How to Study Effectively

We are in an inescapable society of trying to be as efficient as possible at a significant cost: our effectiveness and attentiveness.  We have all sorts of smartphones that can keep us distracted at every waking moment in our lives.  For students of all ages, this poses a very significant health and educational risk.  Here I will outline some tips that you or your child can do to help improve their study habits or to improve their well-being when they are in cram-mode.

I cannot stress this enough, but having a good 7-8 hours of sleep is crucial towards having a sharp mind.  We are sometimes used to having 4-5 hours of sleep each night because there is either so much work or we are so distracted by Facebook, Twitter or email.  It is very well possible that you might be reading this (...and I might be writing this) as a distraction too!  

Having consistent sleep is also very important not only for current mental health, but future physical health as well.  Having a good rest can help prevent many potential health risks.

Also, if you have a big exam, it is best never to procrastinate.  Spacing out work, even an hour at a time can save your brain from exhaustion after being forced to pull off that all nighter.  Also, by studying over a span of days, it is very well possible that you are improving your depth of knowledge by having your brain retain knowledge and having multiple periods of rest before attacking questions.  So in a way, sleep does help thought processes.

This even comes from personal experience.  You will be surprised at how much more effectively you work when you are not near your laptop or computer.  If you need your computer try and disable the internet.  If you absolutely need to use the internet, try and prescribe a certain amount of time for any research.  Honestly, unless you are a real estate agent or a businessman/woman, you probably need only 25 seconds - 1 minute to check your emails instead of 2-3 hours.  Same thing with Facebook; if you want to chat with friends, use the phone if it isn't going to be a long conversation.  Typing is much slower than speaking.

The moral of this section: if you can, set up a rewards system ONLY AFTER you have finished your work (ie 20-30 minutes before you are going to sleep).  If you plan to watch TV as your reward, do not do so immediately before your sleep.  Chances are you will not get that good of a rest (also from personal experience).

Also people want to say that they are naturally smarter or others have been given a genetic gift.  I do not know; I think developing a good work ethic and a disciplined mind is crucial towards building up a strong neural network that can process information better.  So, eliminating distractions can definitely help with this.  

Yeah, we would rather have our fries and hamburgers rather than broccoli and spinach. But we start to slow down as we eat more fatty foods. Eating the right proteins is very important, but if it is possible, try to eat healthier. Instead of a hamburger, get a ham sandwich with lettuce and tomato. Instead of chips, get a salad of fresh spinach and lots of colorful leafy vegetables. Add walnuts into the mix. For dinner, savor some curry with your favorite vegetables (I guess potatoes are fine here.). Finally, instead of drinking that soda, get in the habit of drinking water. Water is so good for you; I do not think I need to go into further detail. If you must have a caffeine fix, then try some black tea or green/white tea. By having a much healthier food intake, we are helping our body but also indirectly helping our mind.

ALSO EAT A GOOD BREAKFAST. Energy throughout the day keeps us from going completely groggy during the morning. Coffee can't always perk a person up every time.

Some good foods to eat:

Fish, Tofu, Chicken, Eggs, Cereal (not the sugary stuff), water, milk, juice (not too much though since there is a lot of sugar), vegetable juice, nuts, salad (no dressing or a light dressing), soups (not ones with 'creamy' or 'savory'), tea, curry, vegetables (potatoes don't seem to have much health benefits), and pasta.

On top of everything, exercise is probably very important.  It brings oxygen into the brain and keeps you more refreshed.  Also, you have more stamina to keep yourself awake as opposed to relying only on coffee and caffeine supplements.  Running for even 20 minutes a day could make a big difference.  By exercise, I do not necessary mean weight lifting; aerobic exercise is probably the most effective.

Trust me, I am far from completely disciplined, hence I am not the brightest person.  But I have at least come to understand how important this is if you wish to improve your study habits or work ethic.  Keeping the path straight is so difficult especially for the first few days, but once you get the hang of it, hopefully there will be a momentum.  There are probably many other things that can be said about studying, and I will leave it up to you guys to decide those for yourself.