Tips to Study Smart

The alternative strategy is to focus on actually using the information you have to build something. This involves linking concepts together and compressing information so it fits in the bigger picture. Here are some ideas to get started:

~Metaphor – Metaphors can allow you to quickly organize information by comparing a complex idea to a simple one. When you find relationships between information, come up with analogies to increase your understanding. Compare neurons with waves on a string. Make metaphors comparing parts of a brain with sections of your computer.

~Use All Your Senses - Abstract ideas are difficult to memorize because they are far removed from our senses. Shift them closer by coming up with vivid pictures, feelings and images that relate information together. When I learned how to do a determinant of a matrix, I remembered the pattern by visualizing my hands moving through the numbers, one adding and one subtracting.

~Teach It - Find someone who doesn’t understand the topic and teach it to them. This exercise forces you to organize. Spending five minutes explaining a concept can save you an hour of combined studying for the same effect.

~Leave No Islands – When you read through a textbook, every piece of information should connect with something else you have learned. Fast learners do this automatically, but if you leave islands of information, you won’t be able to reach them during a test.

~Test Your Mobility - A good way to know you haven’t linked enough is that you can’t move between concepts. Open up a word document and start explaining the subject you are working with. If you can’t jump between sections, referencing one idea to help explain another, you won’t be able to think through the connections during a test.

~Find Patterns – Look for patterns in information. Information becomes easier to organize if you can identify broader patterns that are similar across different topics. The way a neuron fires has similarities to “if” statements in programming languages.

~Build a Large Foundation - Reading lots and having a general understanding of many topics gives you a lot more flexibility in finding patterns and metaphors in new topics. The more you already know, the easier it is to learn.

~Don’t Force - I don’t spend much time studying before exams. Forcing information during the last few days is incredibly inefficient. Instead try to slowly interlink ideas as they come to you so studying becomes a quick recap rather than a first attempt at learning.

~Build Models – Models are simple concepts that aren’t true by themselves, but are useful for describing abstract ideas. Crystallizing one particular mental image or experience can create a model you can reference when trying to understand. When I was trying to tackle the concept of subspaces, I visualized a blue background with a red plane going through it. This isn’t an entirely accurate representation of what a subspace is, but it created a workable image for future ideas.

~Learning is in Your Head – Having beautiful notes and a perfectly highlighted textbook doesn’t matter if you don’t understand the information in it. Your only goal is to understand the information so it will stick with you for assignments, tests and life. Don’t be afraid to get messy when scrawling out ideas on paper and connecting them in your head. Use notes and books as a medium for learning rather than an end result.

11 easy ways to improve memory

As we get older, the neurons in our brain lose elasticity making it easier to forget things.
Although this is an unfortunate reality all humans face, there are a myriad of lifestyle activities we can engage to increase our memory capacity!

Here are 11 effective methods you can integrate into your life to maintain a great memory as long as possible:

1. Eat Brain “Superfoods”
Roughly 50-60% of the brain’s overall weight is pure fat, which is used as insulation for its billions of nerve cells. The better insulated a cell, the faster it sends messages and the speedier your thinking. Therefore eating foods with a healthy mix of fats is essential for long-term memory. Fish (wild salmon, mackerel, anchovies especially) and dark leafy green vegetables are excellent choices.

2. Stretch
The brain accounts for only 2% of the body’s weight, but accounts for 15% of its blood flow, and regular stretching (and exercise) keeps the brain’s arteries open and unclogged. Making a habit of stretching can also lead to increased energy, greater flexibility and a more relaxed attitude which all lead to better long-term memory!

3. Teach Others
Teaching implants knowledge in your brain in a different manner than regular learning, and is excellent practice for increasing memory (it helps if you are genuinely motivated to share the knowledge)!

4. Take a Break
Changing physical or mental perspective is a wonderful way to lighten the invisible stress that occurs when you sit in one place too long. Taking a 5-15 minute break every hour during work sessions is more beneficial than non-stop study. It gives your mind time to relax and absorb information.

5. Listen to Music
Researchers have long shown that certain types of music are a great “key” for recalling memories. Information learned while listening to a particular song or collection can often be recalled simply by “playing” the songs mentally.

6. Try Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba is a natural supplement that has been used in China and other countries for centuries and has been reputed to reverse memory loss. It’s also suggested by some health practitioners to be a highly effective mood enhancer and is worth trying if you experience memory problems.7. Use Acronyms and Other Mnemonic Devices
Mnemonics are essentially tricks for remembering information. Some tricks are so effective that proper application will let you recall loads of mundane information years later. This one recommendation can vastly improve your memory and effectiveness!

