and there is more on these subjects ahead.
3) Spaced Practice is Critical for Long-Term Retention
To learn something thoroughly, you must space the learning out over a course of
time.
Therefore, if you space out lessons and practice skills over a longer period of
time, you will learn them significantly better in the long run.
Over time, a strongly rehearsed skill or memory comes from its assigned section of
the cerebral cortex instead of the hippocampus, the brain�s short-term and explicit
memory center. This means that it becomes much easier to recall.
Again, consolidation is the process by which a memory becomes integrated into your
brain for easy recall. Consolidation has been shown to be a more effective process
over a longer period of time. It has been shown to happen largely when you sleep.
Interestingly enough, studies have shown that caffeine also helps memory
consolidation, even if you drink caffeine after you initially learn the lesson.
To add to this point, know that students who cram for an exam are not nearly as
effective at withdrawing the material later as students who space their practice
out. You likely know this from your own experience as a student.
In studies where one group of students learns a series of tasks in one day and the
second group spreads their learning out, then both groups are tested on a given
date afterward, the latter group almost always outperforms the former
significantly. I�m not going to link to research on this because I don�t feel like
it. Google it yourself and you�ll see that this is virtually always the case.
Remember this lesson for anything that you want to truly retain and master: you
must space it out and retrieve the knowledge and/or use the skill until it feels
like second nature.
As a side note, if you are shown or read about a new technique, then you
immediately integrate it into your repertoire and thus perform the technique many
times, that is spaced repetition embedded into what you�re doing (as well as
elaboration). It may be helpful to go back to the article, video, or person who
showed you the technique in the first place to make sure it�s being done correctly,
but you don�t need to read about it multiple times if you�re actively doing it.
Anyway, unless you have an upcoming deadline, don�t worry if you haven�t picked up
something for a few days. If you seek to learn a new hobby, for instance, and you
miss a few days of practice, the added days off help you in consolidating your
knowledge and skills.
This is also true about much longer hiatuses. If you started to learn a new
language then you stopped using it for a year before getting back into it, with
proper practice, you will eventually be stronger at it than ever. You�ll end up
with a longer-lasting and stronger understanding of the language because the
practice was spaced out over several years.
Sure, you�d be stronger at it had you never taken a break, and when you get back
into it, it will initially be more challenging. But the fact that you took a long
period of time in between practicing it plays a crucial role in consolidating and
solidifying what you know.
All of this is helpful to know if you have a busy routine and you are learning
something that you cannot practice every day, or if you have taken a long break
from something you started a long time ago. This is one major reason why people
find that they are better at something after they have taken a long break from it.
The struggle that you experience when coming back from a hiatus also causes more
effective, longer-lasting learning. The fifth section will explain more of why this
is the case.
4) Elaboration Is Essential to Truly Understand Any Concept
Let�s say you have 50 foreign vocabulary words to learn. Strict memorization of
these words doesn�t work very well on its own. You need to elaborate them in order
to properly recall them when you need them.
On a related note, as you learn more vocabulary in any language, it will make it
even easier to learn even more vocabulary down the road. When you�re learning a new
vocabulary word, you�re learning more than just the word; you�re getting a true
feel for the language as well. This concept is also true of virtually every other
subject you can possibly learn.
Anyway, if you do not elaborate on a concept, you will not have nearly the same
understanding when you need to use it. You�ll be lucky to be able to recall it in
any meaningful level of detail. You absolutely must give anything meaning in order
to understand it later.
Learning about one ancient culture is easier if you already have a strong
understanding of other cultures. In other words, if you elaborated on those other
cultures thoroughly and have a strong working knowledge of them. If you know dates,
times, and details of many cultures or events, then you can relate them and connect
them to new lessons more effectively.
If you know one set of facts about the Incan Empire, for instance, and you are now
learning about the Aztecs, you can connect a lot of your previous knowledge about
the Incans (and other cultures) to what you�re now learning about the Aztecs.
Dates, times, events, locations, how they got food, their technology, how they were
similar and how they differed, and so forth.
The information you may know about the Incans will connect to what you�ve learned
about the Aztecs. Once your knowledge about the Aztecs is solidified, you will be
able to use that in your web of knowledge to connect to something else that�s
related.
If you�ve ever seen someone who knows an insane amount about a certain subject, and
you�ve asked yourself how it�s possible, it is because they have become well versed
in the subject from years of experience and they can easily elaborate anything new
and connect it to previously learned knowledge.
On that note, there�s one last point I�ll state here. If you practice learning new
concepts by giving them meaning, there�s no known limit to how much you can learn.
Just knowing this fact about elaboration should prove useful very useful for a lot
of people. When I was younger, I used to think I�d forget some old knowledge if I
learned something new. I cannot possibly tell you enough how important it was for
me to drop this misconception.
It�s true that you do �forget� old lessons that you haven�t retrieved in a while.
However, if you have a healthy, functional brain and you forget something, you just
need to consciously retrieve that old information to strengthen your previously
established memories.
5) When You Struggle With a Concept, You Learn Better.
Contrary to what you may believe, if you struggle to learn a lesson before you come
to the conclusion, you will retain it much better.
This is very counter-intuitive to what you may have learned growing up. �Failure�
and struggling while learning is actually productive as long as you eventually come
to the conclusion.
When you struggle with a lesson, you typically have to draw upon multiple trains of
thought to come to the conclusion. This added effort makes the conclusion stick
better, again, as long as you eventually arrive at it. This can occur on your own
or if the answer is eventually given by somebody else after you put in real effort.
However, the initial struggle makes it feel like you are not learning anything, or
perhaps that you are not as smart as you thought you were. Rest assured that this
is an illusion, and when you come back to the lesson later, you virtually always
find that you remember it better than lessons that you did not struggle on.
For example, let�s say that you just entered a new city but you took a wrong turn
and you�re now lost. You have to navigate your way to your destination but your GPS
doesn�t work.
The process of having to spend extra attention figuring what street is which, where
landmarks are, and perhaps even some emotion spent into it as you wonder whether or
not you�ll actually get back, all mean you�re struggling more than you typically
would. Additionally, you have to use navigational skills you may not have used in a
long time, which would enhance those skills and contribute further to the learning
process.
When you finally get back you�re probably a bit relieved. The next time you�re
navigating through the city, especially if it�s the next day or beyond, you�ll come
back to the same city streets with a much greater understanding of the city�s
layout.
Thus, your struggle to learn the city the first day contributed significantly to
your learning of its layout. If you were to only study a map or use a GPS, you
wouldn�t understand the layout nearly as well.
So remember, don�t be afraid to struggle when learning a new lesson. It might not
be something you intentionally do, of course. But if you find yourself struggling,
as long as you eventually reach the conclusion of the lesson, you�ll have learned
it a lot more thoroughly.
6) You Are Often a Poor Judge of When You Are Learning
We naturally want to explain what is going on inside of our own minds, but we are
poor judges of when we are learning.
I�ve noticed that if I�m learning something on a day that I�m tired, I often don�t
feel like I�m learning it very well. But the next day when I�m rereading the
material and I�m better rested, I realize that I picked up a lot more than I
thought.
I�ve also noticed from learning Spanish that despite initially struggling with many
new concepts, much of it became second nature down the road.
Remember from the last section that when you struggle with a task you typically
find yourself better able to recall it in the future. During the initial struggle,
it is very common to believe that you are not picking up the task.
However, this is an illusion. Typically the next day you will come back and realize
that you now know the information better than ever.
Conversely, the illusion of knowledge can occur as well, even with experienced
learners. This can happen when you read something in a book but you cannot explain
it very well when it is tested. Another example is when you learn foreign
vocabulary but can only remember it in one context and you struggle to use it in
conversation.
