How can you help your brain to study?

Learning does not mean resisting your body and force feeding your mind. Studying should be done in an environment that is stimulating in a place of eager anticipation and curiosity.

So while study is a desirable quality, balancing it with activities such as the following can amplify your mental effectiveness...

Solve puzzles or problems: One highly effective way is do cross-word puzzles or brain teasers, find a problem and solve it, because each time you solve a problem, it will increase your capacity for effective action in that area.

Speed reading or multi-pass approach: Speed reading, photo reading or multi-pass approach involves exposing your mind to the new material as soon as possible, even if only for a few moments.

Your subconscious mind processes and assimilates the next time you look at the material.

Take short breaks: If you plan to study for an extended period, get a 10 minute break every two hours, and a 2-5 minute break every 40 minutes.

Studies have shown that we remember more of the first and last things that we study. Taking these breaks increases the number of firsts and lasts.

It also gives your mind a breather, so that when you return to studying, your mind will be refreshed, sharper and more productive.

Be in tune with yourself: When studying, pay attention to signals your body may be giving you. If you are learning new material and your mind/body seems to be wandering, your body may be telling you that you've other needs which must be tended to that are more important.

Paradigm shift: One way to shift your learning paradigm is to listen, read and observe as if you are going to teach this material to others who can benefit from it...

Physical effort: Activities involving unique physical movements, timing, and coordination encourages dendrite growth in the brain.

The more dendrites, the more connections your brain can make. The more connections, the more flexible and efficient your thinking and learning will be...

TIP: Activities that promote cardiovascular fitness will also increase the supply of oxygen to the brain...

Eat protein: Eating meals low in saturated fats and high in protein increases brain performance and focus power.

Also keep in mind that the brain feeds on glucose and oxygen. You want your mental engine running on high octane fuel so drink adequate amounts of pure water to keep hydrated...