3. Don’t Study Longer Than An Hour

You may think this one is a bit wrong. After all, the more you study, the more you learn right? Well actually for most, that’s wrong. There are a number of research papers suggesting that the average attention span is only around half an hour, however, this figure seems to fluctuate over different research papers so don’t take that statement as being 100% true. Some studies have proved that we have a maximum attention span in work intervals from 20 to 45 minutes, if a brief break has been done before. Researching into attention spans are a lot different for different people. However, there are some techniques that seem to work well for most.



One of the most effective studying technique is known as the Pomodoro Technique. Put simply, the pomodoro technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks of usually 5 minutes. The intervals are known as pomodoros. After about four pomodoros, you take a longer break of about 15 to 20 minutes. This chart is a really useful tool for all of you who want to get started with the pomodoro technique:

Why is the Pomodoro Technique so effective?

A recent study by the University of Illinois showed that short breaks increase the ability to concentrate. Even though the breaks in between continuous pomodoros must be short in order to maintain an adequate rhythm of progress, the time length of the long break (every four pomodoros) depends on the intensity of the previous work and how tired you are.

Many people have found that more focus and concentration, less stress, better management of the interruptions, keeping high motivation levels, reinforcing the determination in order to achieve something and better awareness of the time you need to get things done are some of the benefits to using this technique. And the best thing of all is that you can get started right now! It took less than a week for me to feel the benefits of this technique.

4. Get Enough Sleep

Why is getting good sleep important? Well on top of all the other health benefits, including a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes, getting good sleep can also improve concentration and productivity. In a study by Professor of Neurology and Sleep Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, Jeffrey M. Ellenbogen, sleep deprivation results in the loss of sleep benefits for cognitive processes such as memory and insight formation: the building blocks of learning, creativity, and scientific discovery.

You can get more sleep in a number of ways. This article goes over a bunch of useful tips but some that I find to be most useful are:

Try to go to sleep and wake up at the same times every day

Don’t eat too late in the evening

Use relaxation methods just before sleeping (these can include listening to relaxing music, reading a book, taking a hot bath, meditating, deep breathing and visualization and more)

Try and put your phone away at least 30 minutes before you sleep

5. Go For A Walk Outside



You may think that going for a walk when you have a bunch of studying to do is the last thing you should do. After all, why waste that precious half an hour on a walk when you can study instead? Whenever I have exams I think the exact same way and this is the one thing that I always try and tell myself that I don’t need to do. However, every time I get up to go for a walk, I always come back feeling refreshed and mentally ready to carry on with studying. And there’s scientific evidence to back this up! In John J.Ratey’s book spark he says:



“A notable experiment in 2007 showed that cognitive flexibility improves after just one 35-minute treadmill session at either 60% or 70% of maximum heart rate.”

Another study found that people who walked three times a week during lunch felt a lot better after walking for just half an hour. They were less tense, more enthusiastic and felt more relaxed. They also could cope better with their workload compared to days they didn’t fit in a 30-minute walk. During extensive spells of concentration, people’s brains stop focusing because they become desensitized to the task at hand. By going for a walk you can counteract this process and help to restore your cognitive function and full productivity.

And that’s it!

That’s my top 5 simple tips to study more effectively. There are endless ways to study and certain ways work better for some than others. If you’ve found your ideal study techniques then keep up the great work!