Introduction
In the university, many students often feel overwhelmed from their studies. For example, the tight schedule of courses and exams make us feel helpless. Many students are procrastination and always review and write papers at the last minute. This will not only inefficient, but also easily leads to anxiety, insomnia, and even affects the overall academic performance. In addition, the lack of reasonable time management is also a common problem among college students. Faced with many tasks every day, but not knowing how to arrange time reasonably, the result is that work and study are not taken care of.
Therefore, it is particularly important to find an efficient and simple learning method. This blog is helping to improve learning efficiency and reduce psychological burden by sharing some proven study skills. Whether you are a freshman or a student who has adapted to college life but wants to improve further, these methods can bring real help to your learning journey.
Planning Your Study Time
In college study, it is very important to arrange time properly. Effectively management can not only help students complete their learning tasks, but also effectively reduce procrastination and anxiety. Lack of planning may fall into a vicious cycle of cramming and inefficiency, which greatly reduces the learning effect.
A simple and practical method is the “Pomodoro Technique”. This method divides the study time into 25 minutes of focused study and 5 minutes of short breaks. After completing four Pomodoro, a longer break can be arranged(Biwer et al., 2023). This segmented learning can help the brain stay focused and reduce fatigue.
In addition, it is equally important to make a weekly study plan. This can by listing the learning tasks and goals of each course at the beginning of the week and distributing them reasonably to each day, avoiding rushing when the deadline is approaching. Therefore, using a simple spreadsheet or time management tool, such as Google Calendar or Notion will help to some extent.
Effective Notetaking
Notetaking will help to understand and remember knowledges by writing down information. However, many students simply copy the contents from the lectures, and, at the same time, ignore the structure and logic of the notes, which might result in hard to understand in later revision. Thus, good notes should be concise and organized to help with quickly grasp the key points and sort out thoughts.
The first effectively note taking is the Cornell Method that divides the page into three parts. The Main area is used to record the lecture content, the prompt area is used to organize keywords or questions, and the summary area at the bottom is used to summarize the key points after class. Cornell Method is easy to organize and review, which helps to deepen understanding (Thurler, 2019). The second is Mind Mapping, connects related concepts through images and lines to form a clearly structured knowledge network, which is particularly suitable for course content that requires organizing complex information and establishing a knowledge framework.
In addition, using tools such as Notion or OneNote can also improve efficiency to organize the content of different courses, add tags, insert pictures or links, and achieve flexible knowledge management.
Choosing the Right Study Environment
The learning environment has a significant impact on learning efficiency. A quiet and environment can highly improve concentration and learning results.
For example, Libraries usually have quite atmosphere, which is very suitable for long-term and intensive study; but sometimes there may be slight disturbances with the large number of people. In addition, home is relatively comfortable and saves commuting time, but it is also easy to be distracted by mobile phones, family members or beds. Thus, there are several suggestions to create an ideal learning environment. First, using noise-cancelling headphones can effectively block surrounding noise and create an concentrated learning atmosphere. Second, switching your phone to airplane mode or using focus apps when studying can help to stay away from social media interference. In addition, keeping your desktop tidy can also increase learning motivation and comfort.
Choosing and flexibly adjusting a suitable study place according to specific tasks is an important step to improve learning efficiency (Lucas, 1970). Finding the space that makes it easiest for you to achieve greater learning results.
Maintaining Physical and Mental Health
Maintaining good physical and mental health is important for efficient learning. Many students sacrifice sleep, neglect diet or sit for a long time under academic pressure. This will not only affect learning efficiency, but also impact physical and mental health. Studies have shown that adequate sleep can significantly improve attention and cognitive performance. Research found students who get enough sleep can improve their performance by 25% (Okano et al., 2019).
First, sleep is the most important way to recovery. It is recommended to ensure 7 to 8 hours of high-quality sleep every day and avoid staying up late to play phone or studying temporarily. Secondly, a balanced diet is equally important for brain function. Eating more high-protein and vitamins foods, such as eggs, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, can help maintain energy and concentration. In addition, maintaining exercise every day can also effectively relieve stress and activate the brain.
Conclusion
Efficient learning does not mean investing more time, but using the right method. Start making a small adjustment today, such as making a study plan, trying the Pomodoro Technique, organizing your notes, or going to bed early at night. The accumulation of each small habit will lay a solid foundation for your future learning. Stick to it, and you will find that learning is no longer a burden, but a process of self-growth. Start now, and the future you will thank yourself for your hard work today
Call to Action
You are welcome to share your learning skills in the comment area. Maybe your method can help other students. If you find this article useful, don’t forget to forward it to your friends. Let us develop more efficient learning habits and achieve common progress.
