Study better. Study smarter. Boost your executive functions in studying.

Working with executive functions was always one of my favorite areas to work in the schools and clinics. I've pulled that knowledge and put it into a new context to help you figure out how to improve your study habits. 

Here are some helpful tips so that you study better & study smarter... strengthening your attention, memory and cognition in the process.

1. Setup and Designate a Study Space: Find a space you can deem your “study zone” and create a routine of studying here. When setting up your study space, remove any potential distractions from the nearby environment. Having a designated space will make task initiation much easier. Get those study gears going!
2. Think About Your Senses: When you think about what gets you in the right mindset, A.K.A. “total study mode,” think about the five senses. This is a guided approach to using self-awareness. SIGHT: What visually helps you get into study mindset (cue the designated study space we just talked about!). HEARING: Is there a sound that helps your focus (for example, white noise or maybe no noise)? SMELL: What about a smell or scent… lemon and rosemary are two scents that can boost focus. (For me, it was mint or cinnamon). TOUCH: like a weighted lap blanket or fidget in your hand. And TASTE… maybe it’s a pack of gum or candy that’s in your study snacks.
3. Create a Study Plan: Planning & Prioritizing… Chunking & Organizing. Creating achievable study steps is going to help you stay on task, stay focused and feel successful. Integrate your study plan into whatever central calendar you use, whether it’s on your phone or a planner. Pencil in your study steps so you get to cross them out later. If you want help creating a study plan that works for you, this is one of my most requested services where we work together in coming up with an individualized study plan.
4. When you have a distracting thought, Catch it & Write it Down: but why? This is a way to acknowledge the distracting thought, put it in a “holding place” and tend to it later when you can let your brain wander. Having that holding place takes some pressure off your working memory. It also serves as a redirect and a reminder for your working memory to focus on the task at hand.
5. Take frequent breaks: Your brain needs a break, and breaks actually help stuff sink into memory. If your body needs a movement break, get up and take a quick walk or do some stretches. Be strict about your break time, and be sure to return to your study space. Using a timer is a good idea for managing break time.
6. Decide what your reward is before you start studying: Pick something that you will do or have once you’re finished your study step for the day. This is going to help you return from those frequent breaks, as you need to work towards your end goal and reward. Rewards help facilitate some emotional control during the process.
7. Figure out your best note-taking ability: What helps you remember information the most: rewriting words and sentences, drawing visuals and pictures, listing bullet-points, or rehearsing out loud? Prioritize a study technique that helps you retain information. And, sometimes multi-modal learning is the best way to learn using all of these modalities. (PS if you’re looking to really improve your note taking and study habits, let’s connect!)
8. Get a consistent sleep schedule: Sleep is crucial for the brain to rest, replenish and rejuvenate.
9. Get some exercise and physical activity: Even if it’s ten minutes of stretching. Exercises connecting the right and left sides of the body simultaneously facilitate cross-over and brain connections. Have you heard of brain gym?
10. Lastly, consider testing accommodations: If you are a test-taker with a disability or health-related need, you can look into applying for testing accommodations. There are requirements to be met and an application approval process. P.S. Part of my graduate assistantship was in the testing center for disabilities, so I’m familiar with testing accommodations and the benefit they can provide students with disabilities and health-related needs.

I hope you found this read helpful and can pinpoint some of these tips that would be most helpful for you in your study planning.

〰️ Stay tuned for something on flexible thinking 〰️ and how to introduce flexibility into your study planning!