While you can find the method and memorisation techniques that work best for you, there are a few things that will always stay true when studying: what works best for one person might not work out for the next. It’s about knowing how your mind works.
What better way to understand the link between your mind and studying than to look at a few good study habits endorsed by psychologists to help you make the most of your study time and IQ. Let’s take a look.
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Ditch the distractions
No matter where we look, distractions seem to be around every corner, and let’s face it, it can be so easy to give in to procrastination, even for the most devoted scholar. If it’s not your phone, it’s friends, and even dishes will be done. Research by leading psychologist Dr Glen Wilson found that people scored 10% lower than their IQ predictions when distracted. So, stay unplugged and avoid distractions to get the most out of your study times and IQ.
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Pick your best time
Naturally, your body has a circadian rhythm, which plays a major role in the fluctuation in our body’s functionality (it regulates changes in body temperature, heart rate and hormone secretion). So, like clockwork, you’re going to feel tired or alert at almost the exact time every day. Research has shown that the changes caused by your circadian cycle also influence your cognitive functions.
Now, everyone is different, but the fact remains that you are going to be the most productive when you are most alert. For many people, this is in the morning; for others, this is during the evening or in the middle of the day. To make the most of your study time, you need to assess what time of the day you feel most alert, and it’s during that time that you might have your most productive study sessions.
3. Stay hydrated
Boost your brain power and ensure you’re keeping adequately hydrated. Did you know that a mild case of dehydration, we’re talking so subtle you probably don’t even realise it, can lead to impaired concentration? So, throughout the day, make sure you’re getting enough water, and keep a water bottle close by during your study sessions. Or if you struggle to get your recommended amount of water, try eating hydrating snacks like watermelon, cucumber and strawberries.
4. Make the information meaningful
Essentially, psychology is involved in your studies whether you realise it or not; it’s called processing. You will come across different levels of processing material when studying, and these range from shallow to deep.
Most people engage in what we call shallow processing when studying, and this merely involves memorising something. Deep processing, on the other hand, is all about establishing a connection with the material – making it meaningful to you.
There are four strategies you can use to implement deep processing when studying:
- Elaborate on the information
- Make distinctions
- Apply the information to your life
- Explore the information further
During your studies, ask yourself why you’re learning this information and why it is important for your life. This helps you to consolidate the information and remember the facts better by forcing you to use the new information and build associations. Through these associations, you will be able to improve your ability to recall the information as it’s tied to things you already know.
5. Take a Break
When you’re in the zone, it may seem counterintuitive to press pause on your study time and take a break, but it generally makes a world of difference. When studying, people tend to experience “vigilance decrement,” which is the term for losing focus over time. This will impact your ability to retain information. So, what is the best way to combat vigilance decrement? Take a quick break! Short breaks between long tasks, like studying for exams, re-energise your brain. Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Those studying their psychology degree will undoubtedly come across these tips somewhere in their course, but they are incredibly beneficial for any student. For anyone who is interested in psychology and wants to further their knowledge in this field and grasp all the benefits, then doing your post-graduate certificate in psychology can give you the tools to better understand the way the mind works and better equip yourself and others to succeed in every facet of life.
