Good Study Skills

Good Study Skills

Trying to learn and understand new information takes energy, determination and good study skills. Here are some easy ways to build good study skills so that you can cut your study time in half and still remember everything you've learned.
• Start with the basics. Make sure that if you are attending a class or an important meeting that you are well rested and fed. If you are hungry or tired, your mind will not be able to focus on the information presented. If you can't focus, you can't take good notes to study from later.
• Try to get an advanced copy of any lecture or meeting notes. This way you can focus and concentrate more on the detailed content of the lecture or meeting instead of having to worry about taking notes on all the information provided. This will allow you to have good study skills and put you ahead.
• Don't try to over study. Those late night cram sessions are legendary on all college campuses; the problem is that they are not really effective. Putting your brain on information overload does little to improve brain function or memory retention. Try scheduling study time in smaller segments. It takes more planning, but you will be thankful in the long run.
• Work with a classmate or colleague to make sure that you have a good understanding of the material. It also helps memory formation if you are actively using the information that you are trying to learn. By discussing and analyzing the information, memory retention is improved.
Good study skills are essential in improving your ability to study less and remember more. Making these simple changes will help you on your path to improving learning.