Shades of Aces

By JAMAICA LOUISE MACALINO

Ever wonder how your mind works when you are thinking? Or already know how it works and even acing your exams in nervous system but still gives you wonder how information retains in your mind and how exams seems to be a lot easier when you study? Our brain and how we think differs us from all creatures here on earth making us on the top most of the animal kingdom. Well before we go further and discuss the nervous system and the kingdom animalia let us now go for the main reason this article is written for. Stressors of the everyday life such as case presentations, thesis, upcoming tests and final examinations cause us the inability to concentrate on our work. Due to many stressors we meet each day we thought that cramming will be the only way to surpass these challenges. Cramming, from an online dictionary as stated is to push, squeeze, or press into an insufficient space. Like what we always do, we squeeze gazillion information in our little mind in a very limited time. This causes the brain not to remember some of the things we study, sometimes causes us to fail. Isnt it great? This article is freshly made for you dear reader. These are some of the steps that you may follow. Remember these are just suggestions! :) TIME MANAGEMENT. Yes, managing time is the first on our list. Time management is the key! How come? Prioritizing your time and schedule really do wonders. 24 hours a day may seem so long but for others it might not be enough. Save time each day for studying because it will enhance your brain for transferring and remembering certain information that you have read. Cramming is never reliable, it may help you now but it wont settle in your memory for long thus not intended for future use. Prioritization is one of the objectives in making NCPs, because we prioritizes what needs to be settled and resolved now to prevent complications, if not future problems may arise. LETS TAKE A BREAK. Remember it takes time for our brain to form new long term memories and needs rest once in a while. Take 5-10 minutes of break when studying to make your blood flowing and keep you alert. Did you notice that when and you have a long lecture in school, the teacher calls for a break once in a while? Too much information can cause memory overload like our USBs. Take time to relax, eat something, listen to music, freshen up and even check your crushs status updates. You can also take power naps; it will keep your mind going and keep you well rested while you study. THATS MY SPOT. Finding a good spot is something that should be quiet and distant to distractions where you feel relatively comfortable but not that comfortable that you risk falling asleep. Remember, a bed is not a good place to study mostly when you are tired because you might snooze instead. Some people may prefer silence but some studies whenever theres music. If you belong to latter group you may want to listen to instrumental music and to music you are familiar with because this enhances your brain to retain information well and is not something bound to distract you. CLEAR YOUR MIND. Have it ever occur to you, when you were thinking of something while you were reading you unconsciously read the paragraph again and again and still not understand a word from it?

You have to clear your mind from worries, stressors, pressure, everything! This will help you focus all your thoughts on studying instead of over thinking. If you have a lot on your mind, take a piece of paper then write all of the things that you are thinking about, crumple the paper and throw it in a trash bin. This signifies that you are setting aside the things you are thinking and letting your mind be free from it. MEMORIZE YOUR FACTS. Every new facts gain should not be memorized as well as the old one. Memorizing by the heart doesnt mean that you have to know everything by word rather you must understand what you have studied. New information is acquired much more easily when you can relate it to old information that you already have gained knowledge of. LEARNING YOUR STUDY STYLE. There are various study styles out there; you only need to find what fits you, your personality, your time and your energy. Studying will be easier if you develop not only your study habits but also the method you need to ace those exams. Lets take a peek on some learning style and you might find what matches you. REWRITING NOTES. Some finds it very useful when they rewrite their notes. You may say that it is very time consuming but it will help you rearrange your notes for better understanding. Rewriting also enhances the ability to remember the notes that you have written and also the spelling of some strange words. If you are studying the anatomy of the human body, you may draw it several times until you master its different parts. Keep in mind, Repetition is the mother of skill. HIGHLIGHTING. Highlighters are for underlining the most important facts of the material that you are reading so that it can be easily identified when you are reviewing. This is very helpful for people with visual learning style. You may also write additional notes on the edges of the book or use sticky notes instead if the book you are using were borrowed from the library or from someone you know. RECITE OUT LOUD. It also helps when reciting the things you are studying aloud (and for some it includes actions) because it involves participation of more senses like the sense of sight and hearing. Pretending that you are a teacher and you are trying to teach the lesson to someone who doesnt know the topic will make it easier. It will boost your confidence on yourself as well. FLASH THOSE CARDS. With the use of index cards write different words that you have came a crossed or write questions that you need to answer. For example the word Diabetes Mellitus, you may trace the pathophysiology on how a person can have this disease, its meaning, the causes, risk factors and nursing managements. You may also relate it to another topic and be surprised of how well you know the lesson. DYNAMIC MNEMONICS. Do you know what mnemonics are? This are learning device that helps our brain to retain the information we need. Have you been familiar with Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Very Good Velvet, Ah Heaven? This is a sample of a mnemonics Ive used couple of times when studying the Cranial Nerves. Roy G. Biv is also a sample pertaining to the colors of the rainbow such as Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet. Creating acronyms and acrostics will help complex information to be remembered easier resulting to studying made so much better. GROUP AFFORT. Being with group of friends not only helps but can also be enjoyable. Each one can share what he knows and that may save time and effort for everyone. If someone has a vague topic in

mind, he can ask around for an explanation or clarifications. Turning a study session into a quiz bee can be a lot a fun, where everyone can join and learn from it as well. When all else fail, remember to look up and say a prayer. Prayers can move mountain but prayers without work is well the other way around. Asking for divine intervention is a sure way that never fails; just remember to spice it up with a lot of effort and hard work and youre good to go. :) Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Study