Learn Like a Pro: Science-Based Tools to Become Better at Anything

procedural systems play an important role in their expertise.

As we just saw, it takes brief periods of study each day over a number of days to grow a solid neural architecture of learning. If

But just keep in mind that what seems like a really big deal at a given moment probably isn’t in the greater scheme of things.

Carbohydrates such as those in a donut or a bit of sugar in your coffee can also make a minor boost in cognition within about 15 minutes after ingestion. This is because it provides glucose, a fuel used by the brain.

material. But don’t just write a vague abstract summary, such as “identifies different types of leaves.” Instead, be concrete: “5 types of leaf edges: entire = smooth; sinuate = curves/waves…”

Let your fears and worries go—mentally blank them out. Some effective sleepers have a rule that they are not allowed to think between the hours of 10 p.m. (or whenever you go to bed) and 5:30 a.m., because they can’t really solve life’s problems before 5:30 anyway. If you wake up worrying about something and it’s not time to wake up, remind yoursel

Research has shown that students who use other students’ notes to review before exams do almost as well as students who have produced their own notes.10

For concepts that you’re reading about, try to explain them as if you were teaching. Make your explanations different from the one you’ve just read. Try to simplify, improve, and provide examples.

If you instead wait to do the hardest problems toward the end of the test or study session, you may be more mentally fatigued and unable to do your best.