College students are known for re-reading and memorizing textbook information
because it provides them the illusion of knowing the lesson better than they
actually do. They can recall the information well in the context of the book, but
they often end up doing poorly on the exam or a real-world situation. This is
because they over-estimated their own understanding of the material because they
did not practice it well enough.
The best way to determine how well you�ve learned a lesson is come back and test
yourself with it later. Wait at least 15 minutes to several hours from when you
first learned a lesson. Quiz yourself, elaborate it to yourself or someone else,
and/or utilize the knowledge in another practical manner.
And be aware that even though you now know about this illusion, it will still occur
from time to time. The best thing you can do is recognize it from experience and to
test your knowledge and skills to see where you really stand.
You only know how good you are at something when you�re tested on it.
7) To Greater Understand a Lesson, Analyze it From Multiple Angles
Strict memorization by itself doesn�t work. You cannot effectively memorize facts
without making any attempt to connect them to your previous knowledge, and then
expect to be able to use them effectively later. You have to elaborate and make new
information part of your own knowledge.
If you analyze a new lesson from many angles, you will retain and understand it
much better. Despite what many believe, having a preferred �style� of learning that
helps you learn more effectively is not consistent with research. Lessons are best
retained when you approach them from many angles.
As an example, let�s say that you�re learning a grammar concept in a new language.
First, read the concept in a book. There�s your first angle of understanding
it.
Then apply it by using it in multiple sentences. That is your second angle of
understanding.
Then talk to a native speaker and hear the way they use that grammar concept in
a sentence. Practice using it with them. This is your third angle of understanding
the concept.
Then close your eyes and visualize the grammar chart in one form or another,
filling in the blanks with your brain.
This method will be much more effective than just looking at the chart briefly and
not thoroughly applying the information within. Analyze any lesson with these four
ways of understanding and you will be able to learn it significantly better. It
will also feel like a lot more stress on your brain, which is a good thing!
When you switch between the various ways of understanding a concept, it is called
interleaving. Interleaving is shown to be extremely effective for greater
understanding and long-term retention.
It may not feel like it is producing immediate results, but remember that you are
often unaware of when you are learning effectively.
Studies where learners interleave their practice produce better long-term results,
even if they do worse on an initial test. The book Make it Stick has a lot of
information on this.
8) Socializing With Like-Minded People Helps You Learn More Efficiently and
Solidify Your Knowledge
Socializing with others who are into the same subject will help you learn a subject
more completely and effectively. Frankly, this shouldn�t be too much of a surprise.
Like-minded people will give you a realistic perspective on what you know compared
to them. They can put their input into what you know and add to your knowledge.
They can also give you different perspectives on the subject that you have not
considered on your own. If you teach them something about the subject, this
elaboration process solidifies concepts in your brain and helps you retain the
information better.
Some find that it is initially easier to learn a difficult new concept on their
own. But once you have the basics down, surrounding yourself with like-minded
people will be immensely beneficial toward a greater understanding of the subject.
This cannot be understated; you should not attempt to learn something in a vacuum.
Ideally, it is best to surround yourself with people who know more than you about a
given subject. If you cannot do this, find great resources online: podcasts,
articles, and videos by experts on the subject you seek to learn. There�s a ton of
free, high-quality information out there. Just make sure that you can effectively
separate the good from the bad. Listen to how an expert approaches and discusses
the subject that you are interested in.
Score
0 / 3
Method 1 Quiz
Method 2 Quiz
Seek tutoring if you are having trouble remembering information or taking notes. A
tutor can help you with individual subjects or help you to build study skills in
general.
Highlighting information helps so that you can remember the important parts. This
is good, especially if you are a visual learner
Spread-out learning is more effective learning.
According to research, if you really want new material to stick, the best way to
study is something called "distributed practice." That means that if you want to
master a new concept, your best bet is to study hard for a short period of time,
take a break, and then have another go at it, spreading intense bursts of learning
over a long period of time.
But while research shows this is one of the best ways to practice, it doesn't
necessary fit neatly into the usual way school days are planned. Creative teachers
could, of course, work around that to incorporate the strategy into their plans,
but according to Kent State's John Dunlosky, who led a team of psychologists to
review the evidence for a great variety of learning strategies, many teachers are
simply unaware of the benefits of distributed practice and other science-backed
techniques.
But while you (or your children) are unlikely to use distributed learning at
school, that doesn't mean you can't inform yourself and improve your study
techniques at home or work. The takeaway is clear: It's past time to ditch the
highlighter and take a more scientific approach to learning.
"I was shocked that some strategies that students use a lot -- such as rereading
and highlighting -- seem to provide minimal benefits to their learning and
performance. By just replacing rereading with delayed retrieval practice [i.e.,
spreading out studying], students would benefit," Dunlosky concluded
The research (Willis, J. 2008) shows that different media stimulate different parts
of the brain. The more areas of the brain that are activated, the more likely it is
that you�ll understand and retain the information.[1]
Of course, you won�t be able to do all of these things in one sitting. But each
time you review the topic, use a different resource or method � you�ll learn faster
this way.
2. Study multiple subjects each day, rather than focusing on just one or two
subjects.
It�s more effective to study multiple subjects each day, than to deep-dive into one
or two subjects (Rohrer, D. 2012).[2]
For example, if you�re preparing for exams in math, history, physics, and
chemistry, it�s better to study a bit of each subject every day. This approach will
help you to learn faster than by focusing on just math on Monday, history on
Tuesday, physics on Wednesday, chemistry on Thursday, and so on.
Why?
Because you�re likely to confuse similar information if you study a lot of the same
subject in one day.
So to study smart, spread out your study time for each subject. In so doing, your
brain will have more time to consolidate your learning.
3. Review the information periodically, instead of cramming.
Periodic review is essential if you want to move information from your short-term
memory to your long-term memory. This will help you get better exam grades.
As the research (Cepeda, N. 2008) shows, periodic review beats cramming hands-down.
[3]
The optimal review interval varies, depending on how long you want to retain the
information. But experience � both my own and through working with students � tells
me that the following review intervals work well (I explain the entire periodic
review system in this article):
classroom
If you get to choose where you sit during class, grab a seat at the front. Studies
show that students who sit at the front tend to get higher exam scores (Rennels &
Chaudhari, 1988). The average scores of students, depending on where they sat in
class, are as follows (Giles, 1982):
These findings were obtained under conditions where the seating positions were
teacher-assigned.[4] This means it�s not just a case of the more motivated students
choosing to sit at the front, and the less motivated students choosing to sit at
the back.
By sitting at the front, you�ll be able to see the board and hear the teacher more
clearly, and your concentration will improve too.
The data is conclusive: Multitasking makes you less productive, more distracted,
and dumber.[5][6][7] The studies even show that people who claim to be good at
multitasking aren�t actually better at it than the average person.
Effective students focus on just one thing at a time. So don�t try to study while
also intermittently replying to text messages, watching TV, and checking your
Twitter feed.
Use mnemonic devices like acronyms, as these are proven to increase learning
efficiency.[8]
Example #1
Example #2
Question: Stalactites and stalagmites � which ones grow from the top of the cave
and which ones grow from the ground?
Answer: Stalactites grow from the top, while stalagmites grow from the ground.
Study smart by using mnemonic devices whenever possible. In addition, you could
summarize the information into a comparison table, diagram, or mind map.[9] These
tools will help you learn the information much faster.
7. Take notes by hand, instead of using your laptop.
Scientists recommend this, and not just because you�re more likely to give in to
online distractions when using your laptop. Even when laptops are used only for
note-taking, learning is less effective (Mueller, P. 2013).[10]
Why?
Because students who take notes by hand tend to process and reframe the
information.
In contrast, laptop note-takers tend to write down what the teacher says word-for-
word, without first processing the information.
As such, students who take notes by hand perform better in tests and exams.
