Tips for Studying Over the Holidays

1) Plan. Planning how you’re going to study or go about learning something new is one of the most important steps to learning something quickly and efficiently. If you’re able to get yourself organized and prioritize what you have to do, you’ll be able to perform better and learn more efficiently. Compile all of the information and material that you think you’ll need., make a list of what needs to be done, group what needs to be done into TASKS from your list, then break each TASK into smaller, more manageable parts, and finally if needed create mini-goals from the TASKS. 2) Create a Holiday schedule. Be realistic. When can you study? Where can you study? Don’t expect to buckle down and study for six hours in a row--unless you really can do that. Psychology research has shown that our ability to stay focused on a single task declines after about 20-25 minutes. That research also suggests that simply by looking at your goals every day for 17 seconds increases your chances of accomplishing them more by 13% versus doing nothing at all, so keep your goals and TASKS visible, and create a schedule to go with your plan. 3) Break it up--do a little bit of a task at a time. Take your TASKS and chunk them down into little 15 minute mini-tasks that you complete each day—do one before you get out of bed in the morning, and the rest of the day can be spent worry free on all the other things you need to accomplish. Or do a min-goal before you go to sleep at night, at the very least sleep on it, and see what your mind has thought-up for you by morning--remember our bodies internalize information while we sleep and when we wake up our brains are still in Alpha wave mode, so we tend to be at our most creative. 4) Find a place to study besides your home. At home it’s very easy to “study” while watching TV or find other distractions. Use a coffee shop, or even a public library that will help you gain the necessary focus for proper preparation. Reserve regular blocks of time for work that requires concentration--try using the first hour at work to make headway in your most difficult project. Schedule email and social media check-in times—shut-off notification sounds on your email and phone. After a distraction, it can take our brains up to 15 minutes to re-focus on the task at hand. And, clean your work area. Visual distractions can be just as challenging as sound distractions, if you are a visual learner. Stay positive!! Educational studies have shown that our feelings are closely related to learning. If we can be positive while studying, your brain retains more and learning becomes easier. Stay positive, and put one foot in front of the other…