Memory, Concentration While Studying

[SmartOssa]

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Please share your tips for improving memory and concentration while studying......

 

[TRKATK]

Fear of failing.

Listen to music, study in cold place so as not to fall asleep.

 

[Tensyle]

any real advice anyone? im interested in seeing what other medstudents have to say

 

[nlax30]

If you find the secret solution....let us know!

Beyond the basics:
- Figure out when you study best and study during that time. I'm not a morning person AT ALL but I am able to concentrate on reading if I get my butt out of bed at a decent time and just start working. Late at night I can tell when I'm just struggling to concentrate and usually call it quits then.

- Get plenty and good quality sleep. Not going to do yourself any favors if you're constantly tired during the day.

- Minimize distractions. Turn off the internet, go to a quiet place, etc... I need some background noise around me but I can't listen to music that has words in it.

- Repetition. Read over something, think about it. Come back to it at a different time and read over it again. Read about it in a different book to get a slightly different take on the subject which may help the concept or fact "stick".

 

[ayoung45]

After reading the material, pretend you are teaching it to someone. Forcing yourself to explain it in your own words is a great way to learn.

Repitition is also essential. Especially going back and reviewing it after learning newer material. Relearning old material in the context of the newer material you learned is a great reinforcer.

 

[nu2004]

After reading the material, pretend you are teaching it to someone. Forcing yourself to explain it in your own words is a great way to learn.

Repitition is also essential. Especially going back and reviewing it after learning newer material. Relearning old material in the context of the newer material you learned is a great reinforcer.

+1

 

[doctorFred]

After reading the material, pretend you are teaching it to someone. Forcing yourself to explain it in your own words is a great way to learn.

i totally second this. and i take it to the next level.. i pace around my apartment and talk out loud. my dog follows me around with a very concerned look on his face.

 

[albe]

I agree with the post about pretending you are teaching it to someone else. Talking out loud helps me understand the material, and it helps me figure out what gaps of detail I need to fill.

Something else that may help for long term memory is to take the new material you are learning and make connection to concepts you have in your long term memory. By making connections with previously learned concepts, I believe you are able to incorporate these new concepts into long term memory.

 

[SeventhSon]

i strongly agree with everything that's been said.

1) get plenty of rest and stop when nothing's going in. In the long run you're better off.

2) repetition, especially when tying it to something in your long term memory. The more connections you make, the better you have a chance to recall some fact

3) say things out loud or group study. This helps show you where the little gaps in your knowledge are

 

[njbmd]

Pharmaceutical (both prescribed and illegal) advice falls under the category of medical advice and are will not be permitted in this thread as dispensing of medical advice is a violation of TOS of the SDN. If you need medical advice (pharmaceutical or otherwise, please see your family doctor.

 

[nu2004]

Pharmaceutical (both prescribed and illegal) advice falls under the category of medical advice and are will not be permitted in this thread as dispensing of medical advice is a violation of TOS of the SDN. If you need medical advice (pharmaceutical or otherwise, please see your family doctor.

lol. wait, did you delete the posts about coke? is that considered "pharmaceutical advice?"

ah... what a litigious age we live in 🙄

 

[ninjapenguin]

Pharmaceutical (both prescribed and illegal) advice falls under the category of medical advice and are will not be permitted in this thread as dispensing of medical advice is a violation of TOS of the SDN. If you need medical advice (pharmaceutical or otherwise, please see your family doctor.

I wasn't giving advice, I was simply providing an anecdote. I'm sure had I created a thread expressing my concern over the well-being of this individual and his/her ability to practice medicine with a drug problem, you wouldn't have deleted it.

 

[da8s0859q]

If you're one to try for state-dependent learning/recall, hey, down about 500mg of caffeine over several cups o' coffee. That'll be fun.

+1 to the teaching/repetition suggestions. Works like a charm for me in undergrad, hopefully will do so in med school as well.

 

[spreebee]

Pharmaceutical (both prescribed and illegal) advice falls under the category of medical advice and are will not be permitted in this thread as dispensing of medical advice is a violation of TOS of the SDN. If you need medical advice (pharmaceutical or otherwise, please see your family doctor.

I drink energy drinks... They keep me from falling asleep in my particular case and that's what works for me..

 

[la petite mort]

I recommend studying only when you've gotten whatever annoying little tasks you're procrastinating about done. I can't do it when the dishes are unwashed, for example. You should never sit down and study (unless you're just reviewing), unless you know you can dedicate at least an hour to it. Arrange your studying setting usually so it's comfortable, neat and peaceful but not over-relaxing.

The bed should be made, not ready for you to fall asleep in it. I don't know if this will work for anyone else, but if you pretend that whatever medical text you're reading is the fun fiction novel or silly magazine you want to be reading instead, it's ultimately better. Look at it as if it were a fascinating past-time (that you still approach with focused thoughtfulness) and not a task.

