Many of us study with little thought about what comes after the study. But what you do after studying could influence how well you learn and remember new information. Here are two no-cost ways that can help you improve your learning.
When many students finish studying, they often go straight to another activity. But research suggests that resting after you study may help you remember what you have just studied. However, resting is difficult when your brain get too much information from games, lights, sounds and so on. So you need a wakeful rest. That's really easy——just close your eyes and rest quietly for a few minutes. Do not look at your phone, read stories or play games.
Sleep is also important for learning. Robert Stickgold is a doctor and sleep expert at Harvard Medical School. He says that a person without enough sleep is unable to focus attention and therefore cannot learn well. That is because when we first form memories, they are hard to keep, but it's true that sleep itself plays a role in the consolidation (巩固) of memory, which is important for leaning new information.
The National Sleep Foundation suggests that adults between the ages of 18 and 64 should sleep 7 to 9 hours per day. Teenagers may need a little more and people over the age of 65 may need a little less.
Now you have two useful suggestions, why not have a try to learn new information better!
