Study Tips: Engage Your Brain

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Engage Your Brain

You know how athletes stretch and warm up before a competition? Well, it’s not much different going into a test or even a regular study session. There are a few things you can do to make more effective use of your brain. Some are pretty basic and others will depend more on what type of learner you are.

Hydrate. You probably wouldn’t go out to play soccer or tennis or any other sport without drinking some water first. Hydrating helps to balance your body’s nervous system, makes your brain work more efficiently and ultimately can result in better concentration and performance. Have some water—not coffee or soda—before you start, and sip as you need to while you are working.

Move. There are exercises that activate different parts of your brain, and get different parts of your brain talking to one another. Touching your right elbow (or hand) to your left knee and then your left elbow (or hand) to your right knee, over and over for just a minute or so, can help you face a task with both sides of your brain, right and left, engaged and ready for action. And getting up to stretch and move after you’ve been sitting for a while is always a good idea. For more information see the Resources section on this site.

stopwatch Do you come straight home from school and start in on your homework? For some kids, this is a great way to maintain their momentum. Others need a break before they can start working again with full concentration. A break can be a good thing, especially if you use it for something physical (a walk or some other exercise if you’ve just come from sitting in class) or a healthy snack, for example. If you have a hard time getting yourself back on task, save your break for when you finish.

What’s the lighting like in your study space? For some learners, the amount and kind of lighting can make a lamp huge difference. Many people are sensitive to fluorescent lights, which are common in school. If this bothers you, you might find it helpful to come home to full-spectrum light bulbs in your study area. (This can also help if you live in an area that has a lot of cloudy or rainy days and not much sunshine.)

If your eyes get tired, or you have a hard time reading, you can cut down the glare by putting a sheet of colored acetate (inexpensive, thin flexible plastic sheet, available at most office-supply or art-supply stores) over the page you’re reading. Or check out the E.Z.C. readers in the Resource section of this site.

Get comfortable. One of the biggest complaints kids have about school is that it’s hard to sit for a long time at their desks. Some high school teachers allow for chair some movement, or have more comfortable options in their rooms (like a couch, rocking chair, cushions), but this isn’t as common as most kids would like. If you can’t control where you sit in school, at least make sure you have a comfortable space to study at home. For some kids that’s a desk or table and chair. For many, however, sprawling out on the couch, floor or bed works much better. (Sometimes this depends on the kind of work you’re doing.) If you find yourself falling asleep or not working efficiently, change to a different study space!

Sound or noise can make it impossible for you to study, although there are a lot of kids who can barely think without it. Unfortunately, most schools don’t make this an option, even when you’re working on your own. At home, however, find what works for you. If your study space isn’t as quiet as you’d like, try using ear plugs (available at most drug stores). If you can get noise-canceling headphones or a “white noise” machine, so much the better! If you can work with music, and many kids can, go for it. (No, it doesn’t have to be classical or quiet music, although that works well for some people. Find the kind of music that helps you most. If the music makes it hard for you to concentrate, switch to a different kind of music or turn it off altogether.)

Touch is important to many learners. Some kids learn or listen better if they’ve got something to do with their hands. If your teacher or the other kids find it distracting to see you trying to listen with a stress ball, twist-tie (those green or white thingies from the grocery store) or rubber band in your hand, save the fidget for home use. You may be able to find cheap fidget toys (like gel balls or beanie babies) at a local drug store, or check out the Resources section of this site for companies that carry these kinds of items.

If you work at a desk at home, instead of on the couch or in bed, for example, you might try putting an exercise band or bungee cord around the two front legs of the chair. Strange as it may seem, some kids study better if they’ve got something for their feet to push against.

A lot of kids can work better, and stay alert better, if they’ve got something in their mouth. Be careful what you nibble, though, as it’s easy to go through an entire bag of chips or M&Ms without realizing it. (Trust us on this.) Some kids do fine with healthy, crunchy snacks, like carrots. Others do better with gum. Some use a straw, a toothpick or something rubbery (a rubber band, a rawhide necklace, even a length of surgical tubing, when they can find it). This may not be your thing, but if you find a lot of really short pencils and chewed up pens around your study area, these alternatives may be worth considering.

Whatever you do, pay attention to the effect your choices have on your productivity and concentration, and the quality of your work. If the effect is negative—even though you may like listening to music or playing with a fidget—save those things for when your brain won’t be distracted by them. Just be honest with yourself. This is a good way to learn about the kind of learner you are and the things that can help, or just get in your way.

How to “Study Harder”:

Where to Study, What to Study, How to Study, When to Study

Relaxation techniques.

Surviving the tests.

Coming soon: An activity page to go with these tips.

Stories about pressures and responsibilities.

Resources dealing with pressures and responsibilities.

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