CULTIVATING EFFECTIVE STUDY HABITS (4)

The Mental Factor

There is a close link between the mental and psychological factors relating to the acquisition of effective study habits.

However, of all the mental attributes that have to do with successful study habits, none is as important as the ability to relax.

By relaxation is meant the ability to let go of all forms of mental distraction, such as worry, anger, stress, etc.

Remember that frequent or regular study is not the same as effective study. One could read or study lesson notes ten times in a day without getting as much benefit from his efforts as another person that engages in effective study periods of two or three times a day.

It all depends on the individual's ability to focus and concentrate on his studies with little or no mental distraction, thus allowing him to more easily assimilate and retain most or all of what he had read or learnt. 

"You need to cultivate the art of conscious mental detoxification. A process that requires letting go of all issues that are capable of inhibiting the regular flow of the mental energy required for the proper functioning of the brain cells at the time of learning or studying".

Yes, as humans, we must come across challenges in our daily activities; these challenges can,and often do come up unexpectedly, but the point being made is that we should not allow these situations to affect our mental state at the time of going about our studies. In other words, you should stay off any form of serious studying during this periods of negative emotional spells, until such conditions fade away.

Closely related to the above is the need to have adequate rest through sleeping. Never do any form of serious study when you are tired, physically or mentally. 

 

A good siesta of about one hour prior to doing any serious study is very good for the brain: it allows the brain to relax and be ready to do the job of absorbing new facts when called upon to do so.

Learn to avoid heavy meals just before your study periods. At those times, the body's metabolic processes are at play and most of the essential energies are focused on digesting the food in the stomach, with little left for the brain to do the job at hand. The resultant effects are drowsiness and lethargy.

You should endeavour to cultivate a liking for the subject you are about to study; this is very critical and, as we promised earlier, we shall deal with this subject in a later post..

Meanwhile, do well by showing interest in all your subjects prior to sitting down to study any of them, by being subject friendly. Show no dislike for any of the subjects you offer. It is your mental response that shapes your attitude towards any subject.

Remember that no subject is intrinsically "difficult" in itself, but our disposition towards a subject or topic invariably colours the way we react or respond to it.

We can always change this trend by modifying our mental approach through the acquisition of positive mental attributes.

Finally, there is the need to have a good memory or recollection system.

The place of a sound memory in the acquisition of an effective study habit can not be overlooked.

Of what use is your study if you are not able to recall all that you have learnt, at the time you need it.

We said much on this in the free download "How to improve your basic learning skills" and you are encouraged to take the necessary steps to ensure that you get the utmost from that memory training institution.

Sincerely,

P.S: In the next newsletter, we shall consider the third factor relating to the cultivation of effective study habits: the Physical factor. Keep in touch.