8 Study Techniques That Will Help You Get in the Flow

  • 2022-11-22

Procrastination is no joke to a student on a tight deadline. It always feels like you have the whole time in the world until exam week hits. So there is no way but to pull all-nighters and cram. Notably, consistent study flow during the semester ensures avoiding such cases.

Granted, it is no easy task to develop a study system that works and ensures a healthy work-leisure balance. However, there are many methods proven to be effective by countless students. Here are eight study techniques that will help to stay in the study flow.   

Work on your notes 

The most important study habit to develop is note-taking. Well-organized notes will be a great help in preparation for seminars and tests. They will save you a lot of time, and so will using online essay writing service. There is no right or wrong way to take notes. The most important thing is for them to be efficient and clear. Consider such note-organization tools as:

- index page that will help to find necessary info as fast as possible

- short summaries of the topics learned

- mind maps for complicated topics

- glossary of the most important concepts, terminology, or theories     

Have a studying space

Have a few options of places where you won’t do anything but study. For example, you can choose to always study in the library or the coffee shop nearby you. Your brain will remember that this place is for studying and turn on studying mode every time you’re there.

Try not to study where you sleep. Likely, you would not be able to concentrate on your studies or relax in your bed. If you have to study in your room, at least try to have a study corner.

Try flashcards

Another helpful technique is writing flashcards. This method is especially helpful in remembering terminology and concepts. The idea behind a flashcard is to have a term written on one side of the paper and its explanation on the other. 

Flashcards are well customized. You can make them by hand and be creative with the design. Or you can even use easy essay helper service to make flashcards specifically for your needs. Either way, you will learn the terms quite quickly and have time to revise and relax. Practice with flashcards every day for a few minutes to see results.  

Use the Pomodoro method

To study effectively, you would need to develop time-management skills. The Pomodoro method is known to be one of the most common and efficient systems for this task. The idea is to break your studies into intervals (pomodoros) of 25 minutes and have 5-10 minute breaks between them.

Have a clear understanding of how much time a certain topic will take you and break this time into 25 minutes intervals. The only things you will need are a quiet environment and a timer to set for one pomodoro.   

Revise regularly

Do not take the forgetting curve lightly. To learn and remember the information, set time for revision and review. It does not have to be an entire study session. 15-10 minutes will be enough to look through your notes and refresh your knowledge on a topic.

Consistent revisions will save you from cramming before tests and sleepless nights. Do not waste your time on surface-level studying when a few minutes of revising a day can solidify your knowledge.     

Consider Feynman’s technique

A well-renowned physicist and Nobel prize winner Richard Feynman found out that playing a teacher’s role is beneficial to remember the topic better. Moreover, it helps you to deepen your understanding of the topic and explain it clearly and concisely.

After studying a certain topic, try to teach it to someone else. It could be your friend or coursemate. Pay attention to the gaps in your explanation. Then, find a way to simplify the information for a better and more understandable explanation.  

Do not rely on multitasking

Even when you have too much on your plate, do not do everything at one time. Set time for every task and focus on it. Trying to write your Ethics essay while listening to a lecture on the digestive system will do you no good. 

Use your time-management skills to devise a study schedule. It is better to do things at a slower pace but with consistency. Separate your study life from home, and practice sticking to a plan.

You’re all in this together

If you find it hard to concentrate on your own, try to organize a study group. It is easier to get into a studying mood with other people who share the same purpose. You can share notes, have discussions and learn from each other.

Pick a day and a place for the group to gather, and decide what exactly you want to study. Agree for everyone to do their part of the job before the meeting. There is no use for somebody who just came to sit around.   

Thus, do not waste time procrastinating. Work on your note-taking and organization, create an appropriate environment, develop a time-management system and studying schedule, and remember that you’re not alone in your journey. It will take some time, but you’ll be getting straight As after mastering these eight techniques.