With lots of facts to memorise and absorb, there are times when studying seems more like a chore.
Studying may appear effortless for some students, but for others the struggle is real. As you find your concentration depleting, so does your enthusiasm for learning.
However, the ability to study is something that you can train yourself to be better at. Luckily, there are creative ways to help you study and excel.
For effective studying, here are some simple and practical tips that you can apply into your usual study methods.
Create colourful diagrams
If you have a set of fancy stationery, colourful post-it notes and highlighters, now is the best time to use them as visual aids that can be helpful when revising. Also, you are more likely to use them to create your own notes and diagrams.
Producing creative drawings such as diagrams and mind maps to illustrate what you have learned not only makes revision fun, but also helps you to memorize notes better.
In addition, these drawings can motivate you to create more notes in the future for effective learning.
Choose a good place to study
One of the keys to effective studying is choosing the right place and time, and this may differ for each student.
Sometimes, a change of scenery can help in regaining your enthusiasm for studying, whether it is the local library, a coffee shop or the park.
And while some students learn better when they study somewhere more private and quiet, others concentrate better with background noise as their company.
However, if being outside is not possible, do consider studying elsewhere in your house.
Take regular breaks
Studies have found that taking a break to relax and unwind is essential for achieving productivity and a positive outlook on the future, as well as improving one’s concentration.
This may also apply for young working adults who are working long hours in front of a computer or university students who are pulling all-nighters to study.
This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
This article first appeared on The Borneo Post, published in the print version on Saturday, September 29, 2018.
