4 Study Habits Adults Can Still Develop Today

Learning never ends, and we are all living proof. The quest for self-improvement is a continuous journey that everyone is invited to join. Learning a new skill or having additional knowledge is always good for the brain, the body —  and sometimes, your CV, too!

They say the best students are the diligent students: those who seem to get the most out of learning because they know how and when to study. But even if you’ve never been the studious lot, do not fret! There are still a handful of study habits adults can work on to improve their information-gathering skills:

1. Prepping yourself

Before you even begin studying, it is essential to get your head in the game! Have the proper mindset: yes, the next couple of hours will be about learning and studying and not about procrastinating. Reduce distractions (do not multitask) and increase stimulants (listen to music). Take a shower and literally start fresh. Organise your task flow, so that you can remain focused on getting the results that you want. This will keep you going and will keep you feeling motivated.

2. Painting pictures

Say good-bye to memorising pages and pages of information! (That rarely works for adults.) Instead, try to make connections between terms and topics that you need to remember. Mind maps, graphic organisers, outlines, idea webs, concept maps, Venn diagrams — there are a lot of graphic aids to improve retention! Break down information and make it more relevant to you by taking down notes. Use recall techniques, like mnemonics and acronyms.

3. Taking breaks

This is something that all should learn to do! Learning is best done in short bursts of time with ample rest in between. So, sit back and put your feet up for a while, rest your eyes for a few minutes or take a power nap. Having breaks in between tasks that require a lot of brain power is as important as doing so between tasks that require physical labour.

4. Immersing yourself fully

Usually, adult learning covers subjects that go beyond textbook knowledge. Instead of History, Math and Science, we have Business Management, Human Resources, and Digital Marketing. Immerse yourself fully to topics like these by applying the theory you learn into your everyday. Even better, take on the role of teacher by sharing what you’ve learned with your colleagues and friends!

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