Introduction

Many of us have heard about the common study habits that students use. Those can include cramming, passive reading, and highlighting textbooks. I've tried them before, with at least partial success. Maybe you can also relate.

But what if there are also better methods and systems to get the most out of our study time?

Research shows that certain methods, including those that engage your body with exercise and your mind while using certain technology, can improve our focus and long-term learning outcomes.

This articles explores 5 evidence-based study methosds that go beyond traditional note taking. I've experienced the benefits of each, and I hope that they can also provide you with inspiration.

Method 1: Physical Exercise for Enhanced Learning

Why It Works

Physical exercise has benefits that extend beyond the body and into our thinking and cognition. It's natural that the endorphins and circulation that result from smooth, gentle exercise can support our ability to process information.

Research also suggests that the positive mind-body state resulting from the exercise can help us to consolidate our learning and move information from short-term to long-term memory.

How to Apply It

• Pre-study warm-up: Take a 10-15 minute walk or do light stretching before a study session. This prepares your brain for learning.
• Active breaks: Every 30 minutes (or whichever time interval works for you), stand up and move for a brief time. Stretching or taking a quick walk is effective for resetting focus.
• Study while moving: Walk while reviewing flashcards, pace while reciting information, or use a standing desk. Observe how this influences your way of remembering information.
• Exercise between subjects: Transitions from one activity to another often come with brief but significant disruptions in our focus. For this reason, organizing a break for exercise between subjects can be a useful way to reset our focus.

Real-World Example

When I was learning Mandarin Chinese, I would often recite words that I was learning out loud while walking around my study area. The combination of physical movement and verbal repetition strengthens both motor memory and linguistic recall, making the words stick faster. 

Method 2: Strategic Memorization Techniques

Why It Works

Memorization can be essential for learning certain topics, including languages. But there are many memorization techniques, and some strategic ones may be worth your consideration.

Techniques like spaced repetition, the method of loci, and active recall encourage us to have a more active process than rote memorization. This active state often enhances our ability to retain information.

For example, the spacing effect in spaced repetition allows us to review information at increasing intervals, such as 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, and so on. Research demonstrates that this far more effective than cramming information because it gives the brain an opportunity to "forget" some of the information before recalling it again in the future. This solidifies our memory in the long term.

Key Techniques

1. Spaced Repetition

Review material at strategic intervals so that the information isn't lost in the forgetting curve. Apps like Anki automate this process.

• Day 1: Learn the material
• Day 3: Review
• Day 7: Review again
• Day 14: Final review
• Review again as necessary

2. Method of Loci (Memory Palace)

Associate information with physical locations in a familiar place (your home, a route you walk daily). Mentally "walk" through the space to retrieve information.

Example: To remember the order of planets, imagine walking through your house with each room representing a planet.

3. Active Recall

Instead of re-reading a text, actively test yourself. Set aside the learning material and try to recall what you learned. This forces your brain to retrieve information.

4. Chunking

Break large amounts of information into smaller, meaningful groups.

Example: Instead of memorizing 16 random digits, group them: 1995-2024-5678-9012 (year-year-number-number).

5. Elaboration

Connect new information to what you already know. Ask yourself: "How does this relate to what I previously learned?" You might be surprised about the connections that you find.

Real-World Example

I had a positive experience using various apps for spaced repetition while learning vocabulary for new languages. One benefit was that I could sense my confidence growing little by little as I had the chance to demonstrate to myself that I could indeed recall the meanings of the words.

Another positive effect was that using such programs freed up some of my own mental space, since I felt like I didn't have to worry about organizing a plan to remember the vocabulary. That mental energy could then be focused directly into more of the language practice.

Method 3: Handwriting for Deeper Cognition

Why It Works

Typing is fast, but handwriting is powerful. Writing by hand engages regions of our brain associated with motor control and memory. Handwriting also requires us to process the information more deeply while we think through the writing and organize our thoughts.

Because we can't write as quickly as we can think, the writing process forces us to digest and synthesize the information we're describing. This has significant benefits for gaining a deeper understanding.

How to Apply It

• Handwritten notes: During lectures or while reading, write notes by hand instead of typing. Focus on key concepts instead of verbatim transcription.
• Cornell Note-Taking System: Divide your page into three sections: notes (right), cues (left), and summary (bottom). This structure forces active engagement.
• Mind mapping by hand: Draw connections between ideas using pen and paper. The visual and motor components enhance memory.
• Rewrite and reorganize: After a study session, rewrite your notes in a cleaner, more organized format. This second pass deepens understanding.
• Flashcards: Write flashcards by hand. The act of creating them is a learning experience in itself.

