1. Space
Make room, mentally and physically, for studying. Think of how you make yourself comfortable when you do something you really enjoy, like watching a favorite television program. How do you settle on for the show? Do you curl up? Do you have a favorite relaxing clothes? Do you choose a particular drink or something to nibble? Borrow all these favorite things to make a better experience. If you are in good space physically, you can improve your mental space.
2. Place
Create your own personal work zone. It doesn't have to look like a workspace -- that's what many students find off putting. Building on what you did in the previous paragraph, make the place your own and some where you enjoy.
3. Pace
Find the right pace for your work. Sprinters work hard and fast in a burst of energy while marathon runners spread the load and build slowly towards the climax. There's no right or wrong way to pace your studying, expect what works for you. Notice the way you like to work, and adjust your pace accordingly.
4. Memory
It helps to know how your memory works. Here is the key to memory: in any sequence, people remember the first and the last things best. Whatever you try to remember, you'll find yourself recalling the beginning and the end, with less clear memories of the middle. You can't change this -- it's wired in, it's how you brains work -- so don't fight it. Instead, use this fact to your advantage by organizing your study so the most important bits are at the beginning and end of your sessions.
5. Method
It's always to have a plan. When you study break you biggest goals into smaller chunks or tasks. It's best if each of these chunks consist of a single topic. Often, you'll discover two key elements that stand out and fixed into your mind. You can then use those as building blocks.
6. Mind maps
A mind map is rough diagram that you can make to visually outline information. You can create a mind map by starting with the primary word or phrase of a topic in the center, with related, lesser categories branching out from it. Subcategories of these are on smaller branches, still. Your categories can consist of anything you think is important; they can be important terms, ideas, or tasks to complete -- whatever you need to help you study or organize the information.
