The Secrets of Study and How to Apply Them

Back when I was in college, I would have the toughest time studying. Procrastination was practically synonymous with my identity. I would let days past by with no progress and cram at the last second. Making sub par grades the norm and lackluster results the rule.

If you've ever felt the pull against your own progress, know that you are not alone. You don't have to share the same fate as so many who don't know where they are going in life. You don't have to justify or make excuses for why you don't seem to grab a hold of success. For success is not something to be achieved. Success is, more often than not, something you bring to everything that you do. The trick is that in order to reach that higher you, you're going to have to stretch.

“All progress takes place outside the comfort zone.”

~Michael John Bobak

Do you ever wonder how you take all classes both physically or virtually yet you don’t get the grades you thought you would? There are a lot of challenges, misconceptions and hardships students face when studies are concerned. One of the biggest misconceptions is that students think studying for hours can make them score an A+. Take it from me, applying strategies when you study can save you hours of energy. It can also give you time to revise. If you are going to spend hours studying, there is going to be less time for you to meet deadlines, run errands and maintain your social life.

Here are some ways to study smarter and not harder so that you can lead a balanced study life!

· Get in the "study zone"

Before getting into the ‘how to study smarter’, explore where you want to study. The environment you study plays a huge role in how well you concentrate on. A place that is clean, organized, well lit, and quiet will allow you to stay focused. Remember that success can feel effortless in the right environment. While it can feel almost impossible in the wrong environment.

· Set your mindset

You need to always make up your mind before you jump into anything. For the study smarter and not harder concept, a focused mindset is important. Clear your thoughts and set your mind into delivering that action with complete determination and concentration.

· Make goals

As you sit down to study, make a to-do list of realistic, attainable goals that you want to meet by the end of the study session; specify a time frame and avoid any distractions.

· Don't just read to read

Reading a passage that you don’t understand can often feel like a waste of time. Learning requires active engagement into your study materials which means making meaning out of your text. To actively engage with your course, you can question yourself on multiple scenarios, make examples, or conceptualize your material for long term memory.

“Never regard study as a duty but as an enviable opportunity to learn to know ..."

~Albert Einstein

· Learn from different sources

Learning requires exposure just as much. A single source limits you to one idea whereas if you add different sources into your learning you will get to understand a concept much faster in an easier way and that will expand your way of thinking.

· Make mind maps

A mind map is a linkage of concepts and ideas centered on a subject. Once you have read and learned your material, it’s time to test yourself. Brainstorm your material on to the paper and by the end of the time frame, you allotted yourself, see what you have missed and do that section again.

· Multiple subjects in a day

It is easy to get bored especially when you are studying. This often happens when you’re focused on only one subject for the rest of your study session. To avoid boredom effect, pick two or more subjects in each day to freshen up the mind that will help you concentrate onto something new and not something that is repetitive.

· Make flashcards

Revising your material after days or weeks help in long term preservation of information. Flashcards are an easier way of reviewing key information of a certain topic than diving into bulk of notes that may come across as intimidating and the idea of it may allow you to cram it.

"The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”

Good habits are like a GPS guiding you to your goals. Stay encouraged and believe that you have what it takes!