Take many breaks to learn more

I have been taking an online class and haven’t had much free time to write here. Anyway, since I’m learning new things and I have given a few seminars on learning and acing your exams, I like to take a little time off to write this and listen to my own advice.

Experiments on learning and memory have shown that we remember best whatever we learn in the beginning and end of a session. So if you have on hour to study. You are much better off to divide it into four quarters (each approximately fifteen minutes. They are approximate as you learn in chunks and cannot stop mid-paragraph or mid-topic. At end of each smaller learning period, take a short break (at least a minute long). Rest, stretch, take a deep breath, smile, laugh, or do something totally different and stress reducing.

Then you can go back to your studies or training. In this way you have four beginning and four ending great memory periods rather than one of each. Now, you may think that if four is good, perhaps eight is better. The problem is that it takes a little time to get back into learning mode.

Now different subjects may allow modification of the above technique. At times taking five. six breaks may be better and at others only two or three. The real point is to take a little time off. Rest, relax and learn more and remember better.

While I’m writing about learning it is important to understand that memory is state dependent. Thus if you study lying down (as I did when at university – no one told me how to do well at school) you’ll remember better lying down. If you will be examined at a desk, it is best to study at a desk. If you have access to the examination room and can study there you’ll do better.

Having a good luck charm that you always have with you while you learn and then at the exam will also allow you to remember better. Hence it becomes a good luck charm thanks to the way our brains work and we remember.

I’m writing an iphone/ipad self improvement app. I need you help:
Please email me with suggestions of features you would like to see in a self improvement app.

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