Are you having trouble studying? Do some subjects seem too complicated? Do you feel like you never have enough time to learn what you need to? These challenges are common in the life of any student, which is why having study methods is so important.
After all, they improve your productivity and help you learn better, optimizing your daily routine .
In today’s text, we have selected 10 study methods with different proposals and objectives so that you can choose which one best suits your style. Come with us!
What are study methods?
Study methods are strategies that help you be more efficient when learning something . There are many different types available, from written summaries to drawings.
You can even create your own study method, doing something completely unique and that works for you. Cool, right?
Why adopt a study method?
Studying is a process that requires effort from our brain, dedication from the student and available time. These factors combined make many people see the act of learning as boring and complicated.
With this in mind, study methods emerge to simplify this process . They help you to:
- learn faster;
- have more focus, avoiding procrastination;
- organize your study schedule , which helps with time management, especially for people who have a busy routine;
- have long-term knowledge.
The 10 most efficient study methods
Now that you know what study methods are and how important they are, it’s time to better understand the ten most popular strategies so you can put them into practice in your routine.
Let’s go?
1. Mind map
Mind mapping is a great method for those who learn more visually . It works like a diagram, in which the main theme of the content to be studied appears in the center. From there, you create branches, associating images, keywords or expressions with the initial element.
You can make a mind map on a sheet of notebook paper, using colored pens and markers, or create it using digital platforms, such as Mind Meister .
2. Summaries and notes
The summary is one of the most popular study methods among students. It basically consists of presenting content superficially, but maintaining all its main ideas .
Summaries are great for reinforcing the information you’ve read, as well as serving as review material .
The notes reproduce all the content you have just studied, not just the main parts. However, this “reproduction” needs to be done in your own words . So, don’t copy excerpts from the book or handout.
Another important point is that the summary is not done in the form of continuous text. The text blocks should be separated by ideas, following the same logical order as the original material.
3. Pomodoro Technique
>A good study method can make all the difference in your productivity and learning!
The Pomodoro Technique works by alternating moments of intense focus with periods of relaxation.
According to the original method, each pomodoro should last 25 minutes and during that time you need to fully concentrate on the activity you are doing. Once the cycle is finished, you should take a 5-minute break. Then, spend another 25 minutes concentrating and then take another break.
When you finish four Pomodoros, your break time should be longer, 15 minutes. Then, the whole process starts again.
In practice, you can modify the focus and break times to suit your study flow . The important thing is to keep alternating and dedicate a longer period to moments of concentration.
4. Mnemonics
Mnemonics is one of the most popular study methods despite its complicated name. This technique consists of creating phrases, words or even songs to associate information.
5. Intercalation of subjects
Interleaved study works as the name suggests, that is, alternating the subjects you study. So, instead of spending four hours just learning math, for example, you divide that time: 2 hours for biology and 2 hours for math.
This helps your brain not get tired or go on autopilot, and it also prevents procrastination. Another great advantage is that you can optimize your study time throughout the week.
6. Practical tests
Practical tests are nothing more than solving exercises, simulations and old exams.
This is one of the most efficient study methods, as it forces your brain to think hard about the information previously studied in order to answer each question. It also allows you to measure your current level of knowledge.
7. Diffuse thinking
Our brain works in two ways: focused mode and diffuse mode .
The first case corresponds to those moments when you are completely focused on something. For example, when you are reading a complex geography chapter.
Diffuse mode is when the brain’s thoughts can flow freely , creating varied connections. It appears during moments of relaxation, when you are playing, watching a movie or taking a walk.
Using diffuse thinking as a study method is ideal for situations where you have read and reread a material, but still haven’t fully understood it. The best thing to do in this case is to distract yourself, as it will be easier for your brain to process the new information.
8. Robinson Method (EPL2R)
This method was created by an American psychologist named Francis Pleasant Robinson and is based on the stages of reading. In other words, the idea is for you to start your learning process by doing a superficial analysis of the content and gradually delve deeper into it.
With this general concept in mind, we move on to the details of the technique and understanding its acronym:
- E: explore , it is time to do a basic reading of the content, analyzing only the summary, titles and subtitles;
- Q: Ask , this is the time to develop the questions you want to be able to answer after reading the content;
- L: reading , this is the part of the study itself and it requires a lot of concentration;
- A: remember , time to make notes, summaries or a summary of everything you learned;
- A: Reviewing is revising, which should be done regularly to keep the information fresh in your mind.
9. Self-explanation and self-interrogation
Some study methods may work better than others for you, as this varies from person to person.
These two techniques are very simple, but quite efficient .
In the case of self-explanation , after you read a chapter, try to give yourself a lesson about what you learned . This will make your brain create connections between the information and better retain the content.
For self-interrogation , the idea is to create questions about what you have just studied and try to answer them in your own words. This way, the brain also works to remember everything that was seen and understand the material in a deeper way.
10. Rereading
Rereading is nothing more than a kind of review , but with a lot of focus.
What happens is that when we read a text for the first time, our brain understands the general context of what is presented. However, the more times we read the same content, the more we notice details and information that had previously gone unnoticed.
Now that you know the 10 best-known study methods, how about an extra tip? Check it out below!
Extra tip: test the methods
As you can see, there are different ways to improve your productivity when studying. However, to find out which one will give you the best results, you need to test it.
After all, a method that works perfectly for your friend may not help you in your daily life, for example. And that doesn’t mean that the technique presented is bad, it’s just not ideal for you.
So, put each of the study methods we have presented into practice and see which one you like best. Remember that you can also combine them according to your needs.