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25 Scientifically Proven Tips for Effective Studying 

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25 Scientifically Proven Tips for Effective Studying 

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I chose this article because it has some very general and helpful tips for studying. This relates to the videos I chose because they are all specific to studying.

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Staying on top of schoolwork can be tough.

Whether you're in high school, or an adult going back to college, balancing coursework with other responsibilities can be challenging. If you're teetering on the edge of burnout, here are some study tips that are scientifically proven to help you succeed!

2023 Ultimate Study Tips Guide

In this guide, we explore scientifically-proven study techniques from scientific journals and some of the world's best resources like Harvard, Yale, MIT, and Cornell.

In a hurry? Skip ahead to the section that interests you most.

This comprehensive guide covers everything from studying for exams to the best study apps. So, let's get started!

Part 1 - How to Prepare for Success

1. Set a Schedule

"Oh, I'll get to it soon" isn't a valid study strategy. Rather, you have to be intentional about planning set study sessions.

On your calendar, mark out chunks of time that you can devote to your studies. You should aim to schedule some study time each day, but other commitments may necessitate that some sessions are longer than others.

Harder classes require more study time. So, too, do classes that are worth several credits. For each credit hour that you're taking, consider devoting one to three hours to studying each week.

2. Study at Your Own Pace

Do you digest content quickly, or do you need time to let the material sink in? Only you know what pace is best for you.

There's no right (or wrong) study pace. So, don't try matching someone else's speed.

Instead, through trial and error, find what works for you. Just remember that slower studying will require that you devote more time to your schoolwork.

3. Get Some Rest

Exhaustion helps no one perform their best. Your body needs rest; getting enough sleep is crucial for memory function.

This is one reason that scheduling study time is so important: It reduces the temptation to stay up all night cramming for a big test. Instead, you should aim for seven or more hours of sleep the night before an exam.

Limit pre-studying naps to 15 or 20 minutes at a time. Upon waking, do a few stretches or light exercises to prepare your body and brain for work.

4. Silence Your Cell Phone

Interruptions from your phone are notorious for breaking your concentration. If you pull away to check a notification, you'll have to refocus your brain before diving back into your studies.

Consider turning off your phone's sounds or putting your device into do not disturb mode before you start. You can also download apps to temporarily block your access to social media.

If you're still tempted to check your device, simply power it off until you're finished studying.

5. Relax

Research shows that stress makes it harder to learn and to retain information.

Stress-busting ideas include:

Taking deep breaths

Writing down a list of tasks you need to tackle

Doing light exercise

Try to clear your head before you begin studying.

Part 2 - Create Your Perfect Study Space

1. Pick a Good Place to Study

There's a delicate balance when it comes to the best study spot: You need a place that's comfortable without being so relaxing that you end up falling asleep. For some people, that means working at a desk. Others do better on the couch or at the kitchen table. Your bed, on the other hand, may be too comfy.

Surrounding yourself with peace and quiet helps you focus. If your kids are being loud or there's construction going on outside your window, you might need to relocate to an upstairs bedroom, a quiet cafe or your local library.

2. Choose Your Music Wisely

Noise-canceling headphones can also help limit distractions.

It's better to listen to quiet music than loud tunes. Some people do best with instrumental music playing in the background.

Songs with lyrics may pull your attention away from your textbooks. However, some folks can handle listening to songs with words, so you may want to experiment and see what works for you.

Just remember that there's no pressure to listen to any music. If you do your best work in silence, then feel free to turn your music player off.

3. Turn Off Netflix

If song lyrics are distracting, just imagine what an attention sucker the television can be! Serious studying requires that you turn off the TV.

The same goes for listening to radio deejays. Hearing voices in the background takes your brainpower off of your studies.

4. Use Background Sounds

Turning off the television, talk radio and your favorite pop song doesn't mean that you have to study in total silence. Soft background sounds are a great alternative.

Some people enjoy listening to nature sounds, such as ocean waves or cracks of thunder. Others prefer the whir of a fan.

5. Snack on Brain Food

A growling stomach can pull your mind from your studies, so feel free to snack as you work. Keep your snacks within arm's reach, so you don't have to leave your books to find food.

