{"id":2912,"date":"2015-06-24T17:56:24","date_gmt":"2015-06-24T17:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/?p=2912"},"modified":"2015-06-24T17:56:24","modified_gmt":"2015-06-24T17:56:24","slug":"7-tricks-to-help-you-study-more-effectively","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/blog\/7-tricks-to-help-you-study-more-effectively\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Tricks to Help You Study More Effectively"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-bottom: 5px\"><strong> <a title=\"7 Tricks to Study More Effectively\" href=\"\/\/www.slideshare.net\/Magoosh\/7-tricks-to-study-more-effectively\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">7 Tricks to Study More Effectively<\/a> <\/strong> from <strong><a href=\"\/\/www.slideshare.net\/Magoosh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Magoosh<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This post is for all you students out there. If you\u2019re currently studying for a standardized test (or any test for that matter), we know the struggle is real&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Your phone is constantly buzzing off the desk with texts. That Buzzfeed quiz seems like it was made especially for you (but seriously, how long <i>would<\/i> you survive if you lived in Westeros?). And no matter how hard you try to ignore it, that little (1) keeps popping up on your Facebook tab, and the need to click on it consumes your every being until you break down and check it \u2014 just to see it was another useless update from that group you joined a year ago. Sigh &#8230; *unfollow group*.<\/p>\n<p>By the time you\u2019re done responding and scrolling and quizzing, an entire hour of valuable study time has passed you by.<\/p>\n<p>See, we get it. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve made this list of tips and tricks for you \u2014 to help you buckle down, get focused, and study as smart and effectively as possible so that test day is a breeze. Here we go!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>1. Change the way you think about studying<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"  wp-image-2917 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/study-laptop.jpg\" alt=\"study-laptop\" width=\"352\" height=\"234\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A little change of attitude can go a long way. Many people think of studying as a necessary evil \u2014 a horrible thing they need to get through in order to get to the greener grass on the other side. It doesn\u2019t have to be that way, though.<\/p>\n<p>Researchers have found that how you <i>approach<\/i> a task is just as important as how you do the task. If you can flip that switch in your brain that takes you from \u201cugh, studying\u2026\u201d to \u201chey, look at all this stuff I get to learn!\u201d you\u2019ll set yourself up for studying success.<\/p>\n<p>But it\u2019s not always as simple as that, is it? So here\u2019s some advice on how to improve your mindset before studying.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><i>Don\u2019t put yourself down:<\/i><\/strong> Remind yourself of all the things you\u2019ve done successfully in the past, even if they\u2019re small! Think positively and remind yourself that this study time is completely in your control. Own it and make it work for you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><i>Don\u2019t compare yourself to others:<\/i> <\/strong>Who cares if you heard about that friend of a friend who\u00a0studied for one week and got a perfect score? What works for that person or anyone else won\u2019t necessarily work for you. Find what time of day, length of study time, etc. works for you and study at your own pace. There&#8217;s no shame in that!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><i><i><strong>Avoid thinking in absolutes:<\/strong> <\/i><\/i>If you mess something up it\u2019s not the end of the world. Instead of thinking \u201coh, I got that wrong \u2014 I\u2019m so bad at life,\u201d think: \u201chey, I messed that up, now how do I fix it and learn from it?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>2. Seek out good study vibes<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2914 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/working-in-a-coffee-shop.jpg\" alt=\"working-in-a-coffee-shop\" width=\"365\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/blog\/files\/2015\/06\/working-in-a-coffee-shop.jpg 500w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/blog\/files\/2015\/06\/working-in-a-coffee-shop-300x185.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 365px) 100vw, 365px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><i>Where<\/i> you study is extremely important. Don\u2019t sabotage your study time by trying to do it in a place that\u2019s not conducive to focusing (a.k.a. in front of the TV or in a room full of friends). Find a quiet area or nook in a library or quiet cafe. Then, try out a few different spots until you find something that works. Come back to this place often to be able to jump right into that good concentration flow.