To adapt more quickly to the rapidly changing environment we live in, we need to learn to be more effective and efficient. You can help your brain absorb information more accurately and efficiently, sometimes simply by changing the way you care for your body. You can also use some easy learning tricks, which will make you feel smarter quickly.
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Method 1 of 4: Preparing Your Body
Step 1. Get enough sleep
Often, there's nothing wrong with you or how you learn: it's just that your brain can't retain the information because your body isn't getting what it needs. Often all he needs is sleep. You have to make sure your body gets plenty of sleep if you want your brain to be ready to absorb information. Just drinking one extra cup of coffee is not enough. This means you have to stop studying until late at night. Better yet, go to bed early, get a few hours of sleep, then wake up early so you can study more with a well-rested brain.
- Research has shown that when we sleep, the brain is cleansed with fluids that flush out toxins. When we don't get enough sleep, our brains are so filled with junk that it's hard to function properly.
- How long to sleep depends on you and your body. Seven to eight hours is usually recommended for most adults, but some people need less and some people need more. You should be able to feel sleepy and ready throughout the day, without the help of coffee. If you fall asleep before four or five in the afternoon, chances are you're not getting enough sleep (or maybe too much).
Step 2. Eat enough
When you are hungry, your brain will have a hard time absorbing any information. It's hard to focus when your body can only tell you that your stomach is empty. Make sure you eat enough for all important meal times. You can even have healthy snacks to eat while you study as well as while in class or taking tests.
It's also a good idea to make sure you're eating healthy foods. Snacks don't provide your body with the nutrients it needs to function at its best. Eat some almonds or carrots to feel ready and focused, rather than bloated and sleepy
Step 3. Drink enough water
Your body is at its best when it is well hydrated. When you don't get enough water, you won't be able to focus. You will be easily distracted, knowingly or unknowingly, by your thirst. This can even lead to things like headaches, making it harder for you to study.
Different bodies need different amounts of water to stay hydrated. The suggested “eight glasses a day” is a rough estimate. The best way to tell if you're getting enough water is to look at the color of your urine. If it's pale or clear, you're drinking enough. If it's darker it means you need more water
Step 4. Exercise
Of course you know that exercise is good for your body in many ways, but did you know that exercise can also help you learn faster? Several studies have found that moderate exercise while studying can help you learn faster. For very physically active people, being forced to stay still for too long can also make staying focused very difficult, so exercising while studying can also be beneficial in that way.
For example, try walking in a large room while you read a textbook. Record class lectures and listen to them while you use the elliptical machine in the gym. There are many options. Just remember to exercise lightly and do it while studying
Step 5. Teach your brain to learn
Fast learning is a habit and you may need to try and retrain your brain to do good habits instead of bad ones. Improve your focus by performing complex tasks without taking a break (even if they are unrelated). Set aside a special time and place to study and nurture that place. Perhaps most importantly, find ways to make learning fun for you. This will make your brain want to do more and you will have less difficulty learning.
For example, study a subject you enjoy. Eventually, your brain will master your learning skills and you can use those abilities on subject areas that you don't enjoy too
Method 2 of 4: Learning How to Learn
Step 1. Define your goals
Look for changes you want to make to improve your quality of life. Which goal requires you to study harder before being able to create the change you want? Look for goals that you can reach from now on, without having to wait long. In this case, we chose the goal of taking better care of the body. Then we'll break it down into smaller goals. What elements are in line with this goal?
- Learn as early as possible.
- Enough sleep
- Eat healthy food
- Drink a lot of work
- Exercising
Step 2. Identify learning options
- Understand the selection criteria that are attractive and unattractive to you. Is surfing the internet more interesting to you? Or talk to a nutritionist or fitness trainer? If you have trouble paying attention while reading, would reading magazine articles be more effective in helping you study?
- Trust your intuition. If a certain method doesn't feel right for you, don't continue using it! If while reading how to improve your sleep pattern, the information doesn't feel useful to your life, stop reading and find another source. Don't feel like you have to keep reading just because the information comes from an expert or because everyone else does. Remember that the information must be useful to you.
- Improve your goals by searching for information. As long as you're looking for ways to take good care of your body, you may find one element to prioritize, and this can narrow your goal from "take better care of your body" to "take care of your body by eating a healthy diet."
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Find someone who has done what you want to do and ask them to show you how.
If you know someone who is already on a healthy diet, try talking to them. Find out what they do, how, and where the information comes from.
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Browse the internet, take courses, talk to other people, and find mentors.
Try different ways of studying to find out which one works best for you.
Step 3. Take advantage of the best options
- Choose something that is possible in your environment, that you can do constructively according to your pattern of activity, and that you can do with the energy and attention you have.. Don't decide to take a nutrition course if you don't have much time to attend. Instead, take advantage of simpler methods such as undergoing a diet program. Either way, make sure you can do it effectively.
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Consider your time, location, and mental state.