Fuel your next study session with some of the following items:

Lean deli meat

Nuts

Grapes or apple slices

Dark chocolate

Go for snacks that will power your brain and keep you alert. Steer clear of items that are high in sugar, fat and processed carbs.

Part 3 - Pick a Study Method That Works for You

Mindlessly reading through your notes or textbooks isn't an effective method of studying; it doesn't help you process the information. Instead, you should use a proven study strategy that will help you think through the material and retain the information.

Strategy #1 - SQ3R Method

With the SQ3R approach to reading, you'll learn to think critically about a text.

There are five steps:

Survey: Skim through the assigned material. Focus on headings, words in bold print and any diagrams.

Question: Ask yourself questions related to the topic.

Read: Read the text carefully. As you go, look for answers to your questions.

Recite: Tell yourself the answers to your questions. Write notes about them, even.

Review: Go over the material again by rereading the text and reading your notes aloud.

Strategy #2 - PQ4R Method

PQ4R is another study strategy that can help you digest the information you read.

This approach has six steps:

Preview: Skim the material. Read the titles, headings and other highlighted text.

Question: Think through questions that pertain to the material.

Read: As you work through the material, try to find answers to your questions.

Reflect: Consider whether you have any unanswered questions or new questions.

Recite: Speak aloud about the things you just read.

Review: Look over the material one more time.

Strategy #3 - THIEVES Method

The THIEVES approach can help you prepare to read for information.

There are seven pre-reading steps:

Title: Read the title.

Headings: Look through the headings.

Introduction: Skim the intro.

Every first sentence in a section: Take a look at how each section begins.

Visuals and vocabulary: Look at the pictures and the words in bold print.

End questions: Review the questions at the end of the chapter.

Summary: Read the overview of the text.

Ask yourself thought-provoking questions as you work through these steps. After completing them, read the text.

Studying Online

Although these three study strategies can be useful in any setting, studying online has its own set of challenges.

Dr. Tony Bates has written a thoughtful and thorough guide to studying online, A Student Guide to Studying Online. Not only does he highlight the importance of paying attention to course design, but he also offers helpful tips on how to choose the best online program and manage your course load.

Part 4 - Effective Study Skills

1. Highlight Key Concepts

Looking for the most important information as you read helps you stay engaged with the material. This can help keep your mind from wandering as you read.

As you find important details, mark them with a highlighter, or underline them. It can also be effective to jot notes along the edges of the text. Write on removable sticky notes if the book doesn't belong to you.

When you're preparing for a test, begin your studies by reviewing your highlighted sections and the notes you wrote down.

2. Summarize Important Details

One good way to get information to stick in your brain is to tell it again in your own words. Writing out a summary can be especially effective. You can organize your summaries in paragraph form or in outline form.

Keep in mind that you shouldn't include every bit of information in a summary. Stick to the key points.

Consider using different colors on your paper. Research shows that information presented in color is more memorable than things written in plain type. You could use colored pens or go over your words with highlighters.

After writing about what you read, reinforce the information yet again by reading aloud what you wrote on your paper.

3. Create Your Own Flashcards

For an easy way to quiz yourself, prepare notecards that feature a keyword on one side and important facts or definitions about that topic on the reverse.

Writing out the cards will help you learn the information. Quizzing yourself on the cards will continue that reinforcement.

The great thing about flashcards is that they're easily portable. Slip them in your bag, so you can pull them out whenever you have a spare minute. This is a fantastic way to squeeze in extra practice time outside of your regularly scheduled study sessions.

As an alternative to paper flashcards, you can also use a computer program or a smartphone app to make digital flashcards that you can click through again and again.

4. Improve Recall with Association

Sometimes your brain could use an extra hand to help you hold onto the information that you're studying. Creating imaginary pictures, crafting word puzzles or doing other mental exercises can help make your material easier to remember.

Try improving recall with the following ideas:

Sing the information to a catchy tune.

Think of a mnemonic phrase in which the words start with the same letters as the words that you need to remember.

Draw a picture that helps you make a humorous connection between the new information and the things that you already know.

Envision what it would be like to experience your topic in person. Imagine the sights, sounds, smells and more.

Think up rhymes or tongue twisters that can help the information stick in your brain.

