Use These 5 Brain Hacks To Learn Anything Faster
Use These 5 Brain Hacks To Learn Anything Faster
The ability to learn faster is possibly the most realistic superpower. But how do we do that?
And while there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to that question, there are some brain hacks that can help you learn more effectively. Here are five of the best. Use these 5 brain hacks to learn anything faster.
1. Spaced Repetition
“One of the most effective ways to learn something is to space out your learning over time”, suggests online HSC tutors from the Education Centre.
The idea behind spaced repetition is that you spacing out your learning will help your brain better encode the information into long-term memory. So, instead of trying to cram everything into one short study session, spread out your study sessions over a longer period of time.
If you are up for this, try flashcards.
With this method, you would create a set of cards with each card containing a question on one side and the answer on the other. You would then shuffle the cards and go through them one by one, trying to answer the questions without looking at the answers.
For each question you get right, you would put the card in a “known” pile. For each question you get wrong, you would put the card in an “unknown” pile. Once you have gone through all of the cards, you would then go through the unknown pile again and try to answer the questions.
You would continue this process until you can answer all of the questions in the unknown pile correctly. The key is to space out the review sessions so that you are only reviewing the material that you are struggling with – this is where the spaced repetition comes in.
2. Interleaving
This involves mixing different topics or ideas as you study, rather than focusing on one thing at a time. To use this strategy effectively, you need to have a good understanding of what material will be on the test and how it is related to other topics. That way, you can plan out which topics to mix together. For example, if you know the test will cover World War II and the Great Depression, you might read about the war, then the Depression, then the war again, and so on. This back-and-forth approach will help embed the material in your memory more effectively than if you had simply studied one topic at a time.
Photo by Pixabay
3. Elaborative rehearsal
This is a memory strategy that involves adding additional information to what you’re trying to remember. For instance, if you’re trying to remember the definition of a particular word, you might create a mental image of the word in your mind or come up with a sentence that uses the word.
Elaborative rehearsal is effective because it helps you create multiple retrieval paths for the information you’re trying to remember. “So, if you can’t remember the definition of a word, you might be able to remember the image or scene you created that uses the word”, recommends the College of Holistic Arts which specialises in art therapy courses.
4. Retrieval practice
Retrieval practice is a memory strategy that involves retrieving information from your memory on a regular basis. This could involve taking practice quizzes, writing down what you remember from a lecture, or testing yourself in other ways.
It is effective because it helps you strengthen the connections between the information you’re trying to remember and your long-term memory. Additionally, retrieval practice can help you identify gaps in your knowledge so that you can focus your studying on the areas where you need the most help.
5. Take a break
This might sound counterintuitive, however, research has shown that taking regular breaks can actually help you learn better and faster.
“Sometimes just switching off your brain for a small amount of time is just what you need. Sort of like a reset button on your wifi or a break between your sets at the gym”, explains Sam, an expert from Australian Leisure.
One study found that students who took breaks between learning sessions had better retention of the material than those who didn’t take any breaks. The theory is that taking breaks gives your brain time to process what you’ve just learned, and makes it easier to recall later on.
Photo by Pixabay
So, if you want to learn more effectively, try using some of these brain hacks. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to the question of how to learn faster, these techniques can help you make the most of your study time.
The ability to learn faster is possibly the most realistic superpower. But how do we do that?
And while there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to that question, there are some brain hacks that can help you learn more effectively. Here are five of the best. Use these 5 brain hacks to learn anything faster.
1. Spaced Repetition
“One of the most effective ways to learn something is to space out your learning over time”, suggests online HSC tutors from the Education Centre.
The idea behind spaced repetition is that you spacing out your learning will help your brain better encode the information into long-term memory. So, instead of trying to cram everything into one short study session, spread out your study sessions over a longer period of time.
If you are up for this, try flashcards.
With this method, you would create a set of cards with each card containing a question on one side and the answer on the other. You would then shuffle the cards and go through them one by one, trying to answer the questions without looking at the answers.
For each question you get right, you would put the card in a “known” pile. For each question you get wrong, you would put the card in an “unknown” pile. Once you have gone through all of the cards, you would then go through the unknown pile again and try to answer the questions.
You would continue this process until you can answer all of the questions in the unknown pile correctly. The key is to space out the review sessions so that you are only reviewing the material that you are struggling with – this is where the spaced repetition comes in.
2. Interleaving
This involves mixing different topics or ideas as you study, rather than focusing on one thing at a time. To use this strategy effectively, you need to have a good understanding of what material will be on the test and how it is related to other topics. That way, you can plan out which topics to mix together. For example, if you know the test will cover World War II and the Great Depression, you might read about the war, then the Depression, then the war again, and so on. This back-and-forth approach will help embed the material in your memory more effectively than if you had simply studied one topic at a time.
Photo by Pixabay
3. Elaborative rehearsal
This is a memory strategy that involves adding additional information to what you’re trying to remember. For instance, if you’re trying to remember the definition of a particular word, you might create a mental image of the word in your mind or come up with a sentence that uses the word.
Elaborative rehearsal is effective because it helps you create multiple retrieval paths for the information you’re trying to remember. “So, if you can’t remember the definition of a word, you might be able to remember the image or scene you created that uses the word”, recommends the College of Holistic Arts which specialises in art therapy courses.
4. Retrieval practice
Retrieval practice is a memory strategy that involves retrieving information from your memory on a regular basis. This could involve taking practice quizzes, writing down what you remember from a lecture, or testing yourself in other ways.
It is effective because it helps you strengthen the connections between the information you’re trying to remember and your long-term memory. Additionally, retrieval practice can help you identify gaps in your knowledge so that you can focus your studying on the areas where you need the most help.
5. Take a break
This might sound counterintuitive, however, research has shown that taking regular breaks can actually help you learn better and faster.
“Sometimes just switching off your brain for a small amount of time is just what you need. Sort of like a reset button on your wifi or a break between your sets at the gym”, explains Sam, an expert from Australian Leisure.
One study found that students who took breaks between learning sessions had better retention of the material than those who didn’t take any breaks. The theory is that taking breaks gives your brain time to process what you’ve just learned, and makes it easier to recall later on.
Photo by Pixabay
So, if you want to learn more effectively, try using some of these brain hacks. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to the question of how to learn faster, these techniques can help you make the most of your study time.
Featured photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
