How to Actually Study?

Hey friends, in this post, I’m going to pass on my experiences on how to study effectively. Let's be real studying isn't exactly a desired activity for most people; it feels more like torture. Of course, there are reasons for this, and in this post, we’re going to talk about those reasons and find some solutions. First off, I have to say this: it is totally normal to struggle to understand something. It’s normal to get bored when you don’t get it, and it’s normal to want to quit in those moments. But let’s get started.

The Shift: Change As I mentioned above, the reason we usually struggle while studying is that we don’t understand what we’re working on. Sometimes, it’s the opposite—the material is too easy, and you already know 9 out of 10 things you're reading. There is only one solution to these problems: Change. If you don’t understand what you’re studying, change how you study.

For example, say you're studying derivatives in math. You opened a video, it started with definition rules, and you’re lost. Change it. Watch a video focused on solving problems instead, or open the book and read. This method usually works. Plus, with the development of AI, you now have an option that answers your questions directly. Open up an AI, ask it to explain the topics you don't understand. Trust me, it will explain it to you beautifully.

But is "change" just about changing the method? Of course not. Change the subject. Usually, we have more than one subject to study. If one isn’t sinking in, switch gears. If you’re stuck on a quantitative subject (like math), switch to a verbal one. Or if you’re working on something incredibly boring, switch to a slightly less boring subject.

Another shift is changing the topic order. This is usually advised as "start with the basics," but I’m going to give you a different suggestion: Start where you are most interested. Yes, you heard me right. The education system dictates that we must learn everything chronologically or in curriculum order. But the brain doesn't work like that; the brain runs on curiosity. You know how sometimes you catch a TV show in the middle, and that scene is so interesting that you go back and watch from the beginning? Lessons are like that sometimes. Unit 1 might be boring and theoretical, but Unit 4 might be the topic you're curious about or is more "action-packed." Jump there. The moment you trigger your curiosity, your brain becomes hungry to learn. Forcing yourself to "go in order" is sometimes the biggest killer of motivation. Break that chain.

Change of Scenery: If That Desk is Suffocating You, Get Out of There Let’s get to physical change. When we think of studying, we always picture a dim light, a messy desk, and a student suffering at that desk. Erase that image. If you feel constricted at the desk, if the room is closing in on you, change your location. This isn’t an escape; it’s a tactical retreat. Go out to the balcony, lie on the floor, take your notes to a coffee shop if needed, or try studying in your favorite corner of the house instead of your least favorite. The brain loves novelty; a new environment can sometimes open up those clogged perception channels. If the rule "studying is only done in a quiet room at a desk" is killing your efficiency, break that rule. Sometimes two pages read on a park bench are more productive than two hours spent staring blankly at a desk.

Change the Time and Routine Everyone's biological clock is different, yet we are always told, " The mind is clear in the morning, study in the morning." But what if you’re a night owl? Or the opposite—what if you get your best work done at the crack of dawn, before the roosters even have breakfast, rather than when everyone is asleep at night? Stop forcing yourself and change your hours. Just because everyone studies at night doesn't mean you have to. Use trial and error. Try waking up early for a week, then try staying up late for a week. Whichever one helps you understand faster, that is your truth. Society's general truths don't have to be your private truths. Also, change your break times. Just because the Pomodoro technique (25 min work + 5 min break) is popular doesn't mean there's a rule that it will fit you. Maybe when you focus, you can go for 50 minutes non-stop, and that break at the 25th minute just breaks your concentration? Then adjust the time to suit you. Trying to fit into molds makes studying harder.

Change the Source and Format I mentioned AI above, but it’s not just about that. If the textbook in front of you looks like Chinese to you, close that book. Find another teacher on YouTube explaining the same topic. Did that not vibe with you? Listen to a podcast. Still nothing? Watch a documentary or read an article about it. Sometimes the problem isn't the subject, but the way it is presented. Maybe your visual memory is strong and you are wasting yourself just reading plain text? Maybe you are auditory and will understand it in one go by listening? Don't sentence yourself to a single source. The internet is a vast ocean; there is definitely a source out there speaking your language. Don't hesitate to hit the "Next" button until you find it.

Conclusion: Don't Be Stubborn, Manage It In summary, friends; studying doesn't have to be torture. If the process is hurting you, it doesn't mean "you are stupid" or "this subject is too hard." It just means your method, your current mood, or your environment is wrong. When you hit a wall, don't step on the gas—steer the wheel. Don't be stubborn; change the method, the lesson, the topic, the time, or the place. Remember, the best study method isn't the one "written in the book" or the one the "top student in class" uses; at the end of the day, it’s the method that works for you.

Good work to you all, take care of yourselves (and your brains).