Visualize the details with a web-style mind map that illustrates the relationships between concepts.

5. Absorb Information in Smaller Chunks

Think about how you memorize a phone number: You divide the 10-digit number into three smaller groups. It's easier to get these three chunks to stick in your mind than it is to remember the whole thing as a single string of information.

You can use this strategy when studying by breaking a list down into smaller parts. Work on memorizing each part as its own group.

6. Make Your Own Study Sheet

Condensing your most important notes onto one page is an excellent way to keep priority information at your fingertips. The more you look over this sheet and read it aloud, the better that you'll know the material.

Furthermore, the act of typing or writing out the information will help you memorize the details. Using different colors or lettering styles can help you picture the information later.

Just like flashcards, a study sheet is portable. You can pull it out of your bag whenever you have a spare minute.

7. Be the Teacher

To teach information to others, you first have to understand it yourself. Therefore, when you're trying to learn something new, challenge yourself to consider how you'd teach it to someone else. Wrestling with this concept will help you gain a better understanding of the topic.

In fact, you can even recruit a friend, a family member or a study group member to listen to your mini-lesson. Reciting your presentation aloud to someone else will help the details stick in your mind, and your audience may be able to point out gaps in your knowledge.

8. Know When to Call It a Day

Yes, you really can get too much of a good thing. Although your studies are important, they shouldn't be the only thing in your life. It's also important to have a social life, get plenty of exercise, and take care of your non-school responsibilities.

Studies show that too much time with your nose in the books can elevate your stress level, which can have a negative effect on your school performance and your personal relationships.

Too much studying may also keep you from getting enough exercise. This could lower your bone density or increase your percentage of body fat.

Part 5 - How to Study More Efficiently

1. Take Regular Breaks

Study sessions will be more productive if you allow yourself to take planned breaks. Consider a schedule of 50 minutes spent working followed by a 10-minute break.

Your downtime provides a good chance to stand up and stretch your legs. You can also use this as an opportunity to check your phone or respond to emails. When your 10 minutes are up, however, it's time to get back to work.

At the end of a long study session, try to allow yourself a longer break - half an hour, perhaps - before you move on to other responsibilities.

2. Take Notes in Class

The things that your teacher talks about in class are most likely topics that he or she feels are quite important to your studies. So, it's a good idea to become a thorough note-taker.

The following tips can help you become an efficient, effective note-taker:

Stick to the main points.

Use shorthand when possible.

If you don't have time to write all the details, jot down a keyword or a name. After class, you can use your textbook to elaborate on these items.

For consistency, use the same organizational system each time you take notes.

Consider writing your notes by hand, which can help you remember the information better. However, typing may help you be faster or more organized.

Recording important points is effective because it forces you to pay attention to what's being said during a lecture.

3. Exercise First

Would you believe that exercise has the potential to grow your brain? Scientists have shown this to be true!

In fact, exercise is most effective at generating new brain cells when it's immediately followed by learning new information.

There are short-term benefits to exercising before studying as well. Physical activity helps wake you up so you feel alert and ready when you sit down with your books.

4. Review and Revise Your Notes at Home

If your notes are incomplete - for example, you wrote down dates with no additional information - take time after class to fill in the missing details. You may also want to swap notes with a classmate so you can catch things that you missed during the lecture.

Rewrite your notes if you need to clean them up

Rewriting will help you retain the information

Add helpful diagrams or pictures

Read through them again within one day

If you find that there are concepts in your notes that you don't understand, ask your professor for help. You may be able to set up a meeting or communicate through email.

After rewriting your notes, put them to good use by reading through them again within the next 24 hours. You can use them as a reference when you create study sheets or flashcards.

5. Start with Your Toughest Assignments

Let's face it: There are some subjects that you like more than others. If you want to do things the smart way, save your least challenging tasks for the end of your studies. Get the hardest things done first.

If you save the toughest tasks for last, you'll have them hanging over your head for the whole study session. That can cost you unnecessary mental energy.

Furthermore, if you end with your favorite assignments, it will give you a more positive feeling about your academic pursuits. You'll be more likely to approach your next study session with a good attitude.

6. Focus on Key Vocabulary

To really understand a subject, you have to know the words that relate to it. Vocabulary words are often written in textbooks in bold print. As you scan the text, write these words down in a list.

