Top tips on how to study smarter, not longer

I'll be honest: I'm not the smartest student, but I did learn a thing or two about how to study smarter in college. The tips below are all things that helped me succeed in school and, hopefully, they will help you too!

Plan

Planning is one of the most important steps in studying smarter, not longer. It can be easy to get caught up in all of the information you have to learn and forget about why you're doing it in the first place. Planning helps keep your focus on what really matters: retaining knowledge so that when it counts (for example, when taking an exam), you'll know exactly what's going on with each subject.

Planning also allows for better use of time because it helps determine which materials should be studied first and last so as not to waste precious minutes reading material that won't appear on an upcoming test or quiz.

How do I plan? There are many different methods available; however, here are some basic tips:

Break it down

When you're studying for an exam, it can be tempting to think that you have to do everything at once. If your assignment is due tomorrow and there are still some things left to do, it's easy to get discouraged and feel like there isn't enough time in the day but this isn't true! You can use these tips on how to study smarter instead of longer:

 Break down your tasks into smaller chunks. This will help keep them from feeling impossible or overwhelming by making each part of the process seem more manageable.

 Make checklists as needed so that when one thing gets checked off another will appear in its place; this helps combat procrastination by keeping track of what needs done next without having any wasted energy trying unsuccessfully (and unproductively) not thinking about it at all! It also makes it easier for others who may need access or assistance with certain aspects (like maybe just having someone else read over something first).

 Set timers so that everyone knows how much time they have left before needing another break - try setting intervals between each section rather than looking at one big chunk because then if something goes wrong during one part then there won't be any worries about losing track during another task later on down line."

Take an early nap before studying

A nap can be a great way to get a quick boost of energy, especially if you are studying in the afternoon or evening. Naps are also known to improve memory and focus, making them an ideal study aid when it comes time for exams. If you're in school, try taking a short nap before your next test; the extra time spent sleeping may help improve your performance on the exam!

Save your brain power for when you need it the most

 Save your brain power for when you need it the most.

 Don't study when you're tired, hungry, distracted or sick. Your brain has a limited supply of energy and if it's running low on fuel then it won't be able to work as effectively as usual. If you try to study while tired or hungry then there's a good chance that all those facts will go straight over your head because they were never properly absorbed in the first place! Likewise, don't try reading through notes while someone else is chatting away next to you - this will only distract both of your attention which means neither one of them will be able to focus properly!

 Take breaks every once in awhile by doing something completely unrelated (but relaxing) like taking a walk outside or listening to music while eating dinner with friends; this helps clear out any clogged up brain cells so they can get back into gear again later on without feeling overwhelmed by all those facts flooding back into consciousness at once (which will just confuse things even further).

Exercise!

Exercise is a powerful tool, not just for your body but also for your mind. It can help improve memory and attention span, reduce stress, boost creativity and even make you more motivated.

A study by the University of Illinois found that people who exercised regularly were better at focusing on tasks than those who didn't exercise as often or at all. In fact, researchers found that those who exercised had an easier time concentrating on simple tasks like reading or writing than those who didn't exercise at all!

If you're looking for ways to get in some physical activity while studying and avoid being distracted by sore muscles later try doing push-ups during breaks between studying sessions instead of taking a nap (or worse). Or take advantage of any downtime by doing squats or jumping jacks between chapters in your textbook (or article).

Avoid bad study habits like cramming and procrastinating.

While it may seem like a good idea to cram the night before an exam, this isn't the case. You can actually learn better by studying in small chunks of time and taking breaks between each session.

Procrastination is another bad habit that many students have and it's something you should avoid if you want to study smarter and not longer. If there are any tasks that need doing around the house or office, do them now so they don't pile up on top of all your other responsibilities!

Are you looking for free online notes? If so, Notopedia is the place to be. Notopedia is a new platform that offers free online notes from all over the world. The platform also has study videos which can help you understand difficult concepts better. Notopedia's video-based learning system allows you to take notes on any topic, and then test yourself with short quizzes. You can also create your own study sessions and share them with friends or classmates.