Studying can feel like a chore. Some students study for hours and cannot seem to improve their grades, while other students do not study at all and easily maintain “perfect” averages. There are many myths around the topic of studying, but have no fear, scientifically proven study tips are here.
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What do you do before you go to bed? Many people wind down by reading or listening to music, but it might be worthwhile to try studying. In a 2012 study by the University of Notre Dame, psychologists studied 207 students who habitually slept for at least six hours per night. Participants were randomly assigned to study different types of word pairs at 9 a.m. or 9 p.m. and returned for testing 30 minutes, 12 hours or 24 hours later. At the 12-hour retest, memory overall was much better following a night of sleep compared to a day of wakefulness.1 So next time you learn a difficult concept in class, consider studying before you go to bed.
2. Study out loud
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Talking to yourself can feel weird. People tend to look at you and you draw a lot of attention to yourself. But when it comes to studying by yourself, you may study better when you study out loud. One study shows that people who explain ideas to themselves learn almost three times more than those who don’t. The Harvard Business Review stated that “talking to ourselves is crucial to self-explaining and generally helpful for learning. For one thing, it slows us down — and when we’re more deliberate, we typically gain more from an experience.” 2 When University of Illinois psychologist Brian Ross enrolled in a computer course, he found it hard to keep up with his younger counterparts. After reading assigned texts, he asked himself, “What did I just read? How does that fit together? Have I come across this idea before?” This helped him guide his self-studying, and these same questions can be used as you self-study. Next time you study, consider studying out loud (just not in the library).
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3. Exercise before you study
Do you like going for a jog in the evening? Do you like to do yoga before bed? No matter your answer, you may want to incorporate some exercise into your studying schedule. Exercise stimulates a brain structure called the hippocampus, which research has shown is important for reasoning and memory. Besides short-term boosts in cognition, regular exercise can help slow down the shrinkage of the hippocampus that comes with age. Additionally, exercise helps reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. By doing just 20 minutes of physical activity before studying, you not only get in a good workout, but you also harness the stress-reducing, positive cognitive effects that can assist you as you study.3
1 University of Notre Dame. “Sleeping after Processing New Info Most Effective, New Study Shows.” Notre Dame News, 23 Mar. 2012, https://news.nd.edu/news/learning-best-when-you-rest-sleeping-after-processing-new-info-most-effective-new-study-shows/.
2 Boser, Ulrich, et al. “Talking to Yourself (Out Loud) Can Help You Learn.” Harvard Business Review, 25 Sept. 2017, https://hbr.org/2017/05/talking-to-yourself-out-loud-can-help-you-learn.
3 Pittman, Olivia, et al. “5 Study Hacks Proven By Science.” College Raptor Blog, https://www.collegeraptor.com/find-colleges/articles/tips-tools-advice/5-study-hacks-proven-by-science-and-why-they-work/.
As you read this, it is my hope that you will consider incorporating these tips into your study routine. You may find that after using these tips you will see an improvement in your grades, or your study time will become more efficient. Even if you feel comfortable not studying, it is still a skill that can help you in the future by helping you become more confident in your answers. By making the most of your study time, you may grow to appreciate it and might actually learn something new. Studying is a good skill to hone in high school and can be helpful throughout your future career and other endeavors, if you do it correctly.
1 University of Notre Dame. “Sleeping after Processing New Info Most Effective, New Study Shows.” Notre Dame News, 23 Mar. 2012, https://news.nd.edu/news/learning-best-when-you-rest-sleeping-after-processing-new-info-most-effective-new-study-shows/.
2 Boser, Ulrich, et al. “Talking to Yourself (Out Loud) Can Help You Learn.” Harvard Business Review, 25 Sept. 2017, https://hbr.org/2017/05/talking-to-yourself-out-loud-can-help-you-learn.
3 Pittman, Olivia, et al. “5 Study Hacks Proven By Science.” College Raptor Blog, https://www.collegeraptor.com/find-colleges/articles/tips-tools-advice/5-study-hacks-proven-by-science-and-why-they-work/.
These are great ideas to aid in developing good study habits. Getting your body moving and then studying out loud before bed sounds like a great routine to start!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic way to inspire different ways to study. Taking time to read over notes before going to bed and getting a good night sleep sounds easy enough. It'll be even better if you can read them out loud. And it would be a win/win if you could get a study buddy to walk or work out with you before studying.
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ReplyDeleteStudy skills are an important component in student success. Without proper study skills students often fall behind. With exams approaching it is important for students to find the niche that best fits their lifestyle when studying. Many study before bedtime. This is a good technique in that you go to sleep with the content on your mind. Others reread their notes which is a helpful form of review for what was covered in the coursework. Whatever study method is used the most important aspect is learning the material and committing it to memory!
ReplyDeleteI feel like there should be a class just for studying. These tips should be followed by all who have every felt they have never really studied that well. Reading over a list again and again is not an effective way to study, if it is a way to study at all. Exercising might tire the body but it inflames the mind is a great tip for a pre-studying routine.
ReplyDeleteI think all of these study tips are great and I agree with studying before you go to sleep. I normally study before bed or get up early to study before heading off to work.
ReplyDeleteI think that all of these tips are very useful when it comes to studying. A lot of students often become stressed and drained by trying to cram tons of content into their brain in a short time. However, using some or all of these study tips will allow for a more peaceful, less stressful studying routine. Great Blog!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent article and I can attest to the fact that studying out loud and exercise are the key strategies that got me through a Bachelors of Nursing Program in under 15-months. I definitely recommend the tradition route over the accelerated fyi. Study aloud and recording yourself may also be helpful especially if you have time to listen to it again like when you are exercising or completing daily living task. Great blog and research!
ReplyDeleteThese are great strategies for helping students study. I don't think it is a coincidence that these tips are also linking study strategies to general healthy habits, as there is lots of evidence that sleep and exercise are important to physical and mental health. Especially during this time when many students are feeling isolated, it is important to have study tips that are successful as well as promote well-being. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteTerry Moore, December 13, 2020
ReplyDeleteI have found that for me when I read aloud and hear what I am studying or reading, I remember the information for a longer period of time.
Study before you sleep is another tips or strategy that works well with me. Sometimes when I watch a movie, or a conversation I had prior to going to sleep I dream about it or remember it in my sleep.
DeleteGreat topic for NC Virtual students! Students need to KNOW how to study. Oftentimes, studying seems to come natural. However, as curriculum becomes tougher, it can help to have study skills that will support learning.
ReplyDeleteWonderful sharing, informative content, thanks for sharing. You can checkout here for knowing or doing about study.
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It's so important to get enough sleep! There's a ton of research out there, and I don't think teenagers ever get the sleep they need to be successful.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this article! I like tips shared and I think they are about tips that everyone can easily use. It happened that I personally studied aloud when I was struggling with a complex concept or if I was just tired and needed extra-motivation!
ReplyDelete