Every hour or so treat yourself by a stretch and maybe a piece of candy or fruit. I do orange segment rewards.

Taking notes as I go along (on separate paper, not in the actual book or document) really helps as far as retention and not getting overwhelmed with details.

I find that eating multigrain bread with peanut butter spread on it works wonders for my concentration and doesn't make me want to fall asleep. NEVER study hungry. You'll get pissy and hysterical.

Also NEVER study when you feel very upset, exhausted or have a raging headache (etcetera - unless it's life or death). Sort through things and take care of yourself first.

But the best advice I can give you is to study alone, in those individual study cubicles that I guess your school might have. No distractions and just enough discomfort from those nasty chairs to keep you awake.

I'm sorry if this all sounds very geeky, but without studying, I have nothing going for me in my medical future. I'm not particularly talented or well-connected

 

[yohimbine1]

Gingko biloba. Whether it works or not it sometimes give me a good placego. Also a mild amount of stress does wonder for my productivity. Albeit at the cost of some peace of mind.

 

[AK_MD2BE]

Taking care of yourself physically + spiritually + mentally = successful, happy medical student. Never study when you are feeling burnt out (you will not retain anything and you will just be putting yourself further into burnout mode)

 

[EBI831]

i study best on the weekend or right before a test. i've found that i study best when i wake up at 4 am and work on it til class (i've limited this to days when i absolutely need to) b/c when you're at school all day (at least in my case) it's impossible to come home and look at another word of medical stuff. so i watch tv, work out, or do something else and go to bed at like 9 or 10 and wake up at 4:30 and get the 3-4 hours in in the morning instead. i've also found that i need quiet so these hours work. i never study when i'm sleepy, i sleep. and as far as memorizing, i look over it at least twice (if im fortunate), otherwise i trust my memory enough that reinforcement with the bare bones of brs/lippincott's/ my study guides will be enough.

 

[Its_MurDAH]

If you're one to try for state-dependent learning/recall, hey, down about 500mg of caffeine over several cups o' coffee. That'll be fun.

+1 to the teaching/repetition suggestions. Works like a charm for me in undergrad, hopefully will do so in med school as well.

oh i dont know the 500 mg of coffee sounds a LOT like you are dispensing medical advice 🙄

I love how everyone walks on egg shells these days. You gotta be careful every second, watch what you say every minute. It's really getting ridiculous.

 

[da8s0859q]

oh i dont know the 500 mg of coffee sounds a LOT like you are dispensing medical advice 🙄

And that's conservative! I should've said something more like 4 or 5 g. LD50 is ~150 mg/kg, so hey, you've still got some headroom.

 

[Iquitos]

Those little cubicles in the library do wonders for me. I also leave my computer at home unless I absolutely need it (limits the time spent on SDN, Ebay, and reading the news). Around exam time, if I have already gone through the material on my own, I will get together with a buddy (two at most) and quiz until I feel ready to take the exam.

 

[Jwax]

i totally second this. and i take it to the next level.. i pace around my apartment and talk out loud. my dog follows me around with a very concerned look on his face.

Great avatar, too.

I drink energy drinks... They keep me from falling asleep in my particular case and that's what works for me..

Red bull (sugar free so you only get 10 cal vs. ~150 cal) is my recently found survival aid during test block week. I will drink 2/day during the week and I will not be able to fall asleep until very late (which means I can cram in as much as possible, which works for me).

I don't function well without pressure. I can only study so much when exams are very far away. I have to be really behind or 2 weeks away from tests before I can really get into it. Probably not the best system, but I work well under pressure. And under the influence of red bull.

 

[CuteGoanGirl]

Please share your tips for improving memory and concentration while studying......

1 Will Power - If you are dedicated towards learning something .. you 'will' no matter what
2 Try to study with frequent breaks & not crowd in at the same time
3 Write down & repeat loudly to improve ur audio / visual memory
4 some caffeine to perk ur brain during day & a sound sleep refreshes ur long term memory

Hope that helps 😉

 

[Mastac741]

I just download the information into my head.

 

[Sohcahtoa]

I just download the information into my head.

👍

 

[lunaire]

fail an exam, then hang it over your study area.

 

[Blesbok]

I personally like to mainline amphetamines into my internal carotids.

 

[supa76]

i like to concentrate really hard and memorize everything.

 

[Nodelphi]

I use ritualistic flagellation. It's highly effective just wear extra clothing to hide the breakthrough bleeding.

 

[shantster]

i totally second this. and i take it to the next level.. i pace around my apartment and talk out loud. my dog follows me around with a very concerned look on his face.

That's one of the many reasons I like to study at home alone. I think the people at coffeehouses or the library would think I'm crazy if I'm sitting there talking to myself.

 

[Its_MurDAH]

Play strip quiz with your significant other. It works


...in getting you laid, that is.