Don't stress yourself out even more by living a way that's too heavy for your life. Learning should improve the quality of life, not reduce it.
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Schedule time to study and practice in a day.
Having time allotted specifically for study will motivate you to keep going.
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Make it a habit to pay attention to what you want to learn and improve.
"Emotions greatly affect the level of attention. Meanwhile, attention will spur the learning process." Pay attention to your emotional reactions. If you're looking for options for how to exercise but feel reluctant to do so, try to find out why. What actually triggers this reaction? Of course there is a reason you are reluctant to study.
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Don't be overwhelmed by the choices you have.
Sometimes, our attention gets distracted because we really want to choose something "the most appropriate". Remember, there's no right or wrong way because it relates to ways that work for you. Choose one of them then try to do it. If it doesn't work, choose something else.
Step 4. Experiment with learning
To be able to conduct an experiment effectively, you must have a plan, a way to evaluate the experiment, and time to consider the process and the results. The learning process is the same.
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Define specific criteria that will let you know whether the result was achieved or not.
For example, when designing a diet program, determine whether you should eat three meals a day or several times a day in smaller portions?
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Make sure you have a method for monitoring your learning progress.
Take advantage of whatever equipment you have! Notebook, cell phone, application, computer, internet, calendar, blog, etc.
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Keep track of your progress.
Do you still need more information, or do you need to start a new sleep pattern?
- Define and meet your target. For example, looking for three healthy food menus to include in the diet program.
Step 5. Evaluate your results and targets
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Was it achieved?
Have you learned enough to implement a new exercise program? Have you found an effective way to improve your sleep pattern?
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Reminders on the calendar will help you evaluate this goal.
Set a specific date to evaluate the information you have learned and see if it is effective. Consider if there's anything you should know more about? Did that method work or not? Why?
Step 6. Improve your approach
If the learning method you have chosen is useful, continue to use it. But if not, try again, choose a different way and start experimenting.
Method 3 of 4: Studying in School
Step 1. Watch as you learn something for the first time
The best way to learn faster is to make sure you really pay attention when something is explained to you the first time. Even a slight break in your focus can cause the information to not settle properly in your brain. Unfortunately, there's only one trick to this: you just have to learn how to maintain willpower.
Try listening with the thought that you will need to answer questions about the material right away, such as your teacher calling you, or so that you can repeat the information back to yourself. Even if you are alone, repeating the information back to yourself (paraphrased and in your own words) can help you retain the information in your brain
Step 2. Write notes
Taking notes is also a good way to maintain your focus as you study material for the first time. Taking notes not only forces you to think about the material you are studying, it can also give you a framework for studying later.
Writing open notes means writing down everything that was said. All you have to do is write an outline, with specific information when you know it's important. Write down any important facts and explanations that you have difficulty understanding or that you know you won't remember because they are very complicated
Step 3. Participate in class
Stay active in your learning experience. Not only will this help you stay focused, it will also help your brain absorb information better as it becomes a multisensory experience, not just you listening to someone speak. There are many ways to participate in your learning experience, from being active in group work to asking questions during explanations.
- Try to answer questions when the teacher asks. Don't be afraid to be wrong: it's a learning experience and sometimes being wrong is part of the process.
- If you are divided into groups for activities, reading, or discussions, enjoy the experience and participate. Don't just sit back and do as little as possible. Involve other students and ask questions, give your opinion, and enjoy the experience.
- Ask when you don't understand or want to know more. Asking questions is also a great way to stay focused as you study the material, and will also help make sure you really understand what you're learning. When you don't understand what your teacher is saying or when you are interested in something and want to know more, don't be afraid to ask.
Step 4. Create a helpful environment
If your lab partner is very distracting or you study at home in front of the television, it's no surprise that you have a hard time learning fast. You will need a quiet environment dedicated to learning if you want to give your brain the best chance of learning information. Having a quiet and distraction-free environment means you won't be disturbed. Leaving aside places to study can also help, as it triggers your brain to work in a certain way.
If your classroom environment is a problem, ask the teacher for help. You may be able to change seats or work with other people. If your home environment is the problem, find a unique place to study. You can go to the library if one is close enough. You can do things like study in the bathroom or in the morning, if your roommate is really noisy
Step 5. Work with your learning style
Learning styles are different ways our brains best absorb information. There are many learning styles and while we can learn to use almost any learning style, there are usually one or two that work best for each person. You can take tests online to help determine what your learning style is, but if you have a teacher who can help you, they should be able to help you determine it. You can even talk to them about adding more of that learning style to their way of teaching.
- For example, if you find that you learn best when you look at charts and graphs, you may be a visual learner. Try learning by drawing your own infographics to help you remember the information better.
- Do you find that you remember the sound of something or can you clearly remember what you read while listening to a certain song? If so, you may be an auditory student. Try recording your class lectures to listen to before and after you study, or even while you study if the information is very clearly the same.
