Many of us will have to pursue a course of study or qualification to assist in securing a new or bigger role. If you are going to invest a significant portion of your time and finances into your learning, then it goes without saying you want to maximise your gains.
See, it’s not just undergraduate students spending a significant part of their day studying. Employees who want to improve their chances for a promotion, or are attempting to up skill for a career change, are attending part time study outside of working hours.
According to a report published by the London School of Business & Finance, almost half of UK workers want to change their careers. Two-thirds of those looking to change career are millennials, aged between 18 and 34. For most, a career change ultimately means retraining and refocussing time into related studies.
How to study smarter
- Create a schedule: Schedule specific topics for selected periods of time.
- Study in 25 minute blocks and take five-minute breaks in between each block. The key to productive study is not cramming in lots of information, but studying smarter in shorter bursts.
- Make more use of your senses, especially your visual senses. If you learn to associate certain colours with certain items it will serve as a memory aid.
- Learn by teaching. One of the most productive ways to truly understand something is to explain it to someone else. If you do join a study group of like-minded people, this method would be ideal.
Stay healthy when studying
- Focus on what you are eating and treat food as your fuel. On a day where you are planning to study, eat a whole grains based breakfast e.g. oatmeal, which aids with mental focus much more than a breakfast of refined carbohydrates e.g. white toast.
- Exercise frequently. Getting out into the fresh air and taking some form of exercise can boost your brain power and even your memory.
- Be social and join a study group. Social interactions can assist with suppressing distractions and studying in a group could give you new insights into your learning experience.
Coping with exam stress and anxiety
A significant aspect of studying effectively is the ability to cope with the stress and anxiety that students can experience in the lead up to an exam. According to Mental Healthy, the top five causes of exam anxiety are:
- Not getting into university based on poor exam results.
- Fears about sitting the actual exam.
- Pressure from parents to perform well.
- Not doing as well as friends.
- Not getting a good job afterwards.
However, learning to cope with stress while studying is a big part of alleviating the anxiety which can build up if left unchecked. Some of the best things that students can do to manage their stress include:
- Talking to friends.
- Talking to family.
- Exercising.
- Talking to an educator.
Revision tips and tricks
When it comes to study revision, it is best to find out as much information as you possibly can about the marking scheme in advance. This will keep you focused on the topics that will give you the highest marks. Condensing down study notes from several pages into one paragraph of key point can be very effective. While it may not be easy, tricking yourself into remaining confident can actually work and last minute cramming will do nothing but upset this so do not do it. For an illustrated look at how to study more effectively, see the infographic below created by Study Medicine Europe.
About the author: Aris Grigoriou is a Student Recruitment Manager at Study Medicine Europe.