8. Write down your worries.
worry
These kinds of thoughts probably run through your head before you take an exam. But
if these thoughts run wild, the accompanying anxiety can affect your grades.
Psychologist Kitty Klein has also shown that expressive writing, in the form of
journaling, improves memory and learning.[12] Klein explains that such writing
allows students to express their negative feelings, which helps them to be less
distracted by these feelings.
To be less anxious, take 10 minutes and write down all the things related to the
upcoming exam that you�re worried about. As a result of this simple exercise,
you�ll get better grades.
9. Test yourself frequently.
Decades of research has shown that self-testing is crucial if you want to improve
your academic performance.[13]
In one experiment, University of Louisville psychologist Keith Lyle taught the same
statistics course to two groups of undergraduates.
For the first group, Lyle asked the students to complete a four- to six-question
quiz at the end of each lecture. The quiz was based on material he�d just covered.
For the second group, Lyle didn�t give the students any quizzes.
At the end of the course, Lyle discovered that the first group significantly
outperformed the second on all four midterm exams.
So don�t just passively read your textbook or your class notes. Study smart by
quizzing yourself on the key concepts and equations. And as you prepare for a test,
do as many practice questions as you can from different sources.
10. Connect what you�re learning with something you already know.
In their book, Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, scientists Henry
Roediger III and Mark A. McDaniel explain that the more strongly you relate new
concepts to concepts you already understand, the faster you�ll learn the new
information.[14]
For example, if you�re learning about electricity, you could relate it to the flow
of water. Voltage is akin to water pressure, current is akin to the flow rate of
water, a battery is akin to a pump, and so on.
Another example: You can think of white blood cells as �soldiers� that defend our
body against diseases, which are the �enemies.�
It takes time and effort to think about how to connect new information to what you
already know, but the investment is worth it.
11. Read key information out loud.
Studies have been conducted, which demonstrate that reading information out loud
helps students to learn faster than by reading silently (MacLeod CM, 2010 & Ozubko
JD, 2010).[15][16]
It isn�t practical to read every single word of every single set of notes out loud.
That would take way too much time.
Step 1: As you read your notes, underline the key concepts/equations. Don�t stop to
memorize these key concepts/equations; underline them and move on.
Step 2: After you�ve completed Step 1 for the entire set of notes, go back to the
underlined parts and read each key concept/equation out loud as many times as you
deem necessary. Read each concept/equation slowly.
Step 3: After you�ve done this for each of the underlined key concepts/equations,
take a three-minute break.
Step 5: For the concepts/equations that you haven�t successfully memorized, repeat
Steps 2, 3, and 4.
12. Take regular study breaks.
study break
Taking regular study breaks enhances overall productivity and improves focus (Ariga
& Lleras, 2011).[17]
That�s why it isn�t a good idea to hole yourself up in your room for six hours
straight to study for an exam. You might feel like you get a lot done this way, but
the research proves otherwise. So take a 5- to 10-minute break for every 40 minutes
of work.
I recommend that you use a timer or stopwatch to remind you when to take a break
and when to get back to studying.
During your break, refrain from using your phone or computer, because these devices
prevent your mind from fully relaxing.
13. Reward yourself at the end of each study session.
Before starting a study session, set a specific reward for completing the session.
By doing this, you�ll promote memory formation and learning (Adcock RA, 2006).[18]
Reward yourself at the end of every session � you�ll study smarter and learn
faster.
14. Focus on the process, not the outcome.
Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck�s research shows that these students � [19]
Performance goals (e.g. getting 90% on the next math test, getting into a top-
ranked school) are about looking intelligent and proving yourself to others.
In contrast, learning goals (e.g. doing three algebra problems every other day,
learning five new French words a day) are about mastery and growth.
Most schools emphasize the importance of getting a certain exam score or passing a
certain number of subjects. Ironically, if you want to meet � and surpass � these
standards, you�d be better off ignoring the desired outcome and concentrating on
the learning process instead.
15. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
drink water
You probably think you drink enough water, but studies show that up to 75% of
people are in a chronic state of dehydration.[21]
Dehydration is bad for your brain � and your exam grades too.
University of East London researchers have found that your brain�s overall mental
processing power decreases when you�re dehydrated (Edmonds, C. 2013).[22] Further
research has shown that dehydration even causes the grey matter in your brain to
shrink.[23]
Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Bring a water bottle wherever you go,
and drink water before you start to feel thirsty.
And if you�re taking an exam, bring a water bottle with you. Every 40 minutes or
so, drink some water. This will help you stay hydrated and improve your exam
performance. Plus, this also acts as a short break to refresh your mind.
16. Exercise at least three times a week.
Exercise is good for your body. It�s also very good for your brain.
So to study smarter, exercise at least three times a week for 30 to 45 minutes each
time. You�ll be healthier and more energetic, and you�ll remember information
better too.
17. Sleep at least eight hours a night, and don�t pull all-nighters.
I�ve spoken to and worked with 20,000 students so far. Not a single one has told me
that he or she consistently gets eight hours of sleep a night.
�There�s just so much to do,� I hear students say, again and again. As a student,
sleep often seems more like a luxury than a necessity.
The research shows that if you get enough sleep, you�ll be more focused, you�ll
learn faster,[28] and your memory will improve.[29] You�ll also deal with stress
more effectively.[30]
So sleep at least eight hours a night. This way, your study sessions will be more
productive and you won�t need to spend as much time hitting the books.
In addition, sleep expert Dan Taylor says that learning the most difficult material
immediately before going to bed makes it easier to recall the next day.[31] So
whenever possible, arrange your schedule such that you study the hardest topic
right before you sleep.
blueberries
Blueberries are rich in flavanoids, which strengthen connections in the brain and
stimulate the regeneration of brain cells.
Just in case you�re worried about the high cholesterol content of egg yolks, you
can breathe a sigh of relief. Recent studies show that eggs � including the yolk �
are a healthy food for just about everyone.[37]
And if you�re a vegetarian, there are alternatives to getting choline in your diet:
Lentils
Sunflower seeds
Pumpkin seeds
Almonds
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Omega-3 fatty acids are critical for brain function.[38] One experiment (Yehuda, S.
2005) also found that taking a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
reduced test anxiety in students and improved their mental concentration.[39]
Omega-3 fatty acids are linked to the prevention of high blood pressure, heart
disease, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, depression, attention
deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dementia, Alzheimer�s, asthma, colorectal
cancer, and prostate cancer.[40]
Salmon
Sardines
Mackerel
Trout
Flaxseed
Pumpkin seeds
Walnuts
This is a long article that contains a lot of information. But don�t feel
overwhelmed, because there�s no need to implement everything at one shot.
In the same way, to implement all 20 tips in this article, do it one tip at a time.
Focus on just one tip a week, or even one tip a month. Once you�ve turned that tip
into a habit, move on to the next one.
Throughout the process, don�t let the goal of getting straight A�s become an
unhealthy obsession. After all, education is about much more than getting good
grades
�When teachers prepare to teach, they tend to seek out key points and organize
information into a coherent structure,� Nestojko writes. �Our results suggest that
students also turn to these types of effective learning strategies when they expect
to teach.�
2. Learn In Short Bursts of Time
Experts at the Louisiana State University�s Center for Academic Success suggest
dedicating 30-50 minutes to learning new material. �Anything less than 30 is just
not enough, but anything more than 50 is too much information for your brain to
take in at one time,� writes learning strategies graduate assistant Ellen Dunn.
Once you�re done, take a five to 10 minute break before you start another session.
Brief, frequent learning sessions are much better than longer, infrequent ones,
agrees Neil Starr, a course mentor at Western Governors University, an online
nonprofit university where the average student earns a bachelor�s degree in two and
a half years.
"Changing the way you practice a new motor skill can help you master it faster."
