3 Steps That Will Elevate Your Study Sessions

Learning how to study is just as important as studying itself. If you’re not efficient, it will take you twice as long to learn the same amount of information.

Step 1: Work in varied study environments

It’it's good to have a designated study area in your home, however, it's also important to study in different places. This can mean going to your local library, coffee, shop, or park to make sure that your mind doesn’t associate your learning material with a specific place. If you study in the same place every single time, your brain might not be able to recall information as well when you sit down in the classroom to take the exam. So, before you begin your study session, pick a new place that will help you engage even more in your learning.

Step 2: Take organized notes

Your notes don't have to look like a work of art. But, taking organized notes using nice pens and pretty colors can help you want to look back at them more often. If the notes you take are all scribbled down and look like chicken scratch, not are you not going to understand them but it's not going to be very fun or easy to study from them. If your notes are neat and clean, you may even be able to recall them visually in your memory!

Step 3: Pretend to teach the information

You may feel silly doing this, but it’s been a game-changer for me in nursing school. You can teach your sister, dog, friend, or even your bedroom wall- the point is to speak the information out loud. When you’re just reading over your notes in your head, it’s very easy to get sidetracked and think about other things. However, by reading them aloud, you are engaging in active learning. Active learning is when you attend to the information and are immersed in it, resulting in long-term retention and a better understanding of the material.

Now, try out these steps for yourself! Let me know in the comments if these tips were helpful for you. Happy studying!