Look them up in a dictionary or in the glossary at the back of the book. To help you become familiar with the terms, you could make a study sheet with the definitions or make flashcards.

7. Join a Study Group

Studying doesn't always have to be an individual activity.

Benefits of a study group include:

Explaining the material to one another

Being able to ask questions about things you don't understand

Quizzing each other or playing review games

Learning the material more quickly than you might on your own

Developing soft skills that will be useful in your career, such as teamwork and problem solving

Having fun as you study

Gather a few classmates to form a study group.

Part 6 - How to Study for Tests

1. Study for Understanding, Not Just for the Test

Cramming the night before a big test usually involves trying to memorize information long enough to be able to regurgitate it the next morning. Although that might help you get a decent grade or your test, it won't help you really learn the material.

Within a day or two, you'll have forgotten most of what you studied. You'll have missed the goal of your classes: mastery of the subject matter.

Instead, commit yourself to long-term learning by studying throughout the semester.

2. Begin Studying at Least One Week in Advance

Of course, you may need to put in extra time before a big test, but you shouldn't put this off until the night before.

Instead, in the week leading up to the exam, block off a daily time segment for test preparation. Regular studying will help you really learn the material.

3. Spend at Least One Hour per Day Studying

One week out from a big test, study for an hour per night. If you have two big tests coming up, increase your daily study time, and divide it between the two subjects.

The day before the exam, spend as much time as possible studying - all day, even.

4. Re-write Class Notes

After each class, you should have fleshed out your notes and rewritten them in a neat, organized format. Now, it's time to take your re-done notes and write them once again.

This time, however, your goal is to condense them down to only the most important material. Ideally, you want your rewritten notes to fit on just one or two sheets of paper.

These sheets should be your main study resource during test preparation.

5. Create a Study Outline

Early in the week, make a long outline that includes many of the details from your notes. Rewrite it a few days later, but cut the material in half.

Shortly before the test, write it one more time; include only the most important information. Quiz yourself on the missing details.

6. Make Your Own Flashcards

Another way to quiz yourself is to make flashcards that you can use for practice written tests.

First, read the term on the front side. Encourage yourself to write out the definition or details of that term. Compare your written answer with what's on the back of the card.

This can be extra helpful when prepping for an entrance exam like the GRE, though there are a growing number of schools that don't require GRE scores for admission.

7. Do Sample Problems and Essays from Your Textbook

There are additional things you can do to practice test-taking. For example, crack open your book, and solve problems like the ones you expect to see on the test.

Write out the answers to essay questions as well. There may be suggested essay topics in your textbook.

Part 7 - Memory Improvement Techniques

1. Study Right Before Bed

Although you shouldn't pull all-nighters, studying right before bedtime can be a great idea.

Sleep helps cement information in your brain. Studies show that you're more likely to recall information 24 hours later if you went to bed shortly after learning it.

Right before bed, read through your study sheet, quiz yourself on flashcards or recite lists of information.

2. Study Small Chunks at a Time

If you want to remember information over the long haul, don't try to cram it all in during one sitting.

Instead, use an approach called spaced repetition:

Break the information into parts

Learn one new part at a time over the course of days or weeks

Review your earlier acquisitions each time you study

The brain stores information that it thinks is important. So, when you regularly go over a topic at set intervals over time, it strengthens your memory of it.

3. Tell a Story

Sometimes, you just need to make information silly in order to help it stick in your brain.

To remember a list of items or the particular order of events, make up a humorous story that links those things or words together. It doesn't necessarily need to make sense; it just needs to be memorable.

4. Change Study Locations Often

Studying the same information in multiple places helps the details stick in your mind better.

Consider some of the following locations:

Your desk at home

A coffee shop

The library

Your backyard

A park

It's best to switch between several different study spots instead of always hitting the books in the same place.

5. Swap Topics Regularly

Keeping your brain trained on the same information for long periods of time isn't beneficial. It's smarter to jump from one subject to another a few times during a long study session.

Along those same lines, you should study the same material in multiple ways. Research shows that using varied study methods for the same topic helps you perform better on tests.