He recommends preparing for micro learning sessions. �Make note cards by hand for
the more difficult concepts you are trying to master,� he says. �You never know
when you�ll have some in-between time to take advantage of.�
3. Take Notes By Hand
While it�s faster to take notes on a laptop, using a pen and paper will help you
learn and comprehend better. Researchers at Princeton University and UCLA found
that when students took notes by hand, they listened more actively and were able to
identify important concepts. Taking notes on a laptop, however, leads to mindless
transcription, as well as an opportunity for distraction, such as email.
�In three studies, we found that students who took notes on laptops performed worse
on conceptual questions than students who took notes longhand,� writes coauthor and
Princeton University psychology professor Pam Mueller. �We show that whereas taking
more notes can be beneficial, laptop note takers� tendency to transcribe lectures
verbatim rather than processing information and reframing it in their own words is
detrimental to learning.�
4. Use The Power of Mental Spacing
While it sounds counterintuitive, you can learn faster when you practice
distributed learning, or �spacing.� In an interview with The New York Times,
Benedict Carey, author of How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and
Why It Happens, says learning is like watering a lawn. �You can water a lawn once a
week for 90 minutes or three times a week for 30 minutes,� he said. �Spacing out
the watering during the week will keep the lawn greener over time.�
To retain material, Carey said it�s best to review the information one to two days
after first studying it. �One theory is that the brain actually pays less attention
during short learning intervals,� he said in the interview. �So repeating the
information over a longer interval�say a few days or a week later, rather than in
rapid succession�sends a stronger signal to the brain that it needs to retain the
information.�
5. Take A Study Nap
Downtime is important when it comes to retaining what you learn, and getting sleep
in between study sessions can boost your recall up to six months later, according
to new research published in Psychological Science.
�Our results suggest that interweaving sleep between practice sessions leads to a
twofold advantage, reducing the time spent relearning and ensuring a much better
long-term retention than practice alone,� writes psychological scientist Stephanie
Mazza of the University of Lyon. �Previous research suggested that sleeping after
learning is definitely a good strategy, but now we show that sleeping between two
learning sessions greatly improves such a strategy.�
6. Change It Up
When learning a new motor skill, changing the way you practice it can help you
master it faster, according to a new study at Johns Hopkins University School of
Medicine. In an experiment, participants were asked to learn a computer-based task.
Those who used a modified learning technique during their second session performed
better than those who repeated the same method.
The findings suggest that reconsolidation�a process in which existing memories are
recalled and modified with new knowledge�plays a key role in strengthening motor
skills, writes Pablo A. Celnik, senior study author and professor of physical
medicine and rehabilitation.
5
Teach your brain to learn. Learning quickly is a habit and you might need to
work to retrain your brain for good habits instead of bad ones. Improve your focus
by doing complex tasks without breaks (even if they're unrelated). Set aside a time
and place that's just for learning and keep that place sacred. Perhaps most
importantly, find a way to make learning fun for you. This will make your brain
want to do more and you won't struggle to learn quite so much.
For example, pursue learning about the subjects that you do enjoy.
Eventually, your brain will master the learning skills and you can apply those
skills to subject areas that you don't enjoy too.
Part 2
Learning to Learn
Image titled Avoid Repeating the Old Same Mistakes All over Again Step 5
1
Pick a goal. Look at the changes you want to make to Measurably Improve Your
Quality of Life. Which goals require you to learn more before you can confidently
make the change you want? Look for a goal you could start on now, without too much
time required. In this case, the goal we have chosen is to take better care of our
body. Then we are going to break it down. What elements go along with taking better
care of our body?
Study as early as possible.
Get plenty of sleep
Eat healthy food
Drink plenty of water
Get exercise
Image titled Avoid Repeating the Old Same Mistakes All over Again Step 4
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Research options for learning.
Brainstorm criteria for which options you are attracted to and which you
are not. Are you interested in researching on the internet? Do you want to talk
with a nutritionist or a fitness instructor? If you have difficulty when paying
attention while reading, would magazine articles be an effective option for
learning?
Trust your intuition. If heading down a certain path doesn't feel right,
don't go that way! If you begin reading on ways to improve your sleep habits, and
the information is not something you would be willing to use in your own life, then
stop reading, and find a different resource. Do not continue simply because it is
information coming from an �expert� or because �everyone is doing it�. The
information has to be useful to you.
Refine your goal with research. As you begin to look into ways to take
better care of your body you may discover there is one element that you really want
to focus on. This narrows your goal from �I want to take better care of my body� to
�I want to take better care of my body by eating a healthier diet.�
Find someone who has done what you want to do and have them show you. If
you know someone who has changed elements of their lifestyle, such as exercising
more or implementing a healthier way of eating, talk to them. Find out what they
did, how they did it and where they found their information.
Do research on the internet, take a class, interview others, and find a
mentor. Try out different varieties of learning to see which one works best for
you.
Image titled Avoid Repeating the Old Same Mistakes All over Again Step 9
3
Choose the best option.
Pick something that is possible to do in your environment, that you can
work on constructively within your timeframe, and that you can do successfully with
the energy and attention you have. Do not decide to take a nutrition class if you
are already pressed for time and won�t have time to attend. Instead, take a smaller
piece, such as following a nutritional plan. Whatever it is, it needs to be
something you can effectively add to your life.
Consider time constraints, geographic constraints, and your mental state.
Do not bring more stress to your life by taking on more than what works for your
life circumstances. Learning should add to the quality of your life, not take away
from it.
Schedule a time of day for learning and practicing what you learn. Having a
set time for learning can help motivate you to continue the process.
Develop the habit of paying attention to what you want to learn or improve
upon. "Emotions drive attention. Attention drives learning." Pay attention to your
emotional reactions. If you are researching exercise options and find yourself
resisting, explore why. What is it about exercising that is causing the reaction?
There is a reason for resisting the learning experience.
Don't become overwhelmed with all the choices. Sometimes we become
distracted and overwhelmed by wanting to choose the �right� option. There is no
�right� or �wrong�; it is about what works for you. Just pick one and try it! If it
doesn�t work, then pick another one.
Image titled Avoid Repeating the Old Same Mistakes All over Again Step 8
4
Experiment with learning. To effectively conduct an experiment you need to have
a plan, a way to evaluate if the experiment is working and a time to reflect on the
process and outcome. The learning process works the same way.
Setting a specific criteria allows you to see if you have met it or not.
When deciding on a nutritional plan do I want it to include 3 meals a day or do I
need it to cover several smaller meals throughout the day?
Be sure to have a method for keeping track of progress. Use whatever tools
you have! Notebooks, phone, apps, computer, internet, calendar, blogs, etc.
Keep reflecting on your progress. Do I still need more information or do I
have what I need to begin a new sleep routine?
Set milestones and stick to them. I want to find 3 new healthy dinner
recipes to incorporate into my nutrition plan.
Image titled Avoid Repeating the Old Same Mistakes All over Again Step 14
5
Evaluate your results and milestones.
Did you reach them? Did you learn enough to implement a new exercise plan?
Have you found an effective way to improve your sleep habits?
A reminder in your calendar will prompt you to reflect. Set a �check-in�
date to evaluate the information you have learned; see if it is effective; is there
is more you have realized that you need to know. What worked and what didn't? Why?
Image titled Avoid Repeating the Old Same Mistakes All over Again Step 10
6
Refine your approach. If the learning approach you chose worked, then keep
going with it. If not, go back and pick a different one and start experimenting!
Part 3
Learning in School
Part 4
Reviewing Material Efficiently
Tips
Don't settle on your first option for learning. Explore all options before
making your choice.
