The best study routine is the one you do

For most students, my course is merely one they must endure. However, they suddenly get very excited when we arrive at the topic of effective study strategies. They hope I will reveal a secret learning method that switches brains into knowledge-sucking turbo sponges and includes tricks like listening to binaural beats, ingesting a cognition-enhancing substance, and holding a pen in some kind of special way. And while we do cover those things, we must begin the lecture with a very important, but anticlimax-y fact about learning.

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Me: Before we talk about study strategies, let's talk about fitness for a moment. What is, according to you, the best workout routine?

Students: Crossfit! Yoga! Exercising in the morning is better than in the evening!

Me: The answer is simple: the best workout routine is the one you do. Whether you're aiming for strength, endurance, or just want to improve your overall health, consistency is key. The most effective workout routine is the one that you can stick to. It's better to have a basic routine that you do regularly than to have a fancy one that you never do. When starting out, it's important to find a routine that you enjoy. This could be anything from running to weightlifting, swimming to yoga. Once you find something that you like, it's easier to make it a habit.

You probably already know where I am going with this. Just like going to the gym, the best study strategy is the one that you actually do. It doesn't matter if you have the most elaborate study plan in the world, if you don't do it, it's not going to do you any good. So, the first step to effective studying is just to do it - even if it's just for 10 or 15 minutes a day. So, don't overthink it. Pick something that you enjoy and make it a part of your daily life. The best study routine is the one you do.

Now, that being said, there are some study strategies that are more effective than others…

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This quirk of human learning is so important that I make sure to repeat it so many times that students get sick of hearing it. But it sticks. Anyway, I hope this helps when students ask you about how they should study!

Photo by Sven Mieke on Unsplash