smart study tips

8/13/2019 Smart Study Tips

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Smart Study Tips

Start up If you are not used to waking up early, start the day with a bath before you studyjust to shake you out of stupor.

Music Listening to the music which has alleviated your moods in the past need not bethe recent ones! can also help you to kick start the day. "ust dont get lost.

#est$Stretch Time%hen you take a break, o&ygenate get more o&ygen to your brain!' (et up and walk

around the room for a couple of minutes. %hen we sit for long periods, blood tends to

pool in our lower body and legs because of gravity!. )ur calves serve as pumps for our

blood when we walk, getting blood flowing more evenly throughout the body. *s aresult, more o&ygen is carried to the brain and you are more alert.

+hange Topics

Many students aid their concentration by changing the subject they are studying everyone to two hours. ou pay more attention to something that-s different. *nd you can give

yourself that variety by changing the subject you study regularly.

Let go of emotional worries

*ttend to all crises or serious problems. ither do something about them or decide whatto do about it//later. 0ave faith that the world will still be there with its problems and

joys while you take time out to study. Instead, enlist your emotions and take time out to

worry for atleast 12 mins compulsory each day .only so that you learn to break the habit

of worrying 3ull day. *nd when you get distracted while studying put the emotion orthought to your list for 4%orry Time4.

Study conditions5* regular time and regular place well/lighted and 6uiet! will suggest study. If you find it

compatible and profitable to study with others, fine. 7se a straight back chair to

encourage alertness. The room should be well ventilated and not above 89:. )nly soft

music, if you must.

yes5#est eyes fre6uently as eye staring can 6uickly cause fatigue. Look away from your book,

blink hard several times, or palm your eyes to rest them. *void glaring reading lights or

reading in the sun.

Interest5

Some subjects will be more interesting to you than others. #esearch before the seriousreading will create interest as well as purpose. Interest will surge and subside. &pect

this' %hatever, the responsibility for developing interest is yours.

;ackground information5#ecall what you already know about the subject. This will generate interest which serves


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concentration. If you find the material new and difficult, go to simpler sources for your

initial reading.

e the material5

+hapters have an order or structure for the thought flow and development. 7tili>e thisorder as a hanger for details, relating and associating the details to the main ideas which

make up the structure. ou can concentrate and remember better if you have a clear sense

of where you are and where you are going with ideas.This can be achieved if you 4tie in4

details to the major ideas larger framework! as you read.

?isuali>e5

+reate pictures in your mind as you read. The visual sense is most helpful in stimulating

interest, concentration and memory as well as understanding. *lways affirm to yourselfthat you have already achieved success in your e&amination and feel the positive surge of

good energy to train your body to dwell in the good energy.

#ead faster5

The faster you read, the more you have to attend to the material, leaving less time fordistractions or your thoughts to wander. Speed also binds the material closer as you are

perceiving more and, the more you perceive of the whole, the more you will find it

meaningful and interesting.

Self/recitation5

ngage in a split/second recitation/reflecti on after reading each paragraph ormanageable portion to test your understanding before recording this understanding

briefly. This self/recitation not only refreshes interest but keeps you actively involved

which serves concentration.

Make notes5

Make brief notes in your own words following self/recitation. +opying passively not only

is an absolute waster of time, but it actually decreases concentration. 7nderlining doesnot serve concentration as well as your own paraphrased notes.

#eview5#eview your notes occasionally while reading a chapter. *fter you have completed your

reading, review it again to be sure you have really 4got it.4

%arm/up5

the first 19/@9 minutes is often a readiness period//a warm/up period to develop interest

and mood for studying. Aon-t be disappointed if you fail to concentrate 199B at the

beginning. If often takes some time to get into it. 0ang in there' This is when moststudents close the book, feeling they just can-t study tonight. Cot so'


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Lapses and fatigue5

If your concentration flags during the study period, take short breaks. Stretch, stand, restyour eyes, walk about, get a drink and then resume your studying. Later, when you feel

you-ve had it with the subject, take a mental break changing to another subject. * review

of your notes is encouraging and this refreshes interest and concentration. +hange to aneasier assignment. If you are sure you-ve had it for that study session, 6uit for the time

being.

Some odds and ends

Set goals for studying//so many pages or a set amount of time. %ork to achieve these

goals. *t some point you may feel you are making no progress at all most common

problem called learning plateau!. 0owever, as you continue to study, there will beanother leap forward.

Arink %ater

4%ater comprises more of the brain with estimates of D9B! than of any other organ ofthe body.4 0aving students drink some water before and during class can help 4grease the

wheel4. Arinking water is very important before any stressful situation / tests' / as wetend to perspire under stress, and de/hydration can effect our concentration negatively.

Input Ere/#ead5 #ead topic and sub topic headings. (lance at the pictures, charts,

diagrams, maps, etc.Skim5 Much like an athlete must warm up muscles before a practice or a game, the mind

needs to be warmed up and prepared to receive new information. #ead the first sentence

of every paragraph along with statements in italics or boldface type. #ead the

introduction and the summary to get a general sense of the content and organi>ation.+hunk5 ;reak the chapter down into bite/si>ed pieces//small sections that will be easy to

handle. #ead in these small sections, checking for understanding at the end of each.

yourself/section by section


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again.

#egular #eview5 Schedule weekly and monthly reviews. #eread and relearn informationthat has not been stored successfully.