One way to think of what counts as "learning" comes from renown psychologist
Robert Bjork: "Learning is the ability to use information after significant periods
of disuse, and it is the ability to use the information to solve problems that
arise in a context different (if only slightly) from the context in which the
information was originally taught." [6]
After you read a particular topic, try to say it out loud without seeing it and
simplify it as much as you can so that it feels as if you were explaining it to
someone. It will help retain that information for a longer period.
If you pay attention in class you get 60percent of the material into your brain
. if you go home and read the material once in your house you get the other forty
percent.so paying attention in class will help you a lot.
Aim your goal every day and make a habit of making notes in the class, as it
will help you in future.
Before you are going to study tidy up your rooms, bed table and also open the
windows that gives you much fresh air (neither it is a city or town no need) open
the window that next to garden or park or trees or anything else that you give
confidence and have a tea or coffee before studying and you could eat vegetables or
fruits and put all your study materials like pen, pencil, eraser, sharpener, scale
etc... And also buy or use a fluorescent marker for marking the imp.
Warnings
Use it or lose it! Find opportunities to use and practice what you learned. Be
opportunistic. If you are learning a healthier way of eating, show a friend or
family member how they can make healthier eating choices
1
Figure out your learning style. In order to start learning effectively, it's
imperative that you know how you learn. There are three types of learning styles
and most people fall clearly into one category. Even if you are about evenly split
between two, it's advantageous to know what doesn't work as well.
Visual learners learn primarily by seeing and watching. They tend to sit in
front of the class, are neat and clean, and often close their eyes to remember or
visualize something. They benefit from images, illustrations, videos, colors, and
prefer to see the content they are learning.
Aural learners are more successful in learning by hearing and listening.
They often sit where they can hear, but not necessarily where they can see, hum or
talk to themselves when bored, find themselves reading aloud and remembering by
verbalizing lessons or information. They'd rather talk than write and relish the
opportunity to discuss what they've learned.
Kinesthetic learners learn best by touching and doing. They need to be
active, take frequent breaks, and are often caught using their hands and gesturing
while talking. They enjoy activities that manipulate materials, like cooking,
construction, and engineering and will tinker or move around when bored.
Which of these describes you? If you can't tell, do some research
online, consult your professors, or read up on learning styles.
Image titled Determine Your Child's Learning Style Step 1
2
Understand the differences. Each learner needs different things to adequately
conceptualize and retain the information they are given. If a visual learner is
told to remember something, they most likely won't. If a kinesthetic learner
watches a movie on how to do something, they might not be able to do it. Neither is
less intelligent than the other--they just aren't tuned into their optimal learning
style.
Learning abilities don't stop in the classroom. Styles even invade the way
we talk! Look for key examples found in dialogue: A visual learner might say, "This
looks good." His or her aural counterpart would say, "This sounds good." "I hear
you," versus "I see what you're saying." If you are conflicted as to what your
style is, tune into your words--or ask others to keep an ear (an eye?) out for you!
Method 2
Visual Learners
Method 3
Aural Learners
Method 4
Kinesthetic Learners
Method 5
For All Learners
Home
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How to Learn
Author Info
Do you have problems learning? Can't pass those tests? It may be that you (and your
teachers) aren't tuning into the most effective way of learning for you. Here are
some ideas and tricks you can play on your brain that will help.
Method 1
Know Your Style
Method 2
Visual Learners
Method 3
Aural Learners
Method 4
Kinesthetic Learners
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Question
What is a good time and place to study?
SmartNerd2
Community Answer
Wherever you feel you can focus and get work done is the best place to study. A
quiet environment usually is the best place to study, but it depends on the person.
Try a library or an empty room. Study whenever you have time, so you're not in a
rush to study quickly.
Not Helpful 0
Helpful 14
Question
What is the best time to take a break (like every 1 or 2 hours)?
wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer
Every 50 minutes is often a good time to take a break.
Not Helpful 3
Helpful 28
Question
Why would my son forget what he learned in elementary school instead of
maintaining and adding to it?
wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer
Perhaps he never learned it well the first time, or he doesn't practice his
skills enough. He may need a tutor or some extra help. The more he practices, the
more he's likely to recall.
Not Helpful 3
Helpful 13
Question
How many times should a person read?
SmartNerd2
Community Answer
Read as many times as it takes to learn the topic. Usually, two to three times
helps many remember the topic pretty well.
Not Helpful 4
Helpful 15
Question
I hate to do written work, what can I do about this?
wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer
Try online learning, like Khan Academy or IXL. Those are good alternatives if
you don't like doing written work.
Not Helpful 0
Helpful 4
Question
What can I do if the topic is boring?
SmartNerd2
Community Answer
If the topic is boring, you can try to find something fun about it, to help you
get more interested in the topic. Or you can change up the topic in a fun way to
help you learn about it.
Not Helpful 7
Helpful 16
Question
What time of day is best for studying?
wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer
This is different for everyone. Some people prefer to study in the morning and
others prefer to study at night. You should try both and see which one works better
for you. If you do study at night, make sure not to sacrifice your sleep for it.
Not Helpful 2
Helpful 6
Question
I find all the children in my class are more intelligent than me and I find
myself lower to others. What should I do?
Cheeku Ap
Community Answer
Don't think of yourself as less intelligent than they are. Have faith in
yourself and be fearless. You will be unstoppable and study daily.
Not Helpful 1
Helpful 2
Question
How can I remember my lessons for a long period of time?
Cheeku Ap
Community Answer
Understand the lesson, and revise it daily. After eight hours, go back over it,
write down points and finally paste a summary of the lesson in your room.
Not Helpful 1
Helpful 1
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My ex needs to write a letter to the home office (UK) stating that she wants me to
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What supplements are best for my chronic kidney disease if my creatinine is 3.71?
Tips
Make sure to add small breaks; research has shown that a ten minute break (no
longer!) can actually make sure you retain the information for a lengthier period
of time.
Avoid cramming the night before. You'll retain the information a lot longer if
you study over a period of time.
Slow down. When learning, you can't take anything too fast or yourself too
seriously. Learn things the right way instead of finding a short cut.
Part 2
Improving Your Memorization Abilities
Part 3
Acquiring New Skills
If you need to demonstrate that you're a fast learner during a job interview,
you can do this by listening actively and summarizing back what you have been told.
Another option is to simply ask thoughtful questions about the organization. Don't
try to show that you "know everything," as this may end up backfiring.
Method 1
Compressing and Visualizing Knowledge
Method 2
Challenging Your Mind
Method 3
Preparing Your Mind
Tips
Remind yourself that you can improve and increase speed, it may just take time
and practice. Confident learners are more effective learners.
Age is not a disadvantage when it comes to learning. Older people, as well as
younger ones, can all improve their minds.[22]
Ask questions. You'll get answers and insight that can help you learn faster.
Warnings
For instance, as Gladwell writes in �Outliers� (but Ericsson disputes in his book
�Peak�), The Beatles got their 10,000 hours playing 20 hours a day in strip clubs
in Germany before they wrote their first album.
Mozart played piano for 10,000 hours by the time he was 12 years old.
I�m almost 50. I only like to learn something if I can be among the best. If I can
reach my potential. Potential enough to see the nuances in something I love so much
I want to get good at it.
Here�s how.
PLUS
Find mentors.
A mentor can be real (someone who is willing to help you analyze your mistakes), or
virtual (read books).
For anything you are interested in, you should read 100 books a year. You should
watch 100s of videos.
We have mirror neurons that learn by watching or reading our virtual mentors. It�s
as if we download their lives into our brain and the mirror neurons think that
their experience are ours.
For instance, when I wanted to learn how to be a better public speaker, I would
watch videos of great public speakers right before I had to speak.
When I played in chess tournaments I would play through the games of world
champions so I could learn more how they thought about the game.
And every time I lost a game I went over the game, move by move, with a grandmaster
who I paid to coach me. He would set up similar positions to my losing position and
we�d play game after game until I mastered the nuances.
