Whether you are preparing to battle through a conversation in Speech and Debate, create your own government in AP United States History, or take a quiz on valence electrons in chemistry, having ways to study and retain information that is accessible to you and effective is crucial. At one point or another, all students are going to be faced with the task of having to study and practice, something that classes don’t normally teach. No one thing works for everyone, meaning sometimes students might be faced with multiple dead ends before finding that one way of studying that works for them, and it might take a while to come up with a learning plan full of tactics that are actually effective for you. Being able to pinpoint certain tactics that work long-term can benefit your overall success, so adapting to what works best for your brain can make your life easier.
Active Recall
Active recall is one of the best ways to retain information. You start by setting your notes aside, sitting down just yourself, and having a blank slate to write on, whether it’s a whiteboard or a notebook. First, write down everything you can remember, from the largest umbrella terms to the smallest details. Take your time, as this is where you are attempting to recall all the information you have stored in your mind. Once you’ve written down everything you can actively remember, take your notes and compare the concepts you were able to recall and the ones you forgot. Once you’ve pinpointed the areas that you didn’t write down, take time to review. Copy those notes, watch new videos on the concept, run through flashcards, pretend to teach someone else, and work on retaining that information. You can repeat this process, and slowly over time, you’ll notice yourself being able to recall more and more. This method activates your long-term memory, working on moving the information you have stored from short-term use to long-term storage.
Body Doubling
Body Doubling is a common phenomenon that is especially helpful to those who have ADHD, although anyone can take advantage of this tactic. In the simplest terms, body doubling is just studying with someone else. You aren’t working on the same assignment; you’re just simply co-existing. The presence of another person creates external pressure, possibly so subtle you might not notice it, that helps force your mind to focus or stay on task. When you work with someone else, specifically for those with ADHD, you might also experience a dopamine boost that can help boost productivity. People with ADHD have a lower baseline level of dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with reward and motivation, and social interaction can help raise these levels, making concentration easier. Body doubling doesn’t necessarily need to be in person, either. Turning on a “study with me” video on YouTube, or FaceTime with a friend, can be just as effective and more accessible to those who might not be able to travel somewhere in person.
Pomodoro Method
The Pomodoro method is one of the most common study methods when it comes to staying focused consistently. Some people can get overwhelmed at having to focus for long periods of time, so using this method can help break down the overwhelming feeling. When you put this method into practice, you set determined time frames in which you focus. You might start with forty-five minutes of consecutive work, and then you take a fifteen-minute break. As you work for longer periods of time, taking breaks more often is going to help you, as you’ll burn out more slowly. So instead of constantly working for forty-five minutes, work for twenty minutes, and then take a five-minute break. During that break, avoid your phone at all costs. Instead, walk a lap around the house, go get a new snack, fill up your water bottle, or stretch out your body. By taking advantage of this method, you might find that your overall productivity increases, as it’s easier not to get distracted and burnt out.
What you listen to
Although some might find the concept strange, what you listen to can actually change the entire course of your productivity. When you are attempting to focus, if you have music in the background with lyrics, you may find yourself struggling to focus. By removing lyrics from your music, you remove the distractions that come with lyrics, whether it’s focusing on the meaning behind the lyrics or getting caught up in singing along. If you find this to be an issue that you face, try listening to 40 HZ binaural beats. This frequency helps deep focus and memory, and removes the lyrical content. For some, pink or brown noise also achieves the same effect. Putting on classical music can also be beneficial, as it helps with memory, stress reduction, emotional regulation, and increased creativity.
Your Environment
A make-or-break for most is going to be the environment that you work in. Some people can sit down in any environment and work, but not everyone. If you want to focus long-term and enter a productive state, avoid places like your bed or areas full of distractions. You might find that you struggle to focus when you’re at home, so places like coffee shops, libraries, and classrooms are all great environments to work in. If you are faced with having to work at home, set up your environment properly. Keep your workspace as clean as possible, place materials needed, such as pens, in places that you can easily access, and don’t require a five-minute adventure. Put your phone in a focus mode that only allows emergent and important contacts to notify you, limiting distractions from things such as social media. For some people, even putting up a photo of someone who inspires them, or placing quotes that they can relate to in their workspace, can help stop them from getting distracted and provide a reminder as to why they need to focus. If you find yourself getting off task in your current environment, “study-hopping,” meaning moving to a new environment, can help you re-engage with the task at hand.
Your outfit
Even stranger than classical music, some might find that their outfit correlates directly with how productive they are. For some, dressing in comfortable clothing is what works best for them, as feeling comfortable can lower stress levels and increase someone’s overall focus. For others, dressing in certain ways might actually benefit them more. Some people have found that dressing in certain attire connected to their dream occupation or a goal they have helps them succeed, such as scrubs for someone who wants to be a nurse, and benefits them more than sweatpants and a hoodie.
Overall, everyone’s brain functions differently. A place one person finds success in might be the downfall of someone else. That doesn’t mean you are “strange” or “lacking” something; it just simply means that you’re wired differently, and there’s something else out there that will help you succeed. As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
