How to Rock Your Intellectual Game: The Top 111 Learning Strategies
Let's face it—sometimes real life is just too much. We've all been there, staring at the face of our boss or professor, knowing words are coming from his mouth, but hearing nothing, absorbing nothing, learning nothing. Well, we'd like to help you out with that. We've compiled the best 111 tricks to keep you on top of your intellectual game. With these tips, you'll remember more, come up with better ideas, and be able to communicate your thoughts better.
Improve Memory - Increase Your Concentration - Clear Your Mind - Improve Your Health - Increase Your Motivation - Boost Your Energy - Use Visual Aids - Use Verbal Techniques - Use Auditory Techniques - Personality - Improve Your Environment - Miscellaneous
Improve Memory
- Use mnemonic devices These learning tricks, like acronyms and rhymes, make remembering lists and details easier.
- Eat Ginkgo Biloba This natural supplement enhances memory and concentration and can be found in traditional Chinese cuisine.
- Do brain exercises Brain exercises stimulate the pre-frontal cortex and improve memory.
- Avoid excessive drinking Too much alcohol impairs memory and problem-solving ability.
- Seek treatment for depression Depressed individuals have high levels of cortisone, which can diminish function in multiple portions of the brain.
- Avoid caffeine Caffeine affects blood flow to the brain and can impede memory function.
- Reduce Stress Stress taxes your body's systems and affects overall brain functioning.
- Reduce Cholesterol Elevated cholesterol levels can increase the chances of developing dementia. Try eating more garlic and less red meat.
- Eat brain foods Nutrient-rich foods help with brain development and maintenance. Try eating more salmon, blueberries, and vegetables for starters.
- Increase your vocabulary Learning new words not only exercises your memory, but it will also help you form and communicate your ideas better.
- Write, don't type Writing requires more time and concentration than typing does, which improves your chances of remembering the content.
Increase Your Concentration
- Get rid of distractions This minimizes the time you spent on unimportant things and also forces you to focus on the task at hand.
- Focus on one thing at a time Focusing on a single task makes it easier to master one thing and also stops you from being overwhelmed.
- Identify the essentials When you can identify the most important aspects of a problem, it's often easier to tackle it effectively.
- Cut down on TV TV can waste time and fill your head with unimportant information.
- Slow down Taking your time can help you see you things properly.
- Solve puzzles and riddles Puzzles improve your problem solving skills and also exercise your concentration.
- Keep a journal Keeping a journal helps you figure out what's important and what deserves your attention.
- Take breaks Breaks rejuvenate you and get you ready for the task at hand.
- Vary your activities Switching gears will keep you from getting bored.
Clear Your Mind
- Go for a walk Walking gets your blood flowing, relaxes you, and rejuvenates you.
- Meditate Meditation helps you to relax and let go of distractions and stress.
- Use visualization techniques When you visualize yourself achieving goals, it makes it easier to reach them.
- Listen to soothing music Music can improve your mood and help you feel calm.
- Take a nap You can't be at the top of your game if you're exhausted. Taking a nap can re-charge and energize your mind and body.
- Do yoga Yoga releases tension and promotes feelings of well-being.
- Find a quiet place A quiet place of your own provides comfort and security to help you learn.
- Focus your breathing Focused breathing slows your heart rate and calms you down.
- Go outside A natural setting can be a good change of pace and can help change your mindset.
- Talk it out Venting can help you sort out your thoughts and can also make you feel better.
Improve Your Health
- Drink more water Hydration keeps your heart healthy, gives you energy, and prevents and cures headaches, among other things.
- Eat breakfast Eating breakfast helps to moderate your blood sugar and keeps your brain fueled.
- Check your medications Keep track of your medications and pay special attention to side effects that may impair your ability to learn.
- See your doctor There's no better way to make sure your body and brain are functioning properly than to have regular check-ups with your doctor.
- Avoid excessive sugar High blood glucose levels negatively affects your memory center and impairs overall brain functioning.
- Take vitamins Vitamins help you fight illness and improve your overall health.
- Eat a balanced diet A good diet helps you keep your blood sugar levels, immune system, and energy in check.
- Eat regularly Regular meals help your metabolism and keep your blood sugar levels low.
- Pay attention to your body If you're feeling tired or sick, you won't be a good learner. Paying attention to your body helps you sense problems so you can solve them before they get worse.
- Get a flu shot The flu keeps millions of people out of work and school every year.
Increase Your Motivation
- Remind yourself why you want to do something Your reasons for learning will help motivate you and remind you of why you should keep at it.
- Reward yourself When you look forward to a reward, you'll work harder and remember more.
- Challenge yourself When tasks are challenging, you're less likely to get bored and more likely to stay focused on the task at hand.
- Divide tasks into smaller parts A large job will seem less daunting when divided into smaller, more manageable parts.
- Praise yourself Praise is an excellent motivator, so if you're not getting enough from your co-workers or boss, give it to yourself.
- Plan your tasks By planning ahead, you'll be better able to monitor your progress and see your accomplishments.
- Set goals Sets of goals work like checklists; once you get a couple done, you'll want to just move ahead and cross them all off the list.
- Stop procrastinating You can't learn something if you don't ever get it a chance; stop wasting time and just get to it.
- Set a deadline A firm deadline will keep you on track and make sure you get done what needs to get done.
