In the past two weeks, I have spoken to approximately 13 academic toppers, each excelling in different fields. Some are from MIT, some from IIT, others are UPSC toppers, and some are toppers in CA and law. I inquired about their study hacks that make them so sharp and brilliant in their studies.
In this blog, I will share 10 study hacks that I’ve understood from talking to them, which might be useful for all of us, whether it’s in a job or pursuing higher studies.
Recognizing your productive hours
The first point I understood from them is recognizing your productive hours. Almost everyone emphasized the importance of identifying our productive hours. Now, when it comes to determining which time can be considered productive, the answer lies with you. All 13 of these students shared their respective productive hours; some found the morning more productive, while others found it in the evening or at night. What they actually did was figure out which 4-5 hours were the most productive for them, and during those peak hours, they tackled the most challenging subjects.
This doesn’t apply only to studies but also to life. And the way to do this is, when you work on the most challenging tasks during your most productive hours, it doesn’t feel as difficult. During the rest of the time, you can complete your easier tasks. This will not only make you feel productive throughout the day but will also boost your self-confidence because working on such tasks and studies will make you feel accomplished.
Learning Style
According to my understanding, the second point to keep in mind is what our learning style is. Every student mentioned that everyone’s learning ability is different, and according to them, it’s not necessary that everyone’s learning method is the same. For example, someone may learn very well by listening, while others may learn by observing or reading. This perspective was very interesting. In this, we need to pay attention to how we enjoy learning. For instance, speaking for myself, I find the most enjoyment in learning by doing some work. This means that if someone asks me to memorize a science experiment, I will remember it better by doing the experiment rather than just reading about it. However, this doesn’t mean you should start experimenting on your own; I just gave an example for explanatory purposes.
I remember that some students mentioned that when they need to study or memorize something, they search for that subject or topic on YouTube and learn from there. On the other hand, some students also mentioned that they still remember things by writing them repeatedly. Therefore, it is essential for you to try and identify your learning style.
Power of organizing
The next point they shared will surprise you – upon learning this, you might be shocked. Out of the 13 students, 12 mentioned that they keep their bed, desk, and room highly organized. According to them, the more clutter there is, the more cluttered the mind becomes. They stated that organizing everything is essential for them so that they can experience a sense of well-being during study time. This doesn’t mean that they are naturally organized; some of them mentioned that they force themselves to tidy up their rooms and organize everything before studying to create a conducive environment.
Impact of stress
The fourth point that I found fascinating was the clarity with which they realized this aspect at such a young age. They expressed that they understood that whenever they were stressed, they couldn’t deliver productive results. During such times, neither could they study effectively nor tap into their full potential. Some even mentioned that attempting to study under forced stress made their heart rate increase, causing discomfort. They found it challenging to focus, and this stress affected not only their academic activities but also their daily routines, such as eating and drinking.
And they also realized that a great way to alleviate depression is to maintain good relationships. If you have positive relationships around you, with your parents, friends, colleagues, or your partner, it helps relieve stress. Being involved in these relationships allows you to share your thoughts and stress, and the other person understands and supports you. This not only makes you feel happy but also keeps you energetic, productive, and excited. In fact, I don’t know if you are aware of this or not, but the longest scientific research on human life, which lasted for 85 years, tracked people from birth to death to find out who lives the longest and healthiest. The researchers discovered that good relationships lead to a long and healthy life.
Social media only for entertainment
Point number 5 is also a very interesting one. Each individual managed their social media in a way that eliminated negativity. What’s intriguing is that they didn’t eliminate social media altogether; almost everyone used platforms like Netflix, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and others. However, they actively avoided anything on these platforms that generated negative or distracting feelings. For instance, some students mentioned muting their friends’ posts a few months before exams because seeing their friends enjoy themselves on social media made them feel distracted, thinking that others were having fun while they were working hard.
No need of Gym
Number six, all 13 individuals engaged in exercise every day. Exercise here doesn’t necessarily mean building muscle or going to the gym; they simply incorporated exercise to maintain their body in good condition. Some exercised daily either in the morning or evening, while others took a simple walk. They believed that along with mental health, physical health is equally crucial. Regular exercise not only contributes to physical well-being but also supports mental health.
According to them, when they didn’t go outside in the sunlight or spent the whole day indoors, they found themselves less productive the next day compared to when they went outside in the fresh air.
Therefore, we should pay attention to the fact that exercise is one of the important elements for our mind to stay healthy. If we don’t exercise, at least we should go for a walk outside, get some sunlight, and engage in outdoor activities.
There is also a scientific reason related to sunlight and our mental well-being. Whenever there is a deficiency of vitamin D in our body, we tend to feel lethargic. Therefore, whenever you feel sluggish, it is advisable to spend some time under the sunlight to boost your vitamin D levels.
Internet is more useful
Almost all the students mentioned that it wasn’t necessary for them to attend classes. In fact, I heard from a UPSC topper who shared that she never joined any classes and cracked the UPSC exam solely through self-study. Many students I spoke to believed that they could remember and understand things more easily using the internet compared to just reading from books.
Distraction is the key to be productive
In the eighth point, I want to share that all 13 students mentioned that they dedicated a specific time in their day for activities unrelated to productivity. During this time, they engaged in various activities like watching movies or series, playing games, or having conversations with friends – essentially, anything that wasn’t academically productive. Surprisingly, this time turned out to be highly productive for them. In my previous blogs, I have also emphasized the idea of having a specific distraction hour to enhance productivity. This short break from focused work helps to refresh the mind, and when you return to your studies, you can comprehend and absorb information more efficiently.
If I may provide an example from my life, I have a neurological issue that causes constant headaches. My doctors have consistently advised me to take a 10-minute break every 40 minutes when studying, and I genuinely find it very beneficial.
These 13 toppers have shared 8 steps with me, and I have genuinely learned a lot from them. They were from different streams, had different exams, varying ages, but the amazing thing was that all of them, in some way or the other, followed these 8 steps. I hope 2024 will be great for you. I am fortunate to have shared all these things with you. I am hopeful that these steps will be beneficial for you in your future. If you have any other questions, feel free to comment below. Thank you all.
Leave a Reply