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Study Hacks & Learning Techniques

The Smartest Study Differently

HACK MY STUDY is a free resource dedicated to teaching the

most effective study strategies and techniques. More tutorials:

hackmystudy.com

By Leo Fuchigami

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Leos Top 10 Study Tips

1. Study When You Study
The most important tip I have when it comes to studying is to not multi-task. You may
think that Facebook, Youtube, TV, video games and internet surfing only have a slight
impact on your studying, but we both know thats not true. Something as simple as
turning your TV off can improve your productivity by 500%. Seriously.

When you study, study. Period.

2. Make Studying Fun

There will always be things you must do that you dont enjoy. Its a part of life. But,
there will always be ways to make any activity more enjoyable and fulfilling.

Study with a friend, make challenges to yourself, act things out, promise yourself a
reward (e.g. ice cream), make bets with your friends (e.g. who can get the better
grade), study somewhere youve never studied before, or make your studying into a
game.

You might not be able to change the material, but you can always change
the process.

3. Exercise Regularly
Keeping your body in shape keeps your hormone balance in check, improves your
cardio-vascular system, increases your self esteem, regulates your bodys sleeping
schedule, reduces stress and has countless other benefits. Dozens of studies have
shown that those who exercise regularly perform better in school than those who
dont.

Healthy body, healthy mind.

4. Eat Healthy
Stay away from junk food. Drink lots of water. Eat more vegetables and fruit. These
may seem cliche, but they cant be stressed enough. Like exercise, what you eat has a
huge impact on your cognitive abilities. Your brain really does function better when its
being fuelled with proper nutrients. I know its tough to eat healthy sometimes, but just
start with small steps and work your way up.

You are what you eat.

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5. Have A Hobby
There is more to life than success in school. You should always have friends and
always have a hobby (or 2). Universities and colleges are increasingly implementing
broad based admissions standards that weigh extra-curricular activities just as
importantly as academic performance. The same goes for employers. In fact, almost all
employers look for experience, leadership and practical knowledge before your grades.

Dont only be smart; be interesting.

6. Sleep
Humans are not designed to sleep on irregular schedules. Before the invention of the
candle and light bulb, we slept when it got dark and woke up when it was bright. That
is how we are designed. Being sleep deprive is basically equivalent to being sick.
Control your sleep schedule and I guarantee you will be more alert, energetic and
smart.

Control your sleep; dont let it control you.

7. Dont Excel In School, Excel In Life

School is meant to prepare you for your adult, working life. But it doesnt resemble an
adults working life. In the real world there are no exams, no teachers, no grades and
no homework. Instead, there are interpersonal relationships, practical knowledge and
experience, real-life consequences for mistakes, and self-lead experiments and
projects.

Many students that graduate with stellar grades end up performing horribly in their
professional lives because they lack the more important life-skills such as teamwork,
leadership, critical thinking, stress management and time management.

School is not life; it only helps prepare you for it.

8. Learn From Others

Every question or problem you face has been solved a thousand times before by other
people. If you want answers, all you need to do is ask. From experts
(http://quora.com/), online communities (http://reddit.com/), your classmates, your
teachers, your parents, your siblings, your mentors, online encyclopedias
(http://en.wikipedia.org/) to knowledge engines (http://www.wolframalpha.com/), never
has so much information been so readily accessible.

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Thousands of years of human history, knowledge and experience are at your

fingertips; its up to you how you use it.

9. Set Clear Objectives

Is your goal to maintain a 90% average in your classes? If thats the case, what exactly
do you need to do to achieve that? How long do you have to study? What books do
you have to read? What other activities or opportunities do you have to sacrifice (there
is always a sacrifice)? Your goals and how you pursue them will always determine your
outcome. Never rely on luck or chance.

You control your future.

10. Work Hard, Play Hard

Dont burn out. The key to success in school and life is balance. You always need a
mix of social, athletic, academic and self-interest activities. So, study hard when you
need to, but dont forget to have fun as well. Your grades and your life will both
improve as a result.

Enjoy life.

BONUS: Help Others

There are many benefits to helping your peers:

Teaching is one of the most effective ways to solidify your own understanding of
the material.
Its a powerful stress fighting and happiness inducing activity.
It will help you create new friendships and strengthen existing ones.
You are more likely to receive help in the future when you require it.

Give back.

Learn More
For more free tutorials, visit hackmystudy.com.

Topics include:
How to speed read
How to memorize more effectively
How to manage your time
How to beat procrastination

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How to take notes in class

How to memorize textbooks
And more!

New tutorials published every week.

Copyright HACK MY STUDY 2010 CC BY-NC [ No commercial reproduction ]