6. Quiz Yourself

Challenge yourself to see what you can remember. Quizzing yourself is like practicing for the test, and it's one of the most effective methods of memory retention.

If it's hard to remember the information at first, don't worry; the struggle makes it more likely that you'll remember it in the end.

7. Go Old-school: Use a Pen and Paper

The act of writing answers helps you remember the information. Here are some ways to use writing while studying:

Recopy your notes

Write the answers to flashcards

Make a study sheet

Practice writing essay answers

Writing by hand is best because it requires your attention and focus.

8. See It & Hear It

Say information out loud, and you'll be more likely to remember it. You're engaging your eyes as you read the words, your mouth as you say them, and your ears as you hear yourself.

Scientists call the benefit of speaking information aloud production effect.

Part 8 - Top 10 Study Hacks Backed by Science

1. Grab a Coffee

Drinking coffee (or your preferred high-octane beverage) while you study may help keep you alert so you don't doze off mid-session. There's even evidence that caffeine can improve your memory skills.

However, avoid sugary beverages. These could cause your energy level to crash in a few hours.

2. Reward Yourself

Studies show that giving yourself a reward for doing your work helps you enjoy the effort more.

Do it right away; don't wait until the test is over to celebrate. For example, after finishing a three-hour study session, treat yourself to an ice cream cone or a relaxing bath.

3. Study with Others

Working with a study group holds you accountable so it's harder to procrastinate on your work.

When you study together, you can fill in gaps in one another's understanding, and you can quiz each other on the material.

Besides, studying with a group can be fun!

4. Meditate

It may be hard to imagine adding anything else to your packed schedule, but dedicating time to mindfulness practices can really pay off.

Studies show that people who meditate may perform better on tests, and they are generally more attentive.

Mindfulness apps can help you get started with this practice.

5. Hit the Gym

To boost the blood flow to your brain, do half an hour of cardio exercise before sitting down to study.

Aerobic exercise gives your brain a major dose of oxygen and other important nutrients, which may help you think clearly, remember facts and do your best work.

6. Play Some Music

Listening to tunes can help you focus. Studies show that the best study music is anything that features a rhythmic beat.

It's smart to choose a style that you like. If you like classical, that's fine, but you could also go for electronica or modern piano solos.

7. Grab Some Walnuts

A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps your brain do its best work.

Good sources include:

Fish: cod liver oil, salmon and mackerel

Flaxseed

Walnuts

Vegetables: spinach and Brussels sprouts

To calm your pre-test jitters, eat a mix of omega-3 and omega-6 foods.

8. Take Regular Breaks

Your brain needs some downtime. Don't try to push through for hours on end. Every hour, take a break for several minutes.

Breaks are good for your mental health. They also improve your attention span, your creativity and your productivity.

During a break, it's best to move around and exercise a bit.

9. Get Some Sleep

Although studying is important, it can't come at the expense of your rest. Sleep gives your brain a chance to process the information that you've learned that day.

If you don't get enough sleep, you'll have a hard time focusing and remembering information.

Even during busy test weeks, try to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

10. Eliminate Distractions

It's hard to get much studying done when you're busy scrolling Instagram. Put away your phone and computer while studying, or at least block your social media apps.

Turn off the television while you work, too.

If you're studying in a noisy area, put on headphones that can help block the distracting sounds.

Part 9 - The Best Study Apps

1. iStudiez Pro Legend

Scheduling study time is a must, and iStudiez Pro Legend lets you put study sessions, classes and assignments on your calendar. Color coding the entries can help you stay organized.

For each class, you can enter meeting times and homework assignments, and you can keep track of your grades.

2. Dragon Anywhere

Instead of writing notes in the margins of your textbooks, you can use Dragon Anywhere's voice dictation feature to record your thoughts and insights.

Just be sure to rewrite your dictated notes in your own handwriting later for maximum learning!

3. Evernote

When you're in school, you have a lot of responsibilities to juggle, but Evernote can help you organize them.

You can add notes and documents to store them in one digital spot, and tagging them will help you quickly pull up all files for a class or a topic.

4. Quizlet Go

Make digital flashcards that you can practice on your mobile device with Quizlet Go.

This means that you can pull out your phone for a quick study session whenever you have a couple of minutes of downtime. You don't even need internet access to practice these flashcards.

