Everybody has different techniques on how they go about their studying. Some ball up into a desolate corner. Others need something going on around them. Some read over and over. Others learn by writing material down. The list goes on, but the point is everybody studies their own way. I’d like to offer a few study tips which I think are universal.
1. You need a break. No matter how much you need to study, you also need to let your mind rest every so often. Most legal information is complex. To process and absorb it your brain is going to need a respit every so often just to rest. Think about it this way: You can only sprint for so long before you start slowing down. If you sprint and then rest, you’ll pick up speed once you start again. Of course, even courting breaks will only last you so long before you need to stop completely and reenergize.
2. Eat healthy food. Fuel is going to help you study. I wrote about which food helps you study and take exams earlier.
3. If you don’t feel like you’re absorbing any material, either refocus or change what you’re doing. Remember if you’re just reading over a bunch of words that you’re not extracting anything from, you’re just wasting time. One method that always helps me readjust is if I start typing or handwriting (even better if you can type without thinking) the material.
4. Migrate towards the light. If you can get sunlight, go for it. Sunlight gives us natural energy. If it’s dark, definitely brighten up your work spot. Reading foreign information is hard enough, don’t let any physical impediments reduce your absorbtion rate.
5. Try to put the material in a practical light. This is most likely more of a personal trait, but I like to put the words into a context off the page. It’s more entertaining and easier to conceptualize what I’m studying when I put outlines or books into a real life situation rather than just something I’m reading to try to remember for the test.