Study Smart and Study Less—Learning Best Ways to Study

Hoping That Something Will Happen (Like Passing the Next Exam)

Hoping for something is passive thinking. You are a detached spectator. What may or may not happen is not really up to you. You have too little involvement and certainly no commitment. It’s no big deal if it doesn’t happen because you don’t really believe it will happen.

Expecting Something Will Happen (Like Passing the Next Exam)
Expect something to happen is proactive on your part. You are an involved participant. You believe that the chances are greater that it will happen than not happen. You would feel very disappointed and hurt if it didn’t happen.

You Need a Plan of Action 
So what is the best possible source for the information you need to study and remember? The first answer that comes to mind is the Internet. Do you use Answers.Yahoo.com? And of course there is Ask.com and Google.com. These three sources of information will—99% of the time—tell you what you want to know. But beginning a study assignment by first digging for the answers may be counter-productive.

Devise and Follow a Course of Action
As I’ve covered in other articles, each time you tackle an assignment or prep for an exam it is imperative that you follow a regular course of action. “If you fail to plan…you are planning to fail.” 

Do you have a Day-Planner? I know—they are expensive. So use a spiral notebook to plan out your week—day by day.
Some students I’ve talked to say they spend a half hour on Sunday afternoon and plan out their time for the coming week, and that brings up another point.

Brain-Picking
As each semester progresses you will become aware of the GOOD students—those that, by their actions in class, how they respond to questions and how well they score on quizzes, and which ones are going for the best grades. If you use the right approach, they just may let you in on their secrets. By this I mean you will be able to spot the brainy ones. So pick their brains!

Of course be subtle in your approach. Approach these individuals in a kind, understanding and tactful manner.
Most people will be more than willing to tell you how they manage to study and retain the information they need to be at the top of the class. So why should they want to help you? Simple… You are not in competition with them. This isn’t volley ball, tennis or hockey. When your grades improve, they may even take part of the credit for it. So why should you care. You are simply boosting their recognition—their ego, if you will.

All I suggest is that you simply start up a conversation and gradually work around to the topic of whatever class you share. You might say something like this, “Tim, you really seem to be burning up the psych class. Is someone in your family a psychologist and it’s in your genes?” Or maybe something like, “Hey Betty Sue, you seem to have a real talent for writing. Have you secretly published a romance novel or something like that?”

This is no joke!

Keep the request light-hearted but don’t make a joke of their ability. “I’d be forever in your debt if you would share your study methods. I’m totally lost in that class and can’t seem to break out of this funk I’m in.”

Some students seem to study smart and as a result they seem to have a lot more free time for having some fun. There’s no reason why you can’t follow suit. You may scratch your head in wonder as to how one student carries a full load yet has time to rehearse for the upcoming musical show or practice 5 days a week with the basketball team, yet still manages to turn in every assignment like clockwork.

You can fit into this mold too, you just need to budget your time in a more productive way.

A Study Guide