Study

How to build a more enjoyable and effective approach to study

Summary

01

Understand how you think about study to work with yourself

02

Blurting (Info dump on a blank page) to see what you know

03

Testing yourself if the best tool for memorization. Flashcards are amazing for this

Learning to learn

This might be a hard sell from me to you, but studying and learning can actually be something you enjoy. I know I know, it can be boring, difficult, confusing and overwhelming, and most of all it feels like you “just have to” instead of deciding to do it. However, I do think you can learn to enjoy learning, and maybe even learn some psychology along the way.

Intelligence and tests

This is already covered in the mindset section, but I just want you to think about what intelligence is? In schools it is tested by your ability to remember information. A lot of the time the more you remember, the more “intelligent” you are. If you want to increase how well you do, therefore you need to increase your ability to remember things.

The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you — B.B. King

A few specifics

  • What does this actually mean? Do you dislike it because it is difficult, because you feel lost, because there are more exciting alternatives, because you feel overwhelmed with the amount of work that is there, or even because you don’t actually know how to study well?

  • So once you know what it is about study that you dislike you can then try to look for solutions. Are you easily bored? You can use that (tip below). Do you feel overwhelmed with panic because of the amount of work? Then make it small and manageable enough that you don’t get put off by it. This is even just an exercise to try and solve what unique problem is getting in the way of your learning.

List of Study tips

Improving Layout

  • Having a small start can really help. Just sit down with your stuff before you decide to study. I do this with training (get in my gear then decide if I will go).

  • Boredom (Sit and either do nothing or study. Don’t do something else “productive” that is really procrastination)

  • Be specific about what you are going to work on.

  • DO NOT TASK SWITCH. More on this in Focus.

  • 90 minute study intervals (uses brains natural rhythm)

  • Pomodoro technique (25 mins on, 5 mins off)

  • Leave the phone away from you, and don’t go on it before study.

  • Focus your eyes on your work and mental focus will follow

  • Go for a small walk (not looking at your phone ideally)

Improving Thoughts

  • Understand that intelligence is not fixed (growth mindset)

  • Figure out if you dislike study vs you dislike how you are studying.

  • Understand what your resistance is - Overwhelmed, bored, anxious, requires too much effort, too difficult etc.

  • Build in ways that feel like you are making progress. Flashcards, small tests, comparing with previous work etc.

  • Split down to 5 minute problems. Think of studying for an hour and it seems like too much effort, split that down until you have a task you can fully complete in the next 5 minutes.

Improving Effectiveness

  • Blurting (Write down everything you can think of for a topic on a blank page. Great way to see what you actually know)

  • Flashcards or tests are your best friend.

  • Spaced repetition (1 day, 1 week, 1 month apart)

  • Try to deeply engage with understanding, not just surface level repeating (i.e. the why of something)

  • Don’t just rely on rereading/highlighting.

  • If you can explain it to a 12 year old, you know you actually understand something well.