When I wanted to learn about investing I read every investment book I could find
and spoke with 100s of other great investors.
When you read, to maximize what you learn: immediately after reading a book write
down �ten things I learned�. Else, you won�t remember more than 1 or 2 things at
best from the book.
I�m trying to learn Standup Comedy now. I capitalize it because it�s that important
to me. It�s the hardest skill I�ve ever had to learn.
I�m in year two. I probably watch 20 videos a day. I videotape myself on stage 4�6
times a week. And I read books about and by comedians. And, fortunately, I have a
podcast. So I ask great comedians to come on and I can ask them any question I
want.
EQUALS
This is so important it really deserves its own letter. This one category alone,
�Equals�, is worth about 4,000 of the 10,000 hours.
Find people who love what you love and spend as much time talking about this shared
area as you can.
If you are all equally striving and finding your own path through learning this new
skill you all want to share, then you will build community and learn together.
(the �Beats�. Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William S Burroughs, all rose up as
writers together by comparing notes, editing each other�s works, encouraging each
other, for over 20 years as they rose up in the industry together).
When I was learning poker, my friends and I would compare notes on every difficult
hand we played during an evening.
When I was learning investing, I�d talk to friends in every area of investing (day
trading, arbitrage, value investing, special situations, quantitative, etc etc) and
we�d share notes and quickly learn through the experiences of each other.
Why not do this with mentors? Because the mentors have so far passed this level
they are not always able to get into the weeds in the same way as the Equals.
MINUS
Explain what you are learning while you are learning it. Two reasons:
1) If you can�t explain in a simple way, then you need to learn more. Beginner�s
mind.
2) People who are behind where you are at in learning the skill will ask basic
questions that you often need to rehearse and rehearse and rehearse. Again:
beginner�s mind.
C) MICRO-SKILLS
All of the skills are exclusive of each other. Negotiating is not the same as
Sales. Product development is not the same as management. But each skill needs to
be developed to be successful.
Chess micro-skills: openings, middle game, endgame, tactics, positional play (which
can be divided up into about 50 micro-skills, as well as all the different types of
endgames), attack, defense, psychology, etc.
For whatever you are interested in: list the micro-skills. Figure out what you are
good at, what you are bad at, and how you can learn to be better at each.
D) FAILURE
Anything worth learning, you�re going to suck. You�re going to suck badly.
The first day you play chess: you might love it, you might be talented, you might
be confident, but you are a disaster compared to anyone with experience who has
studied the game.
The same goes for business. For investing. For writing. For acting. For art. For
creativity. For everything worth learning.
(It took Edison 10,000 attempts before he found the right filament to invent a
lightbulb)
Nobody wants to lose money in poker. Or in investing. Nobody wants to spend months
or years writing a book nobody reads.
But if you love something, and you want to get to your peak potential, your heart
is going to break when you inevitably fail. And you will fail big and horrible and
it will be like your brain and heart are torn in half.
Because then you�re uncertified to study the failure. You can go to a PLUS, and
your EQUALS, and look at where you went wrong.
You can�t learn as much from succeeding because it�s harder to pinpoint where
mistakes are (and it means you are not taking enough chances).
Ray Dalio, the largest hedge fund manager ever, told me on my podcast, �Pain +
Reflection = Progress�.
Pain is a must.
With standup comedy, I always say �Yes� to a challenge. Do comedy on a subway car?
Yes. Do comedy on a Monday night in a blizzard with the entire audience from
Norway? Yes. Go on stage with a 102 fever and my voice completely shot? Yes.
I was speaking to one of the best comedians in the world a few weeks ago. He told
me he still videotapes and studies every single time he�s gone on stage. Every
year, every month, he�s better than the month before.
With business, it�s difficult because a business can take years. But try to have
mini-failures. Challenge yourself on deadlines, challenge yourself on customer
acquisition, on customer service, on micro-execution of product, and on and on.
Figure out the ways that you can fail, do them, study them, repeat.
E) ENERGY
This should be the first item. Because it�s the most important.
If you don�t sleep enough, you�ll be too tired and you won�t learn.
If you�re in a bad relationship, your brain will be distracted and you won't learn.
If you don�t exercise your creativity, you won�t be able to combine ideas and learn
from �idea sex�.
If you are too anxious, you will spend too much mental energy worrying about the
future instead of learning in the present.
When I went broke for the fourth or fifth time I finally had to take a look back
and say, �What was I doing right every time I made money?� and �What was I doing
wrong�. It all boiled down to:
CREATIVE HEALTH: Write down ten ideas a day. The ideas can be about anything.
SPIRITUAL HEALTH: Learn how to deal with anxiety and regret. Release control over
the things you have no control over.
Just these four things gave me so much energy, it probably took another 1000�2000
hours out of the 10,000 hours.
That�s 37 times better than where you started in just one year.
I had a friend who I always played chess with. He played chess all day every day.
But he never read a book on chess or studied with anyone.
He just played the same moves and made the same mistakes game after game. I asked
him why he didn�t take the basic steps to improve?
All you have to do is take basic steps each day to improve as small as 1%.
But he never got better. Chess is much more enjoyable (everything is much more
enjoyable) when you get better and when you learn and can appreciate the subtleties
and the nuances.
�Speaking� that vocabulary is pleasurable because you can enjoy the art form more,
you can succeed more easily, you get acclamation for your success, you make friends
with others who are also successful because you speak their language - but it
requires every day learning new �words� in your art form.
Studying how Warren Buffet invests. Or how Bobby Fischer plays the King�s Indian.
Or how Richard Pryor brought his authentic voice into his comedy. Or how Richard
Branson can build and manage 400 businesses.
Or challenging yourself to fail a little bit each day to expand your comfort zone.
G) DO IT
You can�t get better at chess just by reading about it. You have to play. Then you
have to play in high stress situations (like a tournament).
You can�t get to be the best at business just by reading about Richard Branson. You
have to start a business (or work for a startup or even work for a big business and
notice their small successes and failures).
You can't get to be great at comedy by watching videos. You have to go on stage.
Every day.
Every day.
You will forget half of what you read after 2 weeks and 90% after 2 months.
Many answers here are saying that taking notes and reviewing them is boring or not
necessary. This is simply not true. You will not retain what you learn from a book
unless you get multiple repetitions of the information over time.
People tend to want the shiny new thing ("fresh" information) when really they
would be better off reviewing what they have already read/forgotten. One you fully
realize how much time you are wasting by not reviewing your notes (because you are
forgetting so much of what you read) you will start to enjoy it. Most of my best
ideas come from going back and collecting and synthesizing disparate notes and
quotes from the books I have read.
This means you underline your book, take notes from an audio or video course or
collect the best posts from a forum into a word document or page in OneNote.
2. Boil it down
Use a highlighter to go over your notes and find the most important pieces. You can
circle chunks of text in your notes to start organizing them.
These are only useful for certain types of information. Some books are more general
facts/information and may not be worht the extra time investment if you only have a
few pages of notes and not many actionable steps.
A. Mindmap
Use your chunked notes to create a mindmap. Stick to one page and fit in as much
detail as you can.
B. Action List
Go through your notes and decide what you want to take action on. Prioritize the
list and put it somewhere where you will look at it again, like the wall next to
your computer.
C. Notecards
Cut up your information into two sided notecards. You can do this by hand or
digitally.
Tip: You can leave notes at any stage in the process and come back later. You can
also skip or combine these steps depending on how aggressively you want to learn.
From my 8-courses-in-1 Udemy course, End Game: The Ultimate Accelerated Learning
System, with over 30 hours of HD video and 4.6/5 star rating from 79 reviews and
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Twyla Tharp, a NYC-based renowned choreographer has come up with the following
memory workout:
When she watches one of her performances, she tries to remember the first twelve to
fourteen corrections she wants to discuss with her cast without writing them down.