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>3. Stick to a schedule that works for you<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Don\u2019t add unnecessary stress to your life by cramming study time in whenever possible or by putting it off until the last minute. Be deliberate and work significant chunks of study time into your daily or weekly routine. Then, repeat. Eventually, you\u2019ll reach a point where it feels natural to study at a certain time and unnatural to skip it. With a regular and frequent study schedule, you\u2019ll find it\u2019s actually easier to learn in the moment and recall memorized information later on.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve even created study guides for some of our exam so you know exactly how much time to dedicate to each section depending on how much time you have to study! You can check those out here:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/gre.magoosh.com\/study-plans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GRE Study Schedules<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/toefl-study-plans-and-guides\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TOEFL Study Schedules<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>4. Turn off your phone<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"  wp-image-2915 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/20140602_SLIDE_POWER_OFF_IPHONE20140602_0020.jpg\" alt=\"20140602_SLIDE_POWER_OFF_IPHONE20140602_0020\" width=\"351\" height=\"234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/blog\/files\/2015\/06\/20140602_SLIDE_POWER_OFF_IPHONE20140602_0020.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/blog\/files\/2015\/06\/20140602_SLIDE_POWER_OFF_IPHONE20140602_0020-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/blog\/files\/2015\/06\/20140602_SLIDE_POWER_OFF_IPHONE20140602_0020-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 351px) 100vw, 351px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This seems like an obvious one, right? But honestly, how how many times have any of us actually turned our phones off to study? Well, it\u2019s time to start! Your friends and family will understand if you go AWOL for a couple hours. (Just make sure you let them know beforehand so they don\u2019t freak out when you\u2019re not responding.)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>5. Close out the tabs on your browser<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Yes, even Facebook. Resisting the urge to check social media and email is really difficult, so don\u2019t even try it. Instead, close out all your open tabs <i>before<\/i> you start studying. You\u2019ll be amazed at how much easier it is to think about one thing at a time, and at how  quickly you can complete tasks.<\/p>\n<p><b>Pro Tip:<\/b> You can even download anti-distraction apps like <a href=\"http:\/\/macfreedom.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Freedom<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/selfcontrolapp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SelfControl<\/a> that block social media distractions and prevent you from going on sites like Facebook and Twitter for set periods of time.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>6. Study using a variety of methods<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"  wp-image-2916 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/4838276667_3b0e17a02f_b.jpg\" alt=\"4838276667_3b0e17a02f_b\" width=\"357\" height=\"238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/blog\/files\/2015\/06\/4838276667_3b0e17a02f_b.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/blog\/files\/2015\/06\/4838276667_3b0e17a02f_b-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/blog\/files\/2015\/06\/4838276667_3b0e17a02f_b-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 357px) 100vw, 357px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t be afraid to spice up your study life. If your eyes start to glaze over as you stare at those practice questions on your screen, mix it up! Make some flashcards to memorize vocab or have your friends quiz you on important information. Find ways to make it interesting and fun to retain more information.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>7. Take breaks often and reward yourself<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Your brain can only take so much. Give yourself time to relax and refresh every so often to come back to your study material with fresh eyes. While you\u2019re breaking, eat a <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/blog\/the-best-and-easiest-study-snacks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">healthy snack<\/a> (like nuts and dried fruits) and watch that funny cat video your friend sent you earlier. Don\u2019t feel guilty about it \u2014 taking brief breaks will actually help you in the long run. A burnt out brain just doesn\u2019t work as well.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h6><i> Photo Attributions: <\/p>\n<p>Second photo of girl studying on laptop courtesy of <a href=\"http:\/\/connection.sagepub.com\/page\/22\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">connection.sagepub.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><\/i><\/h6>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Follow these tips and tricks to help you buckle down, get focused, and study as smart and effectively as possible to make test day a breeze.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":3703,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[495],"class_list":["post-2912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.7 (Yoast SEO v21.7) - 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