- Learn about your tasks When you know exactly what's expected, you're more likely to be comfortable taking them head-on.
Boost Your Energry
- Sleep more This one's simple: your body needs rest to feel eneergized each day.
- Do diaphragmatic breathing Deep breathing helps to circulate oxygen-rich red cells throughout your body, which gives you energy.
- Exercise regularly Exercise increases production of endorphones.
- Keep a schedule A regular schedule helps your body regulate its cycle and keep your energy levels high throughout the day.
- Get more sunlight Exposure to sunlight triggers production of seratonin.
- Take herbal supplements Bee pollen, gutu kola, and maitake can help boost energy.
- Try acupuncture Acupuncture stimulates the nervous system, which has been shown to increase energy.
- Get a massage Chakra energy massages use foot reflexology to tap into chakras, enegy centers, that are located in the feet.
- Take a hot shower A hot shower is invigorating and refreshing.
- Laugh Laughter makes you feel more positive and gives you a boost.
Use Visual Aids
- Make charts Visual representations of ideas can help you understand and remember.
- Make outlines Organizing information can make it easier to learn.
- Make sketches By sketching the finished product, you'll have a better idea of what you're working toward.
- Spread out Arrange your notes and materials around you on the floor or table. Being able to see everything at once may help you come up with new ideas.
- Use symbols Use symbols to represent words or formulas. This stimulates different parts of your brain and improves memory.
- Make checklists Creating checklists helps you organize your thoughts, arrange your priorities, and keep you pushing through your work.
- Use flashcards Flipping flash cards can helpy you memorize key terms and ideas.
- Use flowcharts Flowcharts can help you put your ideas in a logical sequence.
- Use post-its By putting your ideas out where you can see them, you'll be more likely to remember them.
Use Verbal Techniques
- Talk out loud For some, hearing information makes it easier to remember.
- Brainstorm Talking it out with your colleagues can help you come up with new ideas and also cement old ones in your mind.
- Teach someone else By teaching another person, you will gain a better understanding of the subject.
- Rhyme Making rhymes can help you remember key terms.
- Use word association By associating new words with familiar words, you will find it much easier to remember the new ones.
- Use repetition Sometimes repeating an idea can help you memorize it more quickly.
- Sing it People have a natural affinity for songs, so if you can insert your ideas into a tune you know, you'll be more likely to remember it.
- Ask questions Asking the right questions can help you learn extra, unexpected facts.
Use Auditory Techniques
- Listen to music Music is shown to increase recall; playing a song you were listening to when you learned something brings back that memory.
- Record yourself and listen to it Hearing your own voice say things makes it easier to remember them.
- Learn a second language Learning a second language helps you to better understand the mechanics of speech in general.
- Tell stories Putting the facts in a fictional story can help you associate and remember them.
- Listen to podcasts With podcasts, you can learn on-the-go and learn anywhere; being constantly exposed to information can help it sink in.
- Close your eyes Repeating facts without looking at them can help you remember them.
- Record and replay lectures When replaying information, you may hear facts that you missed the first time.
- Sound it out Divide phrases into words and words into syllables to help you remember the whole thing.
Personality
- Be positive Positive thoughts and feelings make learning more fun, which increases your motivation.
- Be persistent Persistance allows you to achieve your goals.
- Be curious Curiosity helps you continue learning and lets you look at things with new eyes and a fresh perspective.
- Be a copy cat Emulating the habits of successful people is one of the best ways to learn.
- Be critical Being critical of your work allows you to make improvements.
- Be flexible Being willing to change at the drop of a dime makes you better prepared to learn new concepts.
- Be patient Don't give up! If you keep trying, you'll get it eventually.
Improve Your Environment
- Create a study area A designated place to study will help you to focus.
- Clean your desk A clean desk allows to maximize your space.
- Re-organize Getting rid of unneccessary stuff gives you a clear desk and a clear mind and puts the right things at your fingertips.
- Get the right tools You'll be able to work quickly, and without distraction, when you have all the right tools within reach.
- Get comfortable When you're physically comfortable, you can focus on learning.
- Improve your lighting Proper lighting will reduce eye strain and allow you to work longer without getting tired.
- Decrease noise A quiet environment will minimize distractions and help you concentrate.
- Get inspired Make your work space attractive, colorful, or whatever inspires you--this will help keep you excited about your work.
- Use aromatherapy Certain scents like citrus are uplifting and energizing, while other scents like lavender are relaxing--use them to your advantage.
Miscellaneous
- Practice Practice makes perfect--it's as simple as that.
- Always carry a notebook Good ideas come at random times and having a notebook means you'll never forget them. It will also help organize your thoughts and help you remember things by writing them down.
- Read a lot Reading stimulates all sorts of regions of the brain and helps you become a better learner.
- Problem-solve whenever you can When you run into roadblocks, problem solving techniques can help you work through.
- Role play By working through real-life situations, you'll be able to more fully understand your ideas.
- Collaborate Working in groups allows you to share ideas and get ideas from others.
- Try to enjoy learning It's much easier to devote your time to something you enjoy. so get your head in the game!
- Review Regularly review what you've already done, so you don't forget later.
- Find examples Find examples of your finished product, and you'll get a better idea of what you need to accomplish.
- Take notes Take notes, so you can remember questions and ideas later.
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