8. Cross-pollinate Your Interests
Having diverse interests, and constantly trying new things, is a fantastic way to keep the mind sharp and fertile. Neurons that connect to existing neurons give you fresh perspective and ability to use knowledge in a variety of new ways.9. Sleep Well
Consistently sleeping 7-8 hours a night will drastically increase your memory. During sleep, the brain appears to firm up memories of newly acquired information. The most effective “sleepers” experience the full spectrum of nocturnal cycles, and relaxation techniques before bed time can help really help your cognitive (and memory) capacity. During the day, a quick nap can be the impetus for a solution to a problem you have been working.

10. Collaborate
Interaction with other humans fires a different set of neurons than working alone, and collaboration can vastly increase your memory. Make a habit of joining forces at work and in your personal life to keep the brain fruitful!

11. Write About It
An effective way to increase memory capacity is to write about the things you want to remember. This will create oxygenated blood flow to the area of your brain responsible for memory and literally exercise it! Keep a journal, write detailed emails, or start a blog to improve your capacity to memorize.

We will all experience a degree of memory loss as we get older. By implementing a few of the practices described in this article, you can inhibit a more rapid decline in memory. Give them a try!

The Ten Quick Ways To Relax

1. Smile
Just sit there and smile. Like a fool, yes, but a relaxed fool. We are Pavlov's dogs. We smile when we are happy, but we can cheat our psyches by smiling first and becoming lighter next. So smile. Widely.

2. Drink some water
This works for me. Maybe it's a soothing, flowing activity; maybe the water actually does something to the digestion or something; who cares? It works.

3. Breathe Deep
This, as you know, will destress you fast. When breathing in, imagine peace coming in and filling your being, and making you as light as a balloon, colour of your choice, but ideally no red. Green or blue maybe. When exhaling, or breathing out, imagine stress and problems leaving you.

4. Beauty Treatment 1
There's something soothing about letting somebody fiddle about with your hair and face. So take a trip to the salon or the hairdresser's. If you can afford the time and money, a massage or a steambath or both.

5. Beauty Treatment 2
Look at beautiful things. Sceneries, children, cute animals, sexy people. Visit hubs that are beautiful. Change your desktop image into a beautiful picture. Do a google image search on landscapes.

6. Sharpen a pencil
There are many such rhythmic activities which relax you fast. Er...yes, I know what you're thinking...that, too! Stroke your pet, brush your hair, dance, ride a bicycle, hop on to your treadmill. Mix it with some slow music if possible. Rhythm soothes the stressed out beast.

7. Water Treatment
Take a bath, never fails for me. Or swim, if you can. Or dance in the rain. Or stand under a waterfall, if you live close to one. No, not the Niagara.

8. Meditate
Meditating isn't always twisting your body into a fancy knot and mumbling things. Sit still, breathe rhythmic, think beautiful thoughts. No, drowning your neighbour in clear soup is not beautiful! Love your neighbour. Think beauty, love, peace...

9. Laugh
Best thing ever! Laugh out loud, and the world will think you're crazy. Let them! It will relax them too! That's social service you're doing! Read jokes on the web, or wherever. Read my other hubs; that will make me laugh, too! Thank you!

10. Play
Not a frag frag game on your computer. Unless you have murderous instincts towards your neighbours and want to let off steam. Then that's better than doing any constructive destruction.

I actually meant playing with a child or a pet. Have you noticed that children don't suffer from much stress till they are introduced to adult things like grades and stuff?

8 Simple Ways to Relax

If you haven't been good at relaxing, how do you start? First, it's important to surround yourself with positive people. Negative vibes from friends and co-workers can spread, making it hard for you to relax. Avoid them or, even better, have them join you in some spirit-raising activity! Here are other good ways to relax:

~Rent a funny movie or visit a joke Web site.
Laughter releases tension and helps put life back in perspective.

~Get moving! Who said you need quiet to relax?
Pop in your favorite CD or turn to your favorite radio station and dance for a few songs. This will revitalize your body and mind and you'll be ready to face anything.

~Have you ever heard of the phrase "take 5?" Set aside 5 or 10 minutes to have "you" time.
Try waking up a little bit earlier than the rest of the house and enjoy the quiet alone (or with a nice cup of tea).

~Clean your inbox daily.
No, not your e-mail. Your mind. Buy yourself a notebook or start a computer journal. Every night jot down happenings, thoughts and things accomplished that day, or even your frustrations. When your mind is "cleaned up," it is easier to relax and fall asleep.

~Clean your inbox weekly.
Yes, this time we mean the computer. At least once a week, read and answer your e-mails and file, archive or delete the stuff you don't need anymore. Clutter in the computer can clutter your mind, so let's clean it up.

~Do yoga.
If you don't have time to join a yoga class at least once a week, then purchase a yoga video. Make time to do at least 15 minutes of yoga most days. This will help stretch and relax your muscles

~Take a bubble bath.
Put on some soft music, light a candle and enjoy a nice warm bubble bath. If you don't want music, you can always take a book or magazine with you.

