Psychology Professor's Viral Study Techniques

I wish someone had shared these insights with me when I was a student for the first time. It would have made my academic journey much smoother. Dr. Marty Lobdell, a psychology professor, recognized the struggles that many students face when it comes to effective studying. As a result, he dedicated himself to developing a course that would teach students how to study efficiently and effectively, transforming them from average students to high achievers in just one semester. In this video, we will explore the initial four principles for studying smarter, not harder.

The first rule emphasizes the importance of recognizing when you are losing focus and taking a break. It is crucial to understand that you don't need to study for an extended period to recharge your batteries. In fact, a short break of about five minutes can be sufficient. Often, we dread the idea of sitting down for long study sessions. However, this mindset actually hinders our ability to study effectively. As Marty Lobdell explains in his lecture, we tend to engage in activities that are reinforced and avoid those that are punished or ignored. This principle applies to studying as well. If we dread studying for five hours straight, our performance will suffer. On the other hand, breaking our study time into smaller chunks with scheduled breaks can significantly improve our studying experience.

According to London's Global University, taking study breaks offers several benefits, including improved memory, reduced stress, enhanced health, increased energy levels, and a boost in performance and creativity. The key takeaway here is to divide your study time into shorter intervals with planned breaks. As an additional incentive, reward yourself with a well-deserved treat at the end of each study session. This will help motivate you to be more productive during your allocated study time. During these breaks, you can engage in activities that you enjoy, such as listening to music, calling a friend, talking to a family member or roommate, or simply doing something fun for five minutes. Consider it as a treat for dedicating 30 minutes to studying.

Nowadays, not only the elderly but also young people are finding it difficult to remember phone calls or numbers. Neurons or brain cells play a crucial role in our memory and cognitive abilities. As the number of neurons in the brain decreases, our memories start to fade, making it challenging to learn new things or memorize words. To keep our brain active and engaged, it is important to maintain a sufficient number of connections between brain cells. The decline in these connections can affect our learning and memory power. Neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia are common, along with other conditions like anxiety and depression. Today, I will share a highly effective exercise that not only slows down neurodegenerative conditions but also promotes the growth of new neurons. This exercise may seem simple, but it becomes challenging when practiced. It is called the use of the non-dominant hand. We are accustomed to using our dominant hand in our daily lives. For example, if you are right-handed, you perform most activities with your right hand, such as eating, brushing, and cleaning. This exercise involves using your non-dominant hand, which is the hand you use less frequently. By performing daily activities like sweeping, brushing, typing, and holding a telephone with your non-dominant hand, you can stimulate the neurogenesis process and build new neurons. When you try brushing with your left hand (if you are right-handed), it is a new experience for the brain, and the neurons become active, sending signals to each other. This exercise also helps in establishing connections with other neurons. Apart from brushing, you can try writing, combing, and even drawing with your non-dominant hand.