If you think this is anything less than a feat, then think again. In her book The
Creative Habit she says that most people cannot remember more than three.
The practice of both remembering events or things and then discussing them with
others has actually been supported by brain fitness studies.
Now, you may not have dancers to correct, but you may be required to give feedback
on a presentation, or your friends may ask you what interesting things you saw at
the museum. These are great opportunities to practically train your brain by
flexing your memory muscles.
What is the simplest way to help yourself remember what you see? Repetition.
Don�t just respond with, �Nice to meet you�. Instead, say, �Nice to meet you
George.�
By actually doing something new over and over again, your brain wires new pathways
that help you do this new thing better and faster.
Think back to when you were three years old. You surely were strong enough to hold
a knife and a fork just fine. Yet, when you were eating all by yourself, you were
creating a mess.
It was not a matter of strength, you see. It was a matter of cultivating more and
better neural pathways that would help you eat by yourself just like an adult does.
And guess what? With enough repetition you made that happen!
Say you are a procrastinator. The more you don�t procrastinate, the more you teach
your brain not to wait for the last minute to make things happen.
Now, you might be thinking �Duh, if only not procrastinating could be that easy!�
Well, it can be. By doing something really small, that you wouldn�t normally do,
but is in the direction of getting that task done, you will start creating those
new precious neural pathways.
So if you have been postponing organizing your desk, just take one paper and put in
its right place. Or, you can go even smaller. Look at one piece of paper and decide
where to put it: Trash? Right cabinet? Another room? Give it to someone?
You don�t actually need to clean up that paper; you only need to decide what you
need to do with it.
That�s how small you can start. And yet, those neural pathways are still being
built. Gradually, you will transform yourself from a procrastinator to an in-the-
moment action taker.
3. Learn something new
It might sound obvious, but the more you use your brain, the better its going to
perform for you.
For example, learning a new instrument improves your skill of translating something
you see (sheet music) to something you actually do (playing the instrument).
You can even literally take it a step further, and learn how to dance. Studies
indicate that learning to dance helps seniors avoid Alzheimer�s. Not bad, huh?
What�s more, you can make learning 10X faster with a Digital Brain.
4. Follow a brain training program
The Internet world can help you improve your brain function while lazily sitting on
your couch. A clinically proven program like BrainHQ can help you improve your
memory, or think faster, by just following their brain training exercises.
5. Work your body
You knew this one was coming didn�t you? Yes indeed, exercise does not just work
your body; it also improves the fitness of your brain.
Now, if you are not already a regular exerciser, and already feel guilty that you
are not helping your brain by exercising more, try a brain training exercise
program like Exercise Bliss.
Remember, just like we discussed in #2, by training your brain to do something new
repeatedly, you are actually changing yourself permanently.
6. Spend time with your loved ones
If you want optimal cognitive abilities, then you�ve got to have meaningful
relationships in your life. Talking with others and engaging with your loved ones
helps you think more clearly, and it can also lift your mood.
If you are an extrovert, this holds even more weight for you. At a class at
Stanford University, I learned that extroverts actually use talking to other people
as a way to understand and process their own thoughts.
I remember that the teacher told us that after a personality test said she was an
extrovert, she was surprised. She had always thought of herself as an introvert.
But then, she realized how much talking to others helped her frame her own
thoughts, so she accepted her new-found status as an extrovert.
7. Avoid crossword puzzles
Many of us, when we think of brain fitness, think of crossword puzzles. And it�s
true�crossword puzzles do improve our fluency, yet studies show they are not enough
by themselves.
Are they fun? Yes. Do they sharpen your brain? Not really.
Of course, if you are doing this for fun, then by all means go ahead. If you are
doing it for brain fitness, then you might want to choose another activity
8. Eat right � and make sure dark chocolate is included
Foods like fish, fruits, and vegetables help your brain perform optimally. Yet, you
might not know that dark chocolate gives your brain a good boost as well.
When you eat chocolate, your brain produces dopamine. And dopamine helps you learn
faster and remember better. Not to mention, chocolate contains flavonols,
antioxidants, which also improve your brain functions.
So next time you have something difficult to do, make sure you grab a bite or two
of dark chocolate!
If you want to learn the guitar, don't think about performing all the parts at
once. Set the smaller, more measurable goal of learning a few easy chords, how to
strum correctly, and how to put those chords together.
Over time, the accumulation of those tinier skills will add up to the whole ability
to play guitar.
Most people understand that multitasking is a myth - your brain really can't pay
equal attention to two tasks simultaneously. But few people apply that insight to
learning.
In addition to breaking a task down into individual steps, be sure to devote your
full energy to each step on its own. When you get distracted, it takes roughly 25
minutes to return your focus to the original task.
Over time, multitasking could mean you only gain a partial understanding of various
different skills or concepts, without acquiring a full knowledge or mastery of any.
A 2014 study found that students who took notes on pen and paper learned more than
students who typed notes on their laptops. Over a battery of tests, the pen-and-
paper group were more adept at remembering facts, sorting out complex ideas, and
synthesising information.
Researchers say the physical act of touching pen to paper creates a stronger
cognitive link to the material than merely typing, which happens far too quickly
for retention to take place. Writing forces you to confront ideas head-on, which
leads them to stick with you over time.
Being perfect is overrated. The entire point of learning is to make attempts, fail,
and find a lesson about where you went wrong.
In 2014, a study of motor learning found the brain has more or less reserved a
space for the mistakes we make. Later, we can recruit those memories to do better
next time.
If parents teach kids never to make mistakes, or shun them when mistakes happen,
kids end up missing a wealth of knowledge.
Stressing kids out with negative reinforcement can get them stuck in a mental rut,
filling them with self-doubt and anxiety, both of which are toxic for learning.
"Anxiety precludes you from exploring real solutions and real thought patterns that
will come up with solutions," says Harvard Business School professor Alison Wood
Brooks.
Decades of positive psychology research suggest that we will become more successful
in just about anything we try to do if we approach it with an open mind and see
tangible room for improvement.
Parents should teach kids to see learning as exploration. It will help give them a
sense of determination, which they can manufacture into grit when the going gets
tough.
Kids naturally drift toward the weird and wacky, but once the experience of rote
education gets them thinking in cold hard facts, that sense of fun can die off.
As early as possible, kids should gain an appreciation for why they remember
Grandma's weird-smelling house and those highlighter-yellow shorts Dad wears on
night-time runs. It's because they're unique.
Author and former US memory champion Joshua Foer memorised a full deck of playing
cards in under two minutes by tying each card to a weird image. Kids can do the
same for their times tables and presidents.
The premise is simple: If you can read faster, you can learn faster. Though you
might think speed reading takes a lot of effort, programs like Spreeder pick up the
pace gradually to make it feel manageable.
By training your brain to process words more quickly, you get accustomed to reading
entire strings of words, rather than imagining each one individually, which slows
you down.
Matthew Ragan/Flickr
In 2004, a study published in Nature found the act of juggling produced more grey
matter. When people stopped juggling, the grey matter disappeared. There wasn't
anything special in the juggling itself, just the repetition.
Neuroscientists call this process 'pruning'. It refers to the new pathways that are
carved by doing an act over and over again, to the point where it sticks around for
good.
In other words, skills follow the use-it-or-lose-it principle.
If kids encounter a topic they have trouble wrapping their heads around, parents
should help them to understand how it relates to something they've already learned.
The practice is called associative learning.
A student might like football but struggle with differential calculus. If he can
see the similarities between a spiralling pass and the slope of a curve, he stands
a better chance at understanding the abstract concept.
Kids should learn how to grapple with tough problems - the act teaches them
discipline. But evidence suggests spending too long on a problem can make it worse.
