Studying: Less Is More
Author: Andrew K. Roberts

Have you ever studied for hours on end, only to become drowsy, and forget what you just read? Have you ever studied all night long, only to fail the exam? Do you often have to read paragraphs over again because you lost concentration as you were reading? Or are you trying to compensate for a short attention span? Over the years, I've developed an approach which has improved my concentration immensely.

When I study, my motto is, "Old information is more important than new information." It doesn't make sense for me to study new material if I can't remember what I studied yesterday. How can I pass exams--or remember information afterward for use in my career--if I can't remember what I read for more than a day or two? Therefore, it is very important to spend a few minutes reviewing past material everyday. Paul Pimsleur developed a foreign language teaching approach based on this principle: He reviewed new material immediately after it was taught, then after a short delay, then after increasingly longer delays, until the material became part of his students' long-term memory.

Pimsleur also understood that there is a limit to concentration: 30 minutes. So I strive to work within my limits. If I try to study for longer than 30 minutes at a time, my mind wanders (or I become drowsy). Instead, I set a timer for 10-15 minutes, and try to read or memorize as much as I can in that short period of time. Contrary to my expectations, I often retain more when I read faster. (I'm not talking about 1000-word-per-minute "speed reading," just reading a little faster than my normal speed.) Why do I retain more?

* My concentration is heightened because of higher adrenaline.
* My subconscious mind treats the material as more important because I'm racing against the timer.
* I am more able to distinguish between key points and anecdotal material because I can absorb the flow of the piece. (I.e. I see the forest over the trees.)

To compensate for the shorter study periods, I often study the same subject several times during the day. This also increases my retention, especially because part of my study time is spent on review. Time efficiency is increased by studying one subject immediately after another. (For example, I study Japanese for 10 minutes, then Astronomy for 10 minutes, before taking a break.)

To heighten my concentration further, I alternate between active and sedentary activities. For example, I alternate between studying and housekeeping chores. (The easiest chore for this purpose is laundry because it is readily broken down into a 10-minute session every hour--or multiple, 5-minute sessions each hour if I also fold clean clothes a few at a time.) Or, I sometimes exercise for a few minutes before each study session. For example, I found that Tai Chi, sit-ups, or weightlifting with dumbbells can all be done effectively for less than 5 minutes at a time, right in my bedroom. With my blood flowing and my lungs taking in more oxygen, my mind can focus better.

Short study periods (10-15 minutes long), spread throughout the day and alternated with physical activities, increase my retention and concentration--and even make studying more fun.






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Andrew K. Roberts is the author of the website WholeBrainMotivation.com (http://wholebrainmotivation.com), with 150+ articles about self-motivation and controlling clutter. He also moderates a Yahoo! Group named WholeBrainMotivation (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WholeBrainMotivation), where he answers questions and posts weekly challenges to increase one's self-motivation.

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