We all know that studying is a skill that you learn through years of experience. But I am not one that willingly learns the hard way. So how can I learn the skill of studying to put me on the fast track of becoming fluent in any skill?

Well there are a few technical applications which I will explain in this article, but first you must start with the basics.

Give your studies structure

Without building a system you will see no real success in your studies. And for some this can be difficult. It’s basically like becoming a project manager, of which you have no experience managing any project. So start dissecting what you want to learn. Get specific! Saying you want to learn French is almost an impossible task. It would be more helpful to say I want to have a 10-minute conversation with someone in French about sports in 30 days.

That statement is very defined and easy to understand. It also seems doable, which is the important part. And once you have the task at hand, you can begin to tackle it one step at a time. So start to break down the steps in which you can take to achieve the above. Use a project management tool like Eyelean to prioritize these task.

Eliminate distractions

This is probably my biggest weakness. There are a million other things I could be doing then studying right now. Like playing games, reading a book, watching a movie, hanging out with friends and the list goes on and on. But all of those things I just mentioned can be used as leverage when studying. Instead of playing a poker game on your computer, why not play a game on Duolingo to learn more French? Instead of reading a book like 50 Shades of Gray, why not read about French Culture or better yet, read the Count of Monte Cristo in its original language! Instead of watching Jason Bourne, watch Les Mis! Instead of hanging out with your friends at the bar, go to a French Café and practice a bit.

The point is that it doesn’t have to be boring. Studying can be fun and interesting, you just have to structure your life before it can happen. By eliminating distractions, I also mean converting distractions into assets. However, you should cut down on the time you spend on social media and small talk which there are many free tools you can use to stay on track with that.

Setting the mood

Your environment can really affect your actions, including studying. If I were to walk into a bar my actions would be completely different then when I walk into a religious building. A messy room and clutter can weigh down the mind whereas a clean and organized room translates into an organized mind. Click here for some tips on how to set the mood when you study.

Stay active

You would never go into the gym and go full force for 2 hours straight without taking little breaks in between sets. So why do we do this when we study. It is very important for skill retention to take many breaks while you study. And I don’t just mean closing your eyes and taking a deep breath. I mean get up and out of the house. Take the dog for a walk. You’ll feel much better and your mind will be willing to take in much more. Treat it as a muscle and you’ll see major results.

Speak out loud

This is a technical trick that may get on the nerves of others around you if you’re in a public space. But scientist have proven that your brain retains much more if you read out loud rather than reading in your head. I tend to do this anyways just because it keeps me at a slower pace.

Teach

Take one of your friends to the kitchen table and just teach them everything you’ve learned. I feel that this is the best tool to actually remembering what it is you’re trying to remember. I’m not sure exactly why. But I would imagine that it has something to do with not wanting to look stupid!

Draw and doodle

This includes taking notes everywhere. I’m a huge believer in this no matter if I’m studying or just want to write a to do list. I have notes everywhere and more than half of them I’ll never look at again. The point is to just get your thoughts out of your head and trap them on paper. This will allow you to move on to the next topic at hand. Here are some good note taking tricks here.

Stay interested!

This one might sound obvious, but it’s not. If you want to get really fit in the gym, the number one thing you can do to help that is to educate yourself and stay interested. Learn something new every day. Watch a documentary that grabs your attention. Go join an association and volunteer. Motivation will only take you so far, but interest is what makes you keep going.

Classic flash cards

There are a number of different apps you can use and each set of skills or topics you are currently studying may have a different app so I will not list them here. But take a minute to look up easy ways to get your hands on some flash cards. Some people like to make them by themselves but I prefer to just use existing ones. If you have any suggestions for people leave a comment. But I just wanted to plug this one in here because I think it’s a classic that can’t go ignored. Flashcards will always be a great and fast way to get some quality study time in.

Coffee

Look, there’s a reason why coffee houses are associated with smart people… so drink it… drink lots of it

Test yourself

During my Army days I would have to take a PT test every few months or so and it really mattered how well you did. When you were up for promotion, they would actually weigh in your PT scores which included push ups, sit ups, and a 2 mile run. So in order to increase my score I just tested myself every day. And every day I could see my score rising. Sometimes this is the best route to take and you can apply it to your studies.

Meditate

There are countless studies now that suggest that meditation will increase your brain bandwidth. By this I mean it can eliminate stress and increase focus. Use apps like head space to start your mediation practice.

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