The solution: If you know you know it, but just can't remember it, Google it.
communitiesuk/Flickr
When you take something that you've learned and put it into your own words, you're
not only demonstrating mastery of an idea - you're refining your own understanding
of it.
In distilling information into small pieces that someone can easily digest, the
teacher must gain a certain intimacy with the subject matter.
That's why older siblings are generally smarter than younger siblings, one 2007
study suggested - because one of the jobs of the older sibling is passing knowledge
along after having received it.
One of the reasons some people find learning so painful is that they don�t ask a
simple question.
It�s a question that, when applied often, can unlock the nuclear power needed to
drive you through some of the hardest missions in life.
Probably because it�s a bit tough for most people to wrap their heads around.
Why?
And so it�s little wonder learning feels hard. If you�re the last person who gets a
kick-back for all that effort, it�s always going to feel like you�re trying to chew
through a brick wall.
Make it easier on yourself by learning things that have a definite payoff for the
number one person that matters: You.
But it will never happen if you secretly hate the learning process because it just
doesn�t serve your needs first.
And the more you know how to relax your brain, the more information will want to
stick around. You�ll be able to slosh it around the mouth of your mind like fine
wine and actually enjoy it for a change.
The trick you need to understand when it comes to relaxing your mind is this:
It�s something physical out in the world being used physically inside your material
brain.
Don�t know how to make a Memory Palace? No problem. Register for this:
And to get the most of the training, relax your mind each time before you use your
memory.
That said, never try to relax your mind without relaxing your body first.
In fact, it�s very likely that the only way to truly relax your mind is by relaxing
the body first.
So the next time you sit down to study, stretch a little first.
Meditate.
Attention paid to breathing will lower most of your resistances to learning and
make everything easier.
When I created this Infographic and Podcast episode teaching you how to
realistically memorize a textbook, I had no idea people would find it so practical
and useful.
Image of a Magnetic Memory Method student explaining how this memory training has
helped him learn faster
After all, everybody asks me for �tips and tricks� that will let them memorize
entire books.
But the truth is that this feat is rarely necessary. In fact, it�s probably never
necessary.
But if you use the techniques I teach in that podcast to get a global overview of
the book you need to read, you�ll have a map. This map will set the stage for your
experience of the territory.
And that will give you laser-targeted tools for remembering the parts that matter.
Proof:
When you can do that, you do better than just learn and remember. You also create
knowledge.
And when you create knowledge, the speed at which you can learn grows
exponentially. It feels good, creates energy and encouragement and keeps you on the
path of continual growth.
Have you ever heard the phrase, �you don�t know what you don�t know�? Tony Buzan
mentioned it during our conversation some time ago on the Magnetic Memory Method
Podcast.
If you want to make learning faster and easier, make sure to get yourself in orbit
with that concept.
Why?
Because when you hold a magnifying glass to your own ignorance, you get real clear
on what it is you need to learn. Without that clarity, it�s nearly impossible to
make progress!
In other words, learning truly is hard and slow when you�re stumbling around blind
in a cloud of unknowing.
But when you ask questions about what you know and don�t know about a topic,
suddenly a lot of that fog is whisked away.
Want a simple exercise you can use for each and every learning project you ever
undertake?
It�s easy, fun and speeds up everything.
It�s called:
Writing summaries.
Every time you take a class, attend a lecture, read a chapter, watch a video or
even use an app, take a quick second to jot down everything you can remember.
Then beneath that, start asking questions about what it is you think was covered �
but mysteriously can�t remember.
One plan for how you�re going to continue to remember what you remembered.
Another plan for what you�re going to do to fill in the gaps so that you can
remember the information you think flew over your head.
A lot of people will go through a post like this, nod yes to each and every point
and then carry on with their lives of learning desperation.
The reason why this happens, beyond just a bad way of drawing from their episodic
memory, is simple:
If you missed it and care about the life of your memory and your mind, go over it
again.
And if you feel like you�re resistant to any of the wisdom contained in this post,
review the second point I�ve made.
If anything on the planet raises your hackles, a few simple brain exercises that
take just a few minutes of your time could be a game changer for you.
And if you�d like a realistic way to remember everything of importance in any book
or posts like these you encounter in the world, there�s a link there just waiting
to help you out.
For the true Magnetic Knight, point four will be the most precious of all. There�s
a little comment section below where you can complete this part of the exercise.
I�ll be around to help you fill in any gaps I may have missed.
I look forward to hearing from you, and until next time, keep learning and keep
yourself Magnetic!
Though it might seem that typing your notes on a laptop during a conference or
lecture will be more thorough, thus helping you learn faster, it doesn�t work that
way. To speed up your learning, skip the laptop and take notes the old-fashioned
way, with pen and paper. Research has shown that those who type in their lecture
notes process and retain the information at a lower level. Those who take notes by
hand actually learn more.
While taking notes by hand is slower and more cumbersome than typing, the act of
writing out the information fosters comprehension and retention. Reframing the
information in your own words helps you retain the information longer, meaning
you�ll have better recall and will perform better on tests.
The better your notes are, the faster you�ll learn. Knowing how to take thorough
and accurate notes will help you remember concepts, gain a deeper understanding of
the topic and develop meaningful learning skills. So, before you learn a new topic,
make sure you learn different strategies for note taking, such as the Cornell
Method, which helps you organize class notes into easily digestible summaries.
Whatever method you use, some basic tips for note taking include:
3. Distributed practice.
This method involves distributing multiple practices (or study sessions) on a topic
over a period of time. Using short, spaced-out study sessions will encourage
meaningful learning, as opposed to long �cram sessions,� which promote rote
learning. The first step is to take thorough notes while the topic is being
discussed. Afterward, take a few minutes to look over your notes, making any
additions or changes to add detail and ensure accuracy.
Do this quickly, once or twice following each class or period of instruction. Over
time, you can begin to spread the sessions out, starting with once per day and
eventually moving to three times a week. Spacing out practice over a longer period
of time is highly effective, because it�s easier to do small study sessions and
you�ll stay motivated to keep learning.
You have a big project or a major presentation tomorrow and you�re not prepared. If
you�re like many of us, you stay up too late trying to cram beforehand. Surely your
hard work will be rewarded, even if you�re exhausted the next day� right? However,
that�s not the most efficient way for our brains to process information.
Research shows a strong connection between sleep and learning. It seems that
getting some shut-eye is an important element in bolstering how our brains remember
something. Deep sleep (non-rapid-eye-movement sleep) can strengthen memories if the
sleep occurs within 12 hours of learning the new information. And students who both
study and get plenty of sleep not only perform better academically; they�re also
happier.
Related: Study Finds the Less You Sleep the Less People Like You
5. Modify your practice.
If you're learning a skill, don�t do the same thing over and over. Making slight
changes during repeated practice sessions will help you master a skill faster than
doing it the same way every time. In one study of people who learned a computer-
based motor skill, those who learned a skill and then had a modified practice
session where they practiced the skill in a slightly different way performed better
than those who repeated the original task over and over.
This only works if the modifications are small -- making big changes in how the
skill is performed won�t help. So, for instance, if you�re practicing a new golf
swing or perfecting your tennis game, try adjusting the size or weight of your club
or racket.
6. Try a mnemonic device.
One of the best ways to memorize a large amount of information quickly is to use a
mnemonic device: a pattern of letters, sounds or other associations that assist in
learning something. One of the most popular mnemonic devices is one we learned in
kindergarten -- the alphabet song. This song helps children remember their �ABCs,�
and it remains deeply ingrained in our memory as adults. Another is �i before e
except after c� to help us remember a grammar rule.
Mnemonics help you simplify, summarize and compress information to make it easier
to learn. It can be really handy for students in medical school or law school, or
people studying a new language. So, if you need to memorize and store large amounts
of new information, try a mnemonic and you�ll find you remember the information
long past your test.