- Are you sitting in class feeling like you might explode because you need to run? Do you subconsciously tap your feet while listening to the explanation? You may be a physical student. Try playing with small objects in class or walking around while studying, to help you learn faster.
Step 6. Study the right way for the type of material you are studying
Different subjects are learned better in different ways. You may not study for the subject you want to learn in the most helpful way, Adjust how to study so that you learn the right abilities in a way that suits your brain.
- For example, our brains are designed to learn language through interaction, listening, and use. You'll learn English faster if you dive in and take the time to speak the language instead of just looking at flash cards. If you need more help learning English faster, check out our article on the topic here.
- Another example is studying mathematics. Instead of just solving the same problems and seeing the same examples over and over again, look at and solve many different problems using the same skills. Solving problems with related but different skills can help solidify your understanding of what you are trying to learn.
Step 7. Get a learning disability evaluation
If you really can't focus while studying or your brain doesn't seem to be absorbing any information, even with different aids and techniques, you should consider getting a learning disorder evaluation. There are many learning disorders and most of them are very common (it is estimated that 1 in 5 people in the US have them). This doesn't mean you're stupid or there's something wrong about you, it just means you're learning in a slightly different way. Common learning disabilities include:
- Dyslexia, which causes problems with reading. If your eyes don't move properly as you navigate the page, you may have dyslexia.
- Dyslexia-related disorders such as dysgraphia and dyscalculia cause similar problems with writing and math. If you have a hard time starting something up but you can easily talk about it, you may have dysgraphia. If you have trouble recognizing numbers or doing things like estimating prices, you may have dyscalculia.
- Central Auditory Process Disorder is another common learning disorder that makes it difficult for sufferers to process sounds. This is similar to deafness, but without hearing loss, which can lead to problems following speech and focusing when there is background noise.
Method 4 of 4: Reviewing Materials Efficiently
Step 1. Learn as quickly as possible and as often as possible
Of course, the more you learn, the more you learn so studying often is a good idea. But the faster you learn, the easier it will be for you to remember everything. This means you shouldn't start studying two or three days before the exam. Start studying at least a week before the exam; and consider studying continuously in semesters if necessary.
It's a good idea to review old information at the same time you review information from this week as well. This will refresh those old thoughts and skills in your mind so you can grow from them
Step 2. Get help from your tutor or teacher
There's nothing wrong with getting expert help and advice suited to your situation. This can really help you learn faster. Get rid of your shyness and ask your teacher for help. If they don't have the time to help you, they can at least help you find a mentor.
- If you can't afford tutoring fees, your teacher may be able to put you in touch with someone in your class who knows the material and can help you.
- Many schools have free tutoring centers, so visit if you have one.
Step 3. Create a mind map to speed up your learning
Mind maps are a great way to get any information you're trying to learn straight into your brain. A mind map is a visual representation of what you are trying to learn. Use note cards, pictures, and sheets of paper to write organized facts, explanations, and concepts. Now hang them on the wall or place them on the floor, placing similar things close together and using string or other objects to indicate related thoughts and subjects. Learn from this map instead of just looking at your notes.
When you're about to take an exam or write a script, you'll be able to think back on your mind map and remember information based on where it's located and where it's connected, just as you would remember a location on a geographic map
Step 4. Memorize efficiently to lock information quickly
Mnemonics aren't always the best technique, but they can be helpful if you need to quickly learn certain types of information. Memorizing is most useful for some things, like the order of things or vocabulary. Systematic memorization of more complex material may not work.
- Try using mnemonics to learn information faster. Mnemonics are phrases or words that act like keys to larger pieces of information. For example, the mnemonic phrase "My mother's very eccentric singing usually makes me sick."
- Focus on a small part at a time. When you're learning about learning, it's a good idea to get as comfortable as possible with a small array of information before moving on to something new. You may find it slower but it's actually faster because you don't have to review information more often. This is especially important when you are trying to memorize vocabulary, lists, and similar types of information. Learn the word order of no more than 5-8 at a time before moving on to the next.
Step 5. Give yourself a context that you find interesting
When you have context as information, it's easier for you to process it. When that context really interests you, it also makes the information easier to remember. Do your own research and seek out experiences that can help you contextualize what you are trying to learn.
- Let's say you are trying to learn English. Try watching a movie that interests you that uses a similar subject in the specific area of vocabulary you're trying to learn right now. So, for example, if you're trying to learn travel words, try watching Lost in Translation.
- Another example is if you are trying to study for a history class. Look for documentation on the subject you are studying or even something that simply shows the country you are studying. Even just having a visual to accompany the story will help you remember the information as it becomes easier to imagine.
Tips
- Do not settle for the first choice in learning. Go through all the options before making a decision.
- One way to think of what constitutes “learning” comes from the well-known psychologist Robert Bjork: “Learning is the ability to use information after a long period of disuse, and is the ability to use that information to solve problems that arise in different contexts (even if only slightly).) with the context in which the information was originally taught.”
