When it comes to studying, I struggled heavily to find ways to commit topics to memory
Being a neuroscience major in college, most of the topics required some degree of memorization. Courses like anatomy, biology, psychology, and chemistry that left my head spinning the night before the exam
This method is best for subjects testing memorization and recall
For other study habits, give these a try…
Related: Study Techniques
Setting up for Success
Before you start studying, get to a quiet area free of distractions. As tempting as it may be to turn on your comfort show for background noise, you want 100% of your attention to your studies
Have some study snacks available. You can find a list of good study snacks in the 3 ways to prepare for your exam
Related: 3 Tips for a Successful Study Session
Gather your materials
For this particular method, gather all the information you’ll need to reference. This includes websites, PDFs, textbooks, notes, or reading materials
You’ll also want your phone, laptop, or any device to record audio. You can also use note sheets if you prefer to write your information instead
I tend to use the Voice Memos app installed on my iPhone, most phones should have a feature available for this functionality
How it works
1. Put your phone on silent or do not disturb, we don’t want to get distracted by stray notifications
2. Have all the materials you need to memorize and organize them how you’d like to record them. This can be all written on one document, typed into a list, etc.
3. Record yourself reading the material out loud
4. Listen to your recordings repeatedly until you feel confident you can recall the information on your own
Be mindful that the sooner you start making and listening to your recordings, the better
Giving yourself several days to listen as you exercise, walk to class, or grab coffee will help commit these to memory. I run almost every day, so my music is sometimes replaced by recordings of study materials
And that’s it!
Though it sounds simple enough, be aware of the amount of material you aim to cover. If you have a lot of material to weed through, this method will quickly become time-consuming. Give yourself ample time!