I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a nerd and I get a natural high from walking through the aisles of office supplies. When I study, learn, and work I make sure that there is some joy in it. Teens will probably give you an eye roll if you tell them there is joy in studying for a test, so we’ll keep that to ourselves. However, here are some study hacks that you definitely want to share with your kids, no matter what the age.
When studying for an exam:
- Dab essential oils on your wrist and even right below your nose. When you go to take the test, dab the same essential oils on your wrist and nose. Your brain associates memories with smells, so it will help you recall information better.
- Chew spearmint gum. When taking the test, chew that same gum. Not only will your brain recall the info better, spearmint actually makes you more alert.
- Use visuals when possible. Use pictures when studying. They don’t even have to be directly related to the subject. This allows your brain to access the information from different parts of your brain. (If you like PowerPoint, create yourself a presentation!)
- Use colored note cards. Use different colors for different types of information. If you were studying for Spanish, for example, green cards could be for verbs, yellow for numbers, pink for fruits. Your brain thrives on categorization.
- Use technology. There are many great apps that can create a game out of studying. Quizlet is one that comes to mind. You can make flash cards to study. Then you can take a quiz or even play a game to work on memorization. You can also use PowerPoint, word, prezi, and so many others.
- Do it in small chunks. When you take in new information, it takes time for your brain to consolidate it and create a new neural path for it. That means that studying for short periods of time with breaks is much more effective.
- Try studying for 30 minutes and take a 10 minute healthy snack break or do some jumping jacks.
- Use fun school supplies. Believe it or not, having a cute hedgehog on the end of your pencil can bring a spark of joy to studying. Or a bright colored spiral notebook. Or a smelly marker. Joy spark the reward center of the brain, so find some fun school supplies that will make studying a little more fun.
The brain is remarkable, so teach your child how to make the most of it. This will reduce their stress when they are seeing the results in their schoolwork.
With Heart,
Coach Sheri
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