5. My Study Life

Enter your upcoming tests and assignments into My Study Life, and the app will send you reminder messages.

The app has a calendar so you can keep track of your class schedule. It can even notify you when it's time to go to class.

6. Exam Countdown Lite

You should start studying for tests at least a week in advance. Input the dates for your exams and assignments into Exam Countdown Lite so you'll have a visual reminder of when you should begin your test prep.

The app can send you notifications as well.

7. Flashcards+

With Chegg's Flashcards+, you can make your own digital flashcards or use ones designed by others.

Because you can add images to your cards, you can quiz yourself on the names of famous artworks, important historical artifacts or parts of a scientific diagram.

8. XMind

Organize information into categories by creating a visual mind map on XMind. This can help you classify facts and figures so you see how they relate to one another.

This visual representation can also help you recall the information later.

9. ScannerPro

Do you have piles of handwritten notes everywhere? Once you have written them out, consider scanning them into digital form. ScannerPro lets you use your phone as a scanner.

You can store your scanned files in this app or transfer them to Evernote or another organization system.

Part 10 - Study Skills Worksheets

Could you use more help to develop your study skills? Rutgers University has dozens of study skills worksheets online.

These documents are packed with tips that can help you become a better student. The checklists and charts can help you evaluate your current strengths and organize your work.

Part 11 - Key Takeaways

You're a busy person, so you need to make the most of every study session.

By now, you should understand the basics of effective studies:

Schedule study time

Study regularly

Minimize distractions

Read for information

Write the important stuff down

Use creative memory tricks

Quiz yourself

Be good to your body and your brain

Put these study tips to good use, and you'll soon learn that you've learned how to study smarter.

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25 Scientifically Proven Tips for Effective Studying [2023 Edition]

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Take the guesswork out of studying with our 2023 Ultimate Study Tips Guide. Use scientifically proven how to study methods to up your game!

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I chose this article because it describes a very useful method for studying that I am interested in trying. This relates to the other videos I chose about studying.

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They called Feynman the "Great Explainer."

Richard Feynman (1918-1988), an author, graphic novel hero, intellectual, philosopher, physicist, and No Ordinary Genius is considered to be one of the most important physicists of all time.

He pioneered an entire field: quantum electrodynamics (QED).

In the 1940s, his invention of the Feynman Diagram helped bring much-needed visual clarification to the enigmatic behavior of subatomic particles.

His work helping scientists understand the interaction of light and matter earned him a share of a Nobel Prize in 1965.

His work has directly influenced the fields of nanotechnology, quantum computing, and particle physics.

In 1986, his research and explanations were critical in helping to understand the cause of the space shuttle Challenger disaster.

In addition to his groundbreaking research, Feynman was brilliant, eloquent, and an exquisitely passionate thinker. In the world of science, he stands unequivocally for his ability to synthesize and explain complex scientific knowledge. His lectures are the stuff of legend - Albert Einstein attended Feynman's first talk as a graduate student, and Bill Gates was so inspired by his pedagogy that he called Feynman, "the greatest teacher I never had." Gates purchased the rights to his lectures and made them publicly available on a video portal nicknamed "Tuva" in honor of Feynman's famous failed quest to reach the Russian region later in his life.

"I do think that making science cool to people when they're young and therefore getting more people to go into it in an in-depth way, I think that's very important right now," Gates said, when announcingthe purchase.

Feynman's lectures, many of which were delivered during his time at California Institute of Technology, were aimed at students who had no previous knowledge of particle physics or deep science. Taking the mystery out of complex scientific principles was Feynman's forte. His lectures were underscored by a conviction and passion for science.

If Einstein created the ' beautiful equation,' then Feynman brought an unparalleled sense of beauty and romanticism previously absent in the world of scientific research. A vast majority of Feynman's life was as vividly eccentric and illustrious as the unpredictable movements of the atomic particles that defined his life's work. When he wasn't in the throes of researching particle physics, he spent significant time dabbling in the arts, sketching, and even playing the bongo.

Have you ever had a coworker who used business-speak, or had a teacher explain something with language that was difficult to understand?

