Improving reading memory and relieving stress about studying

[violaine]

I am a student and have a lot of reading to do for my course, and sometimes I get stressed while reading because I get worried that I'll never be able to remember everything I need to know, and then that worry itself makes it harder for me to concentrate on what I'm reading, so it becomes a vicious circle. Does anyone have any advice for improving your ability to take in more of what you read as you go along, as well as advice on how not to get so stressed out about it in the first place?

[brawburd]

I am also studying at the moment and often feel exactly as you do. What I try to do is plan my reading insofar as I identify what I have to read, break it down into sections (whether it be chapters or articles or whatever), and then read through it to get a general feel rather than worrying about the details. I then put it aside for a short period, thinking about it without being drawn back to the written word. When I pick it up again I read it through more carefully and take notes. This of course only works if you have the motivation to return to it and not be distracted by other things! It works for me largely because otherwise I would have a tendency to keep reading volumes of stuff, or just sit and worry about how much there is to read.

[coggles]

I always found that having everything to hand before starting studies and reading really helped. I don't mean the obvious, like paper, pens etc., but I used to make sure I had a drink, snacks, the right lighting and my room at the right temperature. I know it may sound silly, but if I could concentrate in the right surroundings and have little breaks, I found I digested more - information, not chocolate! Also, my Dad always says to me 'try your best, you can't try any better than your best.' Good luck!

[dave_in_cw]

I used to get so stressed during exams! My second degree was the LLB and I had 13 exams over less than 4 weeks in my final semester. There are many strategies to help though. I did the Megamemory course by Kevin Trudeau which helped tremendously - especially if I spotted (guestimating what might be asked in the exam - very risky, but desperate times call for desperate measures!). Then there are the obvious ones: draw up a timetable of work to be learnt and committed to memory before the exam; summarise key points on ONE page (cribnote) per topic with spider diagrams; use highlighters and pictures in your cribnotes; Test yourself - recite the contents of your cribnote without looking at it. As you get better at doing this your confidence will improve and you will be able to relax. Try to split up the subjects you're studying or you could get bored of doing just the one.It's also very important that you're sure that you UNDERSTAND whatever it is you're trying to learn before you try to memorise it.Finally, try to have faith and calm down - you'll be amazed at how much you remember in the exam! All your brain needs is a question which will prompt it to recall the information you have read.

[woofgang]

aromatherapy is said to assist with studying. Peppermint to increase concentration and lavender to relieve stress

[violaine]

Thank you so much to everyone who's posted, I really appreciate the advice and I will start putting it into practice in my studying.

[abfandango]

If you use lavender or peppermint oil, use them in the exam too (learning is state-dependent).

[huggy]

Here are 3 basic tips that always work for me: (1) Exercise. It does wonders for your powers of concentration. Do it before study and I guarantee anything you want to study,you will absorb much more easily. (2) Music. Consider playing a tape or CD whilst studying. Jazz,Classical or anything that relaxs you. (3) Supplements. I've heard about Gingko Bilbao,a blood thinner (I think) that allegedly improves concentration. But Do your own research on this one. Hope this helps.

[violaine]

Thank you huggy, that looks like great advice, I appreciate it :) Thanks also to abfandango for the previous response.

[MikeMikeMike]

Just a quick point. As abfandango says, learning is state dependent and things which you get used to while your studying will affect your performance if they'e not present in the exam. So if you listen to music all the time when you're studying and gget used to it, then it may cause more trouble in the exam because obviously you'll be in silence. Sorry to be negative, but there you go! Depending on how visually your mind works (and how much space you have) you could put together cribs sheets on different subjects and put them in different distinctive places around your room or house.When you have to recall the information, it holds a certain association e.g. next to a mirror, or by a particular poster. This helps you compartmentalise information rather than just having one great mass to try to remember in one go. Plus it means when you've identified what you don't need to know in an exam you can easily dismiss chunks through their associations, and concentrate n the things which are relevant. Good luck!

[Ninereeds]

well,what i find helps, is music, i know you cant take a CD player into the exam room but while ure reading try humming a tune you know and wont forget, and in the exam if you are humming this tue you can realte the sounds to the words and you remeber what was on the page/passage. even if your not allowed to hum you can sing in ure head a song that u know. hope that helps.

[el duerino]

studying is easy. look into mnemonics, mind maps, speed reading, and memory enhancement. I recommend you begin using mind maps ASAP and start developing your own system. read a chapter, make a mindmap, review it periodically.

[slimfandango]

Hi,

I'm not bragging, but I've worked and studied under some of the best psychologists in the world. In a nutshell, here is some of the best advice, based on research:

1) Keep your sugar levels high. Readily available sugar (even chewing polos) during study will increase your recall by about 15pc.

2) Do not revise only some of the stuff you got acquainted with. This will damage the traces of other stuff you previously knew. Revise ALL of it.

3) Integrate integrate integrate. Every new piece you study should be put into part of a great overall plan. Irrelevant parrot like rote learning will be difficult to remember. Your brain works with networks and cascades (open up chests at a time and open up chests within them). Have definitive subheadings in your head

4) Cheat! Not in the bad way, the good way! Use all the tricks available to cheat the deficiencies in your memory. Use mind maps, mnemonics (e.g. acronyms)

5) Silver bullet???????We found one, and it got us through some of the very hardest courses. Find a good study buddy, divide the work between yourselves, then meet up in cafes/wherever and bore each other senseless with what you know. They learn from you/you get the chance to practice.

6) Study in places where there are others around you.

7) Keep your self belief high. Tell yourself you can do it. You can!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck dude!

[slimfandango]

I'm pretty stunned just reading through the quality of some of the responses to this question.

I read a lot about state dependent learning and worked on some research on network theory. The best place to study is in the exam hall, obviously this aint too practical! When you go into the exam try to recreate in your head the place where you studied. This almost completely overcomes the change in location.

As far as music is concerned, choose carefully. Certain types of music (or even syncopated tapping!! da dum dum dum, da dum dum dum), interrupt the rehearsal that takes place in your working memory systems and will damage encoding.

It is actually pretty bad to study just in one place. The network (your brain works on networks, you just have to live with that) associates the place of study with the stuff studied, when you then go to the place of examination it declares the info you learned previously as irrelevant to this new place and inhibits it. If you study in lots of different places your mind gives up the place-material association and you are fine.

Different cues have different salience-valencies. Location or music are not a bit as powerful as smell. This for pretty obvious reasons. You are not a born student. You are a born hunter gatherer. You have to know where you smelt various foodtypes and folliage. This is why when you smell some particular smells you are transported mentally to the place where you first smelt them. Peppermint during study then in the exam will drastically increase your recall. As will caffeine (for the recall). Oh yeah, modafinil, gingko, and ginseng don't do too much harm either. Good luck :-)

[GrannyP]

I found that using Rosemary Essential Oil was very effective when revising also (it is known to be good for the memory). Use it on a tissue in the exam or on your cuff.

I am just starting to learn Spanish and I am hopeless at the moment............being 51 doesn't help!  Anyone any other advise on how to learn a language easily? I am having one to one lessons with a Spanish naive but I fear I shall never get to grips with the grammer!!!!

Adios!