{"id":39171,"date":"2019-10-31T22:28:14","date_gmt":"2019-10-31T19:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prohoster.info\/blog\/kak-nauchitsya-uchitsya-sovety-rekomendatsii-i-nauchnye-issledovaniya\/"},"modified":"2019-10-31T22:28:14","modified_gmt":"2019-10-31T19:28:14","slug":"kak-nauchitsya-uchitsya-sovety-rekomendatsii-i-nauchnye-issledovaniya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prohoster.info\/en\/blog\/news\/kak-nauchitsya-uchitsya-sovety-rekomendatsii-i-nauchnye-issledovaniya","title":{"rendered":"How to 'learn to learn' \u2014 tips, recommendations, and scientific research.","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

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Part 1. \"Obvious\" Tips<\/h4>\n

<\/i>
\nMost recommendations for those looking to learn better seem quite trivial: in addition to attending lectures and doing homework, it\u2019s important to eat right, maintain a healthy lifestyle, get enough sleep, and stick to a daily routine.<\/p>\n

All of this is certainly good, but how can these basic truths specifically help a student? How can one organize their daily routine to achieve more and better retain material? Is there a real connection between feeling thirsty and cognitive abilities? Is it true that sports help with studying (and not just earn extra points for the state exam for the physical culture badge)? Let's try to figure everything out below.<\/a><\/noindex>)?<\/p>\n

Timing: How to Manage Time Effectively<\/p>\n

\"How<\/a><\/noindex><\/a><\/noindex><\/p>\n

Throughout the day<\/h2>\n

\n<\/p>\n

In his new book<\/h4>\n

<\/i>
\nWhen: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing author Daniel Pink (<\/a><\/noindex> Daniel Pink) offers numerous tips on time management from the perspectives of biology, psychology, and even economics. Among them are several concrete recommendations that can aid in studying. In particular, Pink suggests taking into account<\/a><\/noindex>circadian rhythms Circadian rhythms affect not only our sleep but also our mood and concentration, which cyclically change throughout the day. On average, about seven hours after waking up, concentration and mood reach their lowest point, after which they begin to rise again (which is why many life coaches advise not to postpone important tasks and to tackle them in the first hours after waking up). This is particularly linked to our circadian rhythms,<\/a><\/noindex>.<\/p>\n

which connect the fact that the likelihood of errors at work (for example, in medical institutions) increases from 2 PM to 4 PM.<\/a><\/noindex> Of course, students don\u2019t have to wake up early every day, at the same time, but understanding one\u2019s<\/p>\n

chronotype and circadian rhythms can be used to benefit their studies. For example, planning the most complex tasks (like preparing for exams or seminars) for the first two to three hours after waking up \u2014 knowing that concentration will inevitably decline in the following hours (we\u2019ll discuss what to do during this \"low-productivity\" time shortly).<\/a><\/noindex> Before a deadline<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Before the deadline<\/h4>\n

<\/i>
\nOf course, the lack of time is most keenly felt before exams. By the way, \"procrastinating until the last minute\" is not just a habit of careless students; in fact, this behavior is characteristic of most of us. One example cited by Pink leads<\/a><\/noindex> in his book is a study by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, who found that most groups of subjects during experiments do nothing (or almost nothing) for at least the first half of the time before the deadline, and only then start working.<\/p>\n

To avoid the \"burning train\" effect, scientists advise setting intermediate goals and using the \"chain movement\" technique: every day that you spend preparing for the exam (doing lab work, writing papers), mark it with some symbol. A chain of such symbols in the calendar will serve as an additional motivator to not abandon what you've started and to reach the deadline without \"gaps\" or last-minute work. Of course, a calendar won't sit you down with your notes and won't disconnect your social networks, but it will serve as a \"stimulant\" and reminder \u2014 sometimes that can be quite timely.<\/p>\n

We need more water<\/h2>\n

\nAnother fairly common piece of advice is not to overindulge in caffeine, but at the same time, drink enough water. This recommendation has quite solid scientific backing \u2014 studies in this area have been conducted for a long time. For example, during one of the experiments (the research publication<\/a><\/noindex> resulting from it was published as early as 1988), it was shown that even slight dehydration (by 1-2%) can cause a decline in cognitive abilities. The study noted a deterioration in short-term memory and the ability to solve arithmetic problems.<\/p>\n

The authors of a later the publication<\/a><\/noindex> study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition state that \"dehydration is a prerequisite for impaired cognitive abilities.\" Therefore, in order not to lose focus during your studies, pay attention to your well-being and don't ignore your thirst \u2014 especially if you are actively exercising alongside your studies.<\/p>\n

\"How
\nPhoto<\/a><\/noindex> ITMO University<\/i><\/p>\n

Learning in your sleep<\/h2>\n

\nAnother obvious piece of advice is that healthy, prolonged sleep positively affects our cognitive abilities \u2014 this is known to everyone. American researchers went further and discovered another important aspect related to how the brain operates during sleep.<\/p>\n

They have shown<\/a><\/noindex>, found that participants better remembered pairs of unrelated words when they studied them before sleep rather than in the morning. In this context, the scientists conclude that sleep stabilizes our memories and allows for their consolidation \u2014 yet another argument against a sleepless night before an exam.<\/p>\n

Brain exercises<\/h2>\n

\nAt first glance, the connection between sports and academic success is not obvious \u2014 in modern culture, the \"typical straight-A student\" and physical activity are rather antonyms (think about how Sheldon played basketball<\/a><\/noindex>). In reality, physical exercises are one of the factors that enhance cognitive abilities, which is also supported by numerous scientific studies.<\/p>\n

For instance, one of the studies<\/a><\/noindex>, dedicated to this issue, confirms the relationship between physical exercises and improved memory. Researchers analyzed the performance of 120 individuals and noted a connection between regular aerobic training and an increase in the size of the hippocampus<\/a><\/noindex> , which consequently led to an improvement in the spatial memory of the participants.<\/p>\n

Another beneficial property of exercises is their assistance in combating stress. In the American Psychological Association, for example, note<\/a><\/noindex>, one of the benefits of regular exercise is the enhancement of connections between physiological systems (muscular, cardiovascular, nervous systems) that are activated in emergency situations. During training, the body 'practices' the standard response to stress, resulting in being better able to control oneself in 'combat conditions,' as during training the body has 'learned' to cope with such states.<\/p>\n

In 2012, a meta-analysis was published in the journal Brain Research<\/a><\/noindex> materials dedicated to the connection between physical exercise and brain function. The results, however, were not particularly impressive \u2014 following the analysis of 79 scientific articles, researchers noted that the link between the two phenomena (physical activity and cognitive enhancement) does exist, but is relatively weak. However, the scientists do not deny that a more significant effect is possible and depends on what specific cognitive outcomes the researcher records during the experiment.<\/p>\n

Weightlifting or CrossFit may not be the best options to start your introduction to the world of sports: if your goal is to improve health and enhance brain function, even moderate physical activity will suffice. For instance, the World Health Organization advises<\/a><\/noindex> dedicating about 150 minutes per week to moderate-intensity physical exercise \u2014 this is quite enough to support your brain, start improving health, and not neglect your studies.<\/p>\n

TL;DR<\/h2>\n

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