You're not alone. The Feynman technique for teaching and communication is a mental model (a breakdown of his personal thought process) to convey information using concise thoughts and simple language. This technique is derived from Feynman's studying methods when he was a student at Princeton.

At Princeton, Feynman started to record and connect the things he did know with those he did not. In the end, Feynman had a comprehensive notebook of subjects that had been disassembled, translated, and recorded.

In James Gleick's biography of Feynman, Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman, he recalled his subject's technique. "He opened a fresh notebook. On the title page he wrote: NOTEBOOK OF THINGS I DON'T KNOW ABOUT. For the first but not last time he reorganized his knowledge. He worked for weeks at disassembling each branch of physics, oiling the parts, and putting them back together, looking all the while for the raw edges and inconsistencies. He tried to find the essential kernels of each subject," Gleick wrote.

You can use this model to quickly learn new concepts, shore up knowledge gaps you have (known as targeted learning), recall ideas you don't want to forget, or to study more efficiently. Taking that concept further, you can use this technique to grapple with tough subject matter, which is one of the great barriers to learning.

Feynman's technique is also useful for those who find writing a challenge. Feynman had an interesting relationship with writing. Instead of committing his knowledge to paper like many other scientific figures, he chose to use speech as the foundation for many of his published works. He dictated most of his books and memoirs, and his scientific papers were transcribed from his lectures.

"In order to talk to each other, we have to have words, and that's all right. It's a good idea to try to see the difference, and it's a good idea to know when we are teaching the tools of science, such as words, and when we are teaching science itself," Feynman said.

Feynman relied heavily on verbal and spoken communication, and when he turned to his cartoonish diagrams of highly scientific principles, for example, he could tap into ideas with shapes, squiggly lines, and drawings. It stripped away clunky language and allowed the power of verbal storytelling to take root.

Explaining the essentials of particle physics is extremely difficult. Before Feynman's diagrams that earned him a Nobel Prize, there wasn't a clear way to explain their meaning.

Attribution for Feynman diagram: By JabberWok at the English language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1601027

This is the first-ever published diagram by Feynman helped scientists track particle movements in illustrations and visual equations rather than verbose explanations. What seemed almost improbable at the time is now one of the greatest explanations of particle physics - the squiggly lines, diagrams, arrows, quarks, and cartoonish figures are now the established nomenclature and visual story that students, scientists, and readers will see when they learn about this field of science.

Essentially, the Feynman Technique is this:
1. Identify the subject
Write down everything you know about the topic. Each time you run into new sources of information, add them to the note.
2. Teach it to a child
If you can teach a concept to a child, you're way ahead of the game.

Start with a blank note and write the topic or subject you want to teach. Then, below that topic, write everything you know about it. But, the trick is to write it plainly and simply - so that a child can understand what you're talking about.

Doing this takes into consideration a few things:

Speaking in plain terms: Children don't understand jargon or a lexicon of dense vocabulary. Science is full of complex terminology, which is the reason Feynman's diagrams became so valuable. His charts illustrated things that other scientists delivered marathon lectures about.
When we speak without jargon, it frees us from hiding behind knowledge we don't have. Big words and fluffy "business speak" cripples us from getting to the point and passing knowledge to others.
Brevity: The attention span of a child requires you to deliver concepts as if you were pitching a business idea during one short elevator ride. You better get the concept out before those doors open. Children also don't have the ability - or mental capacity, to understand anything longer than that.
If you had difficulty putting thoughts into your note, that shows you have room to improve. This is also where the power of creativity can help you reach new heights in learning.
For Feynman, much of the pleasure in science was in this first step - unraveling his levels of understanding.
3. Identify your knowledge gaps
This is the point where the real learning happens. What are you missing? What don't you know?

Highlighting knowledge gaps will help you when you collect and organize your notes into a cohesive story (which is the next step.) Now you can call upon your source material (lecture notes, ideas, etc.) when you run into questions about how much you do know about your topic.

If you don't know something, hit the books. Go back to the source material and compile information that will help you fill in the cracks.
4. Organize + simplify + Tell a story
Start to tell your story. Piece together your notes and begin to spin a tale using concise explanations. Bring the most vital pieces of your knowledge about the topic together.

