tips for quality study?

brillohead, ADN, RN · Feb 12, 2009

I bought some noise-canceling headphones and put a bunch of classical music on my MP3 player.

I can sit ANYWHERE and read/study undisturbed with the headphones playing classical music. I normally NEVER listen to classical music, and since there are no lyrics, it doesn't distract me from what I'm doing like the radio or "regular" music would.

When I say I can sit anywhere without being distracted, I really mean it. I will study at my son's hockey practice, or in the living room at home while he's watching cartoons. Normally I can't even read the newspaper without being distracted by whatever's on the television (even Bugs Bunny cartoons that I've seen a million times before), but my noise-canceling headphones and some "boring/relaxing" background music transport me to a magical, distraction-free world!

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Feb 12, 2009

I kinda do the same thing as brillohead, I just listen to space music. It weird music that really doesn't have a beat, it just fills the space...oop! sorry! lol. I found the station on Shoutcast online radio station list. I have earbuds and put those in. My son can not keep quiet, he always has to tell someone what his book/game/movie is about. He can't come up to me when my heaphones are in but it still happens to Dad, whose desk is right next to mine.

My best study time is in the early evenings and I used to have to have it perfectly quiet, but the music and earbuds seem to work pretty good. I can keep at it even at the busiest time of day. I also found I had to adapt. I am up a little earlier, let the kids sleep in and viola! I have a perfect time for exams or something that I absolutely have to have quiet for. Slowly try new times and new techniques. I was surprised how my new techniques work because I would have sworn it was early evenings of pure quiet or nothing else. You might surprise yourself. Good luck!

Pandorajinel · Feb 13, 2009

I tend to prefer to study earlier in the day. If you have any amount of time before class try arriving early and reviewing then. even 30 or 40 mins every day will add up. I am fortunate enough not to have to work (believe me I count my blessings every day for that) so I tend to sit in my car (away from distractions) and review until its time for class.

JadenRN TO BE · Feb 15, 2009

flashcards, flashcards, flashcards. they make you feel accomplished when you have memorized even a few. i sometimes take some with me to church lol.

make sure you understand all the concepts and not just read over them. understanding them is key.

work in advance. get all of your homework done way ahead of time so you only have to study for your subjects and not have other work to do.

my ap2 teacher gives us study guides for the chapters so i will go through and highlight everything on the study guides in my powerpoints so i know what to focus on.

i also like to study during the day because at night i am too tired and dont feel like doing anything.

i like complete silence when i study so no tv or music for me

vetiver · Feb 15, 2009

I'm a SAHM to two toddlers. The only time I get to study is after they go to bed at 8pm.

I have have two notebooks for each subject, one for lecture, one for writing everything in again. When I sit down to study, I go over everything I did the night before first, just to settle it in even more. (It's been proven that you retain information better if you sleep between study sessions and revisit info the next day.)

Also, as I go over each detail of my notes, I use Google to get a different perspective of each term or concept. You can find images/videos and definitions that are different from your text that may make more sense to you. (particularly helpful for A&P, Micro, Chem)

By the time the exam rolls around, I can recite my notes out loud during my drive to school. Don't just memorize though; understand.

Good luck!

marielle0830 · Feb 15, 2009

Guys i know this is so off the topic.. Im new here how do u post a new thread/topic???

HyperSaurus, RN, BSN · Feb 18, 2009

I handwrite notes during class, type them up in outline form right after class, then make flash cards from the typed up outline. That forces me to go over the information several times. It's handy to have the book near by to clarify concepts and to do the end-of-chapter quizzes, but I don't use the book much. Earbuds+classical music=hyperfocus :)

retread71 · Feb 18, 2009

I tried the ipod/earbuds/ and away from home at starbucks and amazingly enough, it worked. I didn't have a lot of classical on my ipod, I had to make do with Pirates of the Carribean, Enya and something else my son suggested.

back2thebooks · Feb 18, 2009

White noise machine (or white noise mp3s on your iPod), eaaaarrrrrrllllllly mornings (think 5 a.m.) and plenty of vitamin B (and a well rounded diet, obviously) help me. Also, make sure you take a 10 minute break for every 50 minutes of studying. Do something completely unrelated like laundry or surfing the net. I take notes during lecture and record it. If I need to, I listen to it again (usually in the car). All 3 hours of it.... I also rewrite notes and make a lot of notecards. You can do this. You may have to break up study sessions into several different sessions during the day and modify your schedule (like your wake-up time)---but you can do this!