Study Time

I am If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you."

-Zig Ziglar 

I am the kind of person who enjoys school. I love learning new things and that feeling when you finally understand something, or when you ace an exam!

Don't get me wrong, it doesn't all come easily to me. I have to work just as hard as anyone else to do well and keep on top of things. I find it hard sometimes, sometimes I don't want to do it. Sometimes I have no motivation and I get nothing done. But sometimes I power through three hours work of work in 1. Sometimes I finish my to-do list. Sometimes it happens. Today I want to share three things that are really important to me when I am studying.

Understanding
I don't like memorising. I get that sometimes there isn't another way, and I can deal with that. When I have no choice but to memorise something I write out a flash card with pretty colours and neat notes, then I take a mental picture of the flashcard to refer to in my head.
But if there is the option of understanding I will always take it. I will always try to work out why something is the way it is. Why that formula works, why the weather is the way it is. I research and work really hard to understand things.
It might seem like more work, but instead of relying on regurgitating facts I know that I have them in my head and because I understand what I am talking about.

Practising
If I have to write an in-class essay, I will write a practise one the night before. I will do practise exams, practise problems. I practise all the time. Practising re-enforces something in your mind and allows you to put your understanding onto paper.
Practising is also more forgiving, it's completely ok and there are no bad consequences of making a silly mistake in a practise maths problem, you don't lose marks as you would in an exam. It's better to make a mistake when you are practising than when you are doing an exam.

Learn to Love It
Studying is something you can't avoid. It will all be much easier if you learn to love it. This is something I am trying hard to do.
Learn to love learning. Think about the results, where this work now will lead you. Love understanding something and seeing it play out in life. Love learning how the world works.
For some people fostering a love of studying might involve taking beautiful notes, typing them on a new keyboard, making a youtube video of yourself explaining something. It can be fun, and when it is fun you will learn not just to tolerate studying but enjoy it. Enjoy discovering and re-enforcing new things.

xxxPoppy