Practice reading your story out loud. Pretend to tell the story to a classroom of students. That way, you'll hear where language stops being simple. Stumbles could indicate incomplete thoughts.

Use analogies and simple sentences to strengthen your understanding of the story.

This sentence, written by Feynman, encapsulates the power of this technique. What started as a question about our existence has been translated into a single sentence that can be understood by a middle school student.

"All things are made of atoms - little particles that move around in perpetual motion, attracting each other when they are a little distance apart, but repelling upon being squeezed into one another."

Basically, Feynman says that if you know nothing about physics, the most essential scientific knowledge to understand is that everything is made up of atoms. In one simple sentence, Feynman conveys the foundational existence of our universe. It's a master class not just for scientists, but for writers of any stripe. Get to the hypothesis in as few words as possible. Avoid clunky, verbose language.

Feynman was a believer in a multi-disciplinary approach to learning and found connections to his work in creative outlets like drawing and music. He never stopped asking questions - who, what, and why?

Einstein had his violin. Werner Heisenberg played the piano. Richard Feynman had bongos. And a passion for art. He was able to eloquently communicate, but he could also see the beauty in art, and the stories that art tells. It was as much a distraction as much as it was an unending source of inspiration he could connect to his work in particle physics.

"I wanted very much to learn to draw, for a reason that I kept to myself: I wanted to convey an emotion I have about the beauty of the world. It's difficult to describe because it's an emotion. ... It's a feeling of awe - of scientific awe - which I felt could be communicated through a drawing to someone who had also had that emotion. I could remind him, for a moment, of this feeling about the glories of the universe." - Feynman discussing the intersection of art and science.

The next time you stare at an empty notebook page, think about turning that page into an opportunity.

As Feynman illustrates in his mental model, learning can be a lifelong pursuit. This technique is designed to help you study for exams and learn new subjects, but it can be easily adapted to pursue deep work. Dedicating a notebook to a place where your knowledge can grow and evolve your ideas and provide inspiration to continue following a path of ongoing learning critical to the fundamentals of deeper, meaningful work.

Today, researchers are still parsing through Thomas Edison's notebooks and are constantly learning about how he cataloged his ideas and innovations. For Feynman, after he was done cataloging his knowledge with his technique, he had a comprehensive record of his knowledge that became a notebook he was incredibly proud of.
Armed with the Feynman technique and Evernote, anything is possible. How could you use this technique in your work? Share your story in the comments.

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They called Feynman the "Great Explainer." Richard Feynman (1918-1988), an author, graphic novel hero, intellectual, philosopher, physicist, and No Ordinary Genius is considered to be one of the most important physicists of all time. He pioneered an entire field: quantum electrodynamics (QED).

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When You Just CAN'T Motivate Yourself to Study, Consider This 

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When You Just CAN'T Motivate Yourself to Study, Consider This 

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I chose this video because it had to deal with studying, specifically with motivation to study. Sometimes I just don't want to study, so I thought this video might have some helpful tips. This video basically says that you should set up a system of consequences and incentives for motivation. You can block yourself from certain distractions, like blocking certain apps or websites on your phone. I think this is good advice. However, it does require motivation to even set the groundwork.

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When You Just CAN'T Motivate Yourself to Study, Consider This - College Info Geek

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The Most Powerful Way to Remember What You Study

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The Most Powerful Way to Remember What You Study

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I chose this video because whenever I study, sometimes it just feels like too much and I don't know where to start, or the best method to study. This video discusses a method called spaced repetition. The method includes making a system that allows for repetition, based on which topics you know well, and which topics need more repetition. It also gives you a way to do it on your phone or computer. I think this is a great tip that will bring great return. I think this would work great for math equations I can't remember or biology terms, for my upcoming tests.

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The Most Powerful Way to Remember What You Study

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How to Study Effectively With Flash Cards

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How to Study Effectively With Flash Cards

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I chose this video because I never really use my flashcards after I make them. I also find sitting there and quizzing yourself very boring. This video gives 8 tips to successfully use flashcards. Things like adding pictures to your flashcards or using mnemonic devices to help you remember things are good thing to add to flashcards. I liked the tips in this video. I think they are an easy way to get the most out of your flashcards.

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How to Study Effectively with Flash Cards - College Info Geek