Real-World Example

I personally like to combine my enjoyment for drawing and painting with my note taking. I love the clarity of mind that comes from writing by hand, and combining the notes with illustrations often feels satisfying. I feel engaged on multiple levels by "designing" my notes. Making them visual or organized in an aesthetic way also makes me want to revisit them more often. In this way, the chances for reviewing the information and strengthening the learning also increase. 

Method 4: Digital Tools & Apps for Progress Documentation

Why It Works

We live in a time with such an abundance of digital tools that sometimes we wonder where to even begin when it comes to choosing one. The truth is that there are many great options that can be suited to people's unique learning styles.

The important thing is that these tools help us to track our progress. The motivarion that results is a great support to long term learning.

It also encourages the act of reflection, which is truly valuable for refining the efficiency of how we learn. We can document what we've studied, how long we studied, and what we struggled with.

As the saying goes, "What gets measured gets managed." Actively managing our learning process through these tools can create a helpful kind of self-awareness.

Recommended Tools

1. Anki (Spaced Repetition)

Create digital flashcards that automatically schedule reviews based on the spacing effect. Perfect for languages, vocabulary, and facts.

2. Notion

Build a personalized study dashboard. Track subjects, time spent, topics covered, and upcoming exams all in one place.****

3. Todoist

Break study goals into actionable tasks. Track completion rates and build streaks to stay motivated.

4. Google Sheets

Create a simple study log: date, subject, duration, topics covered, confidence level (1-10). Review weekly to identify areas for improvement.

5. Obsidian

Build a personal knowledge base by linking notes together. Perfect for seeing connections between concepts.

How to Apply It

• Daily log: Spend a few minutes each day logging what you studied and for how long.
• Weekly review: Every Sunday, review your logs. Which subjects need more attention? Which strategies worked best?
• Set milestones: Use your tool to set weekly or monthly study goals. Celebrate when you hit them.
• Identify patterns: After 2-3 weeks, look for patterns. Do you study better in the morning? Which subjects take longer? Use these insights to optimize your schedule.

Real-World Example

I'm currently trying out a platform called Eden. At the time of this writing, it is in a beta test mode. I use it to document my studies and strategies. I find the layout and the integrations quite useful. If it turns out to be something that I use for the long run, I will gladly share more information about it in the future.

Method 5: Interleaving & Varied Practice

Why It Works

Many students practice one topic until they master it, and then move to the next. But research suggests that mixing topics (interleaving) and varying your practice conditions leads to better retention and transfer of knowledge. Your brain has to work harder, which strengthens learning.

Interleaving prevents "fluency illusions," which are the false senses that we have mastered something because it feels easy in the moment of practicing it. By mixing topics, you force your brain to discern between concepts and retrieve the right strategy for each problem. This creates deeper, more flexible learning.

How to Apply It

• Mix subjects: Instead of studying one subject for 2 hours, set a schedule to alternate. Your brain stays engaged and makes better connections.
• Vary problem types: If studying math, for example, don't do 20 similar problems in a row. Mix easy, medium, and hard problems. Mix different problem types.
• Change your environment: Study in different locations—library, café, home, park. This prevents your brain from relying on environmental cues and strengthens memory retrieval.
• Vary your study method: Don't just read. Read, then write, then teach someone else, then create a diagram. Multiple modalities lead to stronger learning.
• Practice under various conditions: Study in silence, then practice with distractions. Study with notes, then without. This prepares your brain for concentrating in different situations.

Real-World Example

From my experience with learning and teaching, I'd like to add a couple of thoughts to this topic.

One is that while the variety can have helpful strengthening effects on memory and learning, it is also very important to complete the tasks that we set out to do. Building the habit of beginning something and following through is a significant part of learning something deeply. Sometimes in the process of alternating topics and enviroments, we push aside the completion of the topics we began. But completing each topic can also be a part of our overall strategy.

Another observation is that each learner will respond differently to the time that is optimal for immersive study. While some prefer the relatively brief intervals of the "pomodoro" technique, others can sink into more of a flow state and stay with prolonged focus on a topic. It's important to know which timeframe suits you, and what to organize the schedule accordingly.

Conclusion

These methods are meant to be a useful starting point to let you consider what might be some unconventional ways of enhancing your studies. One of the positive effects that tends to emerge when we struggle to learn something new is that we get to know something more about ourselves. We learn about the way we learn. As you deepen that process, it will likely clarify more about the techniques you want to focus on.

Please share in the comments which methods you've tried and how they've worked for you.

Wishing you deep learning and great studies!