I am always seeking out ways to improve my study habits and memory retention. As a person who is often distracted, finding the time to sit down and study can be challenging. I have found some helpful tips, and while everyone is different some of these may prove useful.
Creating an area with little distraction was one of the first tips I had found. This one did not work so much for me as there is nowhere in my home to do so. With a drive to the local library being too far to go to daily, I had to learn to improvise on this tip. If you can set up a desk in a quiet place, by all means, do so!
Listening to classical music while studying is another useful study tip. This is one that I have found to be extremely helpful. I invested in a great pair of noise-canceling headphones and listen to classics at a low volume while I study. I am uncertain if classical music really helps my focus or if the benefit is merely drowning out the background noise in my home. No matter the exact reasoning behind it, it certainly has worked for me.
Tip number three is one I have heard multiple times. When studying a chapter in a textbook, first skim the information and any pictures. Next, I read all of the information in the chapter slowly. Finally, I go over the chapter again while taking notes of relevant details or further researching concepts that I do not fully understand. It is also a great idea to write your notes in your own words instead of simply copying information.
There has been much buzz online that cramming in long hours of studying is counterintuitive. Study times should be blocks of thirty minutes with small breaks in between. I must say that this certainly works for me and helps me to think about what I have just learned during the breaks. Each person will find different tips work for them and I believe that learning about the various study strategies is as important as studying itself.
