How Can I Trick My Brain Into Studying?

Are you easily distracted when learning? Or do you have difficulty concentrating?

You can trick your brain into studying by several means: breaking materials down into smaller tasks, making study timetables, taking smart breaks, and using your mind’s eye to read, among other ways.

Don’t fret; these are all common challenges you face while trying to remember things during the learning process, especially if you are a student.

This article unveils seven proven methods that will trick your brain into studying and transform you into an A+ student. Are you ready to be the Einstein of your time? Read on.

Break down the big study tasks into smaller tasks

You must first define the subject or material you want to study. Then divide the material into smaller bits and give each a time frame for completion. It’s that easy.

When you look at a topic first-hand, it seems like a piece of cake, but it isn’t. Biology is never just about the study of life. There are several topics to be considered.

All of which are further subdivided, over and over, until you have a thousand things to study just under biology. This division, however, makes the course easier to commit to memory.

Why is it easier to study in smaller bits?

Here is the thing about learning the smaller bits of notes you didn’t know—they give the illusion that you’ve done a lot. Which in some cases might be true, but in other cases, not so much.

The human brain can easily be fooled. So here is what you do. List out the subtopics with a strict time frame and tick the box once you’re done with each one.

Felt that adrenaline rush? Yes, that’s it. The more you tick, the more you want to go on. That’s the brain for you.

Writing each topic with its subtopics on post-it notes helps, too.

Take smart breaks

Taking short breaks from 5-60 minutes between learning sessions helps regain concentration. These breaks are essential to get the gear back on your memory and remember information faster.

The learning process shouldn’t be forced. Reading for hours on end might seem like a good idea, but you tend to assimilate less as time goes on. A study session shouldn’t take more than an hour or two.

You even take breaks during an exam. So why not before them?

Activities you can engage in during your recess after a study session

You can do several things during these breaks no matter your location, be it your school library or just at home, and they do not involve social media. For example;

Reconnect with nature
Meditate
Take a walk
Take a shower
Organize your workspace
Listen to music – any genre of music you enjoy is fine
Spend some time stretching
Rest for five to ten minutes
Have a healthy snack from your school kiosk
Draw

Consider it a refueling process.

Make a study timetable

You can make a study timetable with the help of a template or by writing it behind your school notes. Our personal productivity course, for example, will help you optimize your time and devise a befitting timetable.

Decide what task to do first, then consider the time of the day you have the most energy. Put the most difficult material during that period. You can then put the easier ones at a later time.

You can always review your timetable daily and see if it is working. Suppose it isn’t switched up.

Add in your fun activity, too. Don’t make it boring! Just looking at it allows your brain to know that you will soon rest. This helps relax the mind.

You have drawn your template and decided how long it will last. You can now fill in the topics you’ve curated to study for that period.

You can even get specific with what you do on your break. Looking forward to it makes you want to study more.

Do you plan on cooking your favorite meal during that period or just taking a nap? Whichever it is, put it down, and you’ll see the magic a reward at the end of studying will do.

Focus on the task, not the time. Another important thing to note while putting down your timetable is that you should focus on the task.

Sometimes you look at the time so much that you lose concentration on the task.

Use your mind’s eye

Your mind’s eye is the invisible lens in your head that reads and pictures a text. Using your mind’s eye to study will help you in a big way, as you can visualize the content of your notes as you go.

While reading with your mind’s eye, know that you are still voicing it, just not with your lips but rather your mind. This phenomenon is called “sub-vocalization” or “inner speech.”

Can you read with your mind’s eye? Test yourself with this text. Listen for your inner voice. Either way, you can train yourself not to move your tongue and lips; that way, you can read faster.

Study in the morning

You learn more when you study in the morning. This is because the human brain is usually more receptive to learning at this time of the day for many reasons.

Why do schools all over the world open in the morning?

This is because, at this time, even a half-hour of study will give you more knowledge than two hours when the weather is hot.

As a teacher, you should note that students have an increased learning capability at this time. So start teaching early in the morning if you want your students to recall better.

How can I trick my brain into studying in the morning?

You don’t have to. With the help of mnemonic devices to help you recall your notes, you can take your learning to another level.

The use of natural light during this period is good for the eyes rather than the artificial one you must compulsorily use at night.

It is also very healthy because when you read at this time, you have nighttime to sleep. It also doesn’t affect your school time studying.

How to know if you are a morning reader

Below are a few traits that indicate that you are a morning reader.

– You are an early riser; you sleep up to 6-8 hours

– You do not show laziness even when the weather changes

– You feel full of energy early in the morning

– You are motivated to study at this time

Did you tick all the boxes? If you don’t, you can practice. You can teach your brain to be an early riser and a morning reader; all you have to do is keep reading this blog.

What defines a good study space?

Find a good study space separate from your bedroom or a rarely used class in school, any space that helps you get in the right mindset and puts you in the mood for learning.

When you enter the room, your brain inevitably knows ‘it’s study time.’

The space should have lots of natural light and should not have windows facing outside activities. This is to avoid getting distracted by outdoor activities.

You can always see what’s happening in the world after your study session.

Other things that help you study better include: having a healthy breakfast, regularly drinking water, staying away from social media, and making a sleeping schedule.

If you are a late sleeper, you probably won’t have enough energy or be able to wake up early to read. Making a sleep schedule will ensure that you are well-rested when it’s time to study.

You could even exercise after your study session. Who says only the mind should stay fit?

Stay focused on your priorities

Staying focused on one thing at a time optimizes your memory at that point. Select the course or material you want to study, eliminate distractions, and start reading.

The area you pick for studying should be quiet. Turning off notifications on your phone. Pro tip? Turn off your phone altogether.

Learning your school notes or any note at all can be pretty demanding, and you sometimes need some coffee but don’t overdose on the caffeine— Coffee in small doses is recommended.

Excess intake will affect your brain and spoil the good study habits you are trying to incur. A very healthy option is taking our Maximizing Memory course.

Prioritizing your learning has a lot to do with determination. However, having your social media on isn’t showing any determination to learn.

So turn that DND button on. No YouTube channel, Netflix, or Twitter for you. At least not until your study sessions are over.

Be realistic about your study timetable. Can you cover this in 30 minutes? If not, why not put an hour there? It is more realistic, and you won’t have to drop one topic for the other.

Track your progress

During tests or exams, you often face multiple modules and topics. This makes it challenging to track your revision progress when you have multiple items on your to-revise list.

Set a test for yourself by writing the topic and subtopic on one side of your note. Then write singular words associated with the topic on the other side along with their meanings.

You can write them in your own words if that helps you store information better. They are the most important information you should know in a course.

Depending on how many words you understand their meaning, that’s how much information you have stored. This method allows you to look at individual words and see how they associate and relate.

Takeaway – Can you be the next Einstein?

The concepts surrounding learning your school course don’t necessarily have to be difficult.

To trick your brain into studying, break down big study tasks, read with your mind’s eye, study in the morning, stay focused on your priorities, and track your progress, and you will definitely see results.

You can use our speed-reading tool if you have materials you need to cover fast or take our course on improving your memory. You don’t have to force-feed your brain. School is fun, and you can even enjoy learning.

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