~Being able to unwind and relax is one step toward a happier, healthier life.
Don't be shy about being happy, pass it on to your friends and co-workers, they'll thank you for it.

music for study ( songs for study, music for studying, study music)

The Ten Study Habits of Successful Students

Successful students have good study habits. They apply these habits to all of their classes. Read about each study habit. Work to develop any study habit you do not have.
Successful students:

~Try not to do too much studying at one time.
If you try to do too much studying at one time, you will tire and your studying will not be very effective. Space the work you have to do over shorter periods of time. Taking short breaks will restore your mental energy.

~Plan specific times for studying.
Study time is any time you are doing something related to schoolwork. It can be completing assigned reading, working on a paper or project, or studying for a test. Schedule specific times throughout the week for your study time.

~Try to study at the same times each day.
Studying at the same times each day establishes a routine that becomes a regular part of your life, just like sleeping and eating. When a scheduled study time comes up during the day, you will be mentally prepared to begin studying.

~Set specific goals for their study times.
Goals will help you stay focused and monitor your progress. Simply sitting down to study has little value. You must be very clear about what you want to accomplish during your study times.

~Start studying when planned.
You may delay starting your studying because you don't like an assignment or think it is too hard. A delay in studying is called "procrastination." If you procrastinate for any reason, you will find it difficult to get everything done when you need to. You may rush to make up the time you wasted getting started, resulting in careless work and errors.

~Work on the assignment they find most difficult first.
Your most difficult assignment will require the most effort. Start with your most difficult assignment since this is when you have the most mental energy.

~Review their notes before beginning an assignment.
Reviewing your notes can help you make sure you are doing an assignment correctly. Also, your notes may include information that will help you complete an assignment.

~Tell their friends not to call them during their study times.
Two study problems can occur if your friends call you during your study times. First, your work is interrupted. It is not that easy to get back to what you were doing. Second, your friends may talk about things that will distract you from what you need to do. Here's a simple idea - turn off your cell phone during your study times.

~Call another student when they have difficulty with an assignment.
This is a case where "two heads may be better than one."

~Review their schoolwork over the weekend.
Yes, weekends should be fun time. But there is also time to do some review. This will help you be ready to go on Monday morning when another school week begins.

These ten study habits can help you throughout your education. Make sure they are your study habits.

7 principles to happinest

You hold the key to making this world a better place.Every single one of us can change the world, can change how the universe is affected by the actions we take. What actions are you taking to make a difference to the world?

The following information is so valuable and so key to living that I needed to recount the principles I've heard great speakers like Andy Andrews and Marc Victor Hansen talk about.

1. Being Responsible - No one really understands what it means. One side is blaming, the other is saying its not their fault. I've had some tragic things happen in my younger years but I see where I made choices that led me to those very things that I didn't want or like. Being responsible means making better choices.

2. Seek Wisdom - I'm not talking about education. Real wisdom is rare and comes to us by the associations we have and how closely we let it sink in. If you invest in yourself, your time with God, your moments of creative ideas, you'll see that the one investment you can control is yourself. Seek wisdom with all your heart.

3. I am a person of action - If you think this is easy you are not a person of action. A butterfly can move their wings at a vibrational rate of one million flaps per second. One man can make one move and it can make a difference in the entire world. Every single action makes a difference to everyone you know and every one around you.

4. Have a decided heart - Talking to your friends and family about your decisions before you make it, then after you make a decision is you analyze it and go back to ask if it was the right decision! Decide what you want and go after it.

5. Choose to Be Happy - you have so much to be grateful for. If you've ever traveled to different countries than you know how much you have to be grateful for. I've seen children pulling food out of dumpsters to eat and then being beaten by the authorities for begging to eat. If you've washed your hands with clear, clean water today than you have something to be grateful for.
If there is a huge success tip that is simple to master it's this one. Smile while you talk. People can't help but smile back at you when you are smiling at them while you talk. Practice it! See what you look like. This is one of the biggest secrets to success if you're willing to choose to be happy when you talk.

6. End Each Night With a Forgiving Spirit - You are not required to trust someone who has hurt you. You can choose to hold on to an unforgiving heart and have your entire body, mind and spirit in collapse. Your relationships will suffer, your business will suffer, everything will suffer. Forgiveness brings perspective, a new perspective can bring calm, calm brings ideas and ideas bring success. All from the choice to forgive.

7. Persist Without Exception - If it were easy everyone would be doing it. Andy Andrews made reference to when a coins drop you'll dive to get it because anything worth going after is worth hitting a wall over. This is proven truth. You will never lack in money, time, leadership. It is only ideas that you are lacking on how to acquire them. Stay strong and persist.
These simple tips are well worth incorporating in your life. It will bring back new life to you, not keep you dwelling on the old. Chances are I don't know you, but even still, I want you to have enough faith in what you are capable of doing to get you through today with confidence and joy. If I want that for you as a total stranger, what then must you want for yourself?