What Can I Do to Help Me Study?

About 50 million people in the United States right now are in school. This is a big chunk of the population. Since many people reading this may also be in school, or know someone who is, here are some study tips.

First tip is to use flashcards. They make your brain use active recall, where you see a prompt and try to remember the information related to the prompt. This strengthens neural connections in the brain leading to better information retention. This allows for you to remember the information you are studying better and more reliable.

Another tip is to not cram. It is better to review for a shorter time on days leading up to what you are studying for because it allows for the information to be added to your long term memory and not just your short term memory. When information is only “crammed” it only reaches your short term memory making it less reliable and not a lot of information can be retained. This may cause more stress and anxiety.

My third tip is to study and sleep. It is better to study and then sleep because studying allows to actively engage your brain and sleeping allows for your brain to consolidate this new information. Consolidation refers to when new memories are transformed into more stable long-term memories.

My fourth, and final, tip is to try auditory learning. Some people learn the best when they listen to their subject matter, and this is because it is best for memory recall, especially if someone listens to something multiple times. Also, audio learning can be more interesting since there is a person adding tones to the information that could just be read off of a page in your mind. No wonder some people can remember songs so easily.

There is a lot of stress and anxiety within schooling. These tips may alleviate some of the stress of studying. If you or someone you know is struggling with stress or anxiety feel free to contact us, Olive Branch Counseling Associates, Inc., on  https://www.olivebranchcounselingassociates.com/,  by phone by calling (708) 633- 8000, or in person at  6819 167^th Street in Tinley Park, Illinois.

Hope Meegan

Front Desk