Meet #egularly with a Study (roup5 (roup study can be e&tremely helpful in terms of

maintaining motivation to review. *lso, you can learn by the e&ample of others. Eerhaps

others in your group will teach you new ways to study that will benefit you.

%0IL ST7AIC(

"ot down things that are on your mind before you study, then set this list to the side. *dd

to it anything that distracts you as you are studying. Take care of the list later.

Study at the same time each day. * regular schedule can help you frame this as JstudytimeK.

Set a timer for an hour, don-t allow yourself to stop studying until it goes off.

Take breaks. * three minute break for every 9 minutes of study is a good guideline.Take a longer break after D9 minutes.

Set goals for your session that are realistic number of problems to solve, pages to read,etc.! %hen you have met one of your study goals, reward yourself with a short break.Then, return to your study area.

Study in an area away from distractions such as a library, study lounge, or an empty

classroom.

Make sure you have everything that you need before you begin.Make sure your environment is conducive to studying no T?, no telephone, no

roommate, no boyfriend$girlfrien d.

Make studying an active process take notes and make review sheets. Intersperse differentkinds of study into one session, e.g. reading, writing, taking notes, memori>ing, etc.

Identify how what you are studying is relevant to your life. Araw connections between

things you already know.nsure that you are sleeping enough, eating well, and getting regular e&ercise. our mind

will be more alert, and you will be less likely to fall asleep or daydream.

C)T5 M)# TIM S0 )7LA ; SECT )C #?I% T0*C )C ICE7T *CAST)#.

E#E*#IC( 3)# N*MIC*TI)C

Test Taking Skills5

Too little an&iety apathy! or too much an&iety panic! are both problematic. * moderate

level of an&iety gives energy and improves concentration.The Cight ;efore

stablish good study habits. +ramming increases the likelihood of panic. +oncentrate on

what you do know and try to think of likely 6uestions to be asked.(et a good night-s sleep.

Make sure you know the time of the e&am, where it is being held and how to get there.

Oeep the importance of the e&am in perspective. Talk to yourself5 4It-s only an e&am.4 4I

can do it.4 4Stay cool.4)n &am Aay


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at a moderate breakfast or lunch. *void drinks or drugs with caffeine. )ver agitation

can increase nervousness and harm concentration and memory.

#ela&ing activityAo a rela&ing activity unrelated to the e&am in the last hour before the e&am.

Eanic (enerators

Steer clear of fellow students who are 4an&iety generators.4 Eanic is contagious.&amination 0all (et to the e&am room early to settle in and prepare your supplies and

familiari>e yourself with surroundings.

Tense all your muscles for a moment, then suddenly rela& them. Take deep breaths.Auring the &am

#ead directions and underline significant instructions.

3irst answer the easy 6uestions. Then go back to the more difficult.

Multiple +hoice / eliminate the impossible answers, then make as good an intuitive guessas possible.

ssay e your thought. "ot them down and start

with a summary sentence.

%hen confronted with e&cess an&iety, break it by doing something unusual5 ask a6uestion get a drink chew gum eat a piece of hard candy sharpen pencil tense and

rela& large muscle groups take several deep, slow breaths.Aon-t rush maintain steady pace.

*fter the &am

7se the test as a learning tool. *fter the e&am is over, don-t torture yourself overmistakes.

Take a break and take note of how you were tested. Aon-t vow to study harder. ?ow to

study smarter.

#eview the e&am looking for the types of errors. Is there a pattern5 e.g. did I use a /

instead of a P sign in problems=

N#+ISS 3)# +)C+CT#*TI)C

4;rain ;uttons4

This e&ercise helps improve blood flow to the brain to 4switch on4 the entire brain before

a lesson begins. The increased blood flow helps improve concentration skills re6uired for

reading, writing, etc.

Eut one hand so that there is as wide a space as possible between the thumb and inde&

finger.Elace your inde& and thumb into the slight indentations below the collar bone on each

side of the sternum. Eress lightly in a pulsing manner.

*t the same time put the other hand over the navel area of the stomach. (ently press onthese points for about @ minutes.

4+ross +rawl4

This e&ercise helps coordinate right and left brain by e&ercising the information flowbetween the two hemispheres. It is useful for spelling, writing, listening, reading and


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comprehension.

Stand or sit. Eut the right hand across the body to the left knee as you raise it, and then dothe same thing for the left hand on the right knee just as if you were marching.

"ust do this either sitting or standing for about @ minutes.

40ook 7ps4

This works well for nerves before a test or special event such as making a speech. *nysituation which will cause nervousness calls for a few 4hook ups4 to calm the mind and

improve concentration.

0ooking legs

Stand or sit. +ross the right leg over the left at the ankles.

0ooking hands

Take your right hand and cross it over the left hand. Let the crossed palms face each

other. Cow link up the fingers into a fist 0ands should remain crossed! Turn the crossed

fist inwards as you e&pand your wrists outwards and bring the crossed fist towards thecenter of the chest.

Stay in this position for @ to mins and breathe evenly till you feel rela&ed. ou will be

noticeably calmer after that time.

;reathing techni6ue

;reath in and out in e6ual counts to calm your nerves. %hen you breathe in..your

stomach should come out and when you breathe out, your stomach should go in. Eractice

doing this to feel more energy coming in through your breath. ou may do this even

while you are studying.

A#. E#*TI;0* S*M7L

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