Learning is a life-long skill with endless benefits. Students who strive for good grades may score a college scholarship if they do well, driving many into the fear of failure. We often forget that making mistakes is an important part of the process. Perfectionism sets a tempting standard, promising praise from your peers and professors. Spinning your wheels in an all-night cram session, however, is one of the least effective ways to achieve lasting results. The best way? Take your time and emphasize quality rest!

Perfection is the enemy of progress; aim for excellence instead. What’s the difference? Excellence leaves room for mistakes. Perfectionism is just that—perfect. This trait leaves you stuck in a loop of overthinking, delaying, and fearing the wrong answer.* Try to avoid an “all or nothing” mindset. Practicing is about balancing your expectations and gradually improving. We don’t have the brainpower to become an expert overnight. With discipline, we can concentrate for up to six hours on any one task, but the average adult attention span is 8.25 seconds — less than that of a goldfish.** The best forms of studying involve repetition and frequent breaks.  This keeps your brain fresh to hold the material at the front of your mind but doesn’t bore you by keeping you chained to one subject for hours.***

The best practice leaves time for rest. Snoozing before a study session sets you up for focus, leading to better results. But a nap before work isn’t the only time catching some zzzs helps you learn. When you sleep, your brain sorts through memories, making connections to your past experiences and filing the information for future use. The most effective way to use this to your advantage is to get some shuteye before and after you hit the books.^

The good news is that purposeful practice allows for frequent breaks. The bad news is that, even with breathers, this form of studying is often uncomfortable. Setting unrealistically high standards for yourself can paralyze, but that doesn’t mean you should lower the bar to an “easy” level. Mentally checking out and going through the motions is a risk when your work is a breeze. Be practical about your starting point, and up the stakes when you grow.^^ Your goal should be hard but not impossible — let yourself fail so that you can learn from your slip-ups. Evenly spaced, intensely focused, short bursts of practice are most effective when difficulty pushes you out of your comfort zone.

Whether a parent, professor, or professional in your field, there are people in your life who can help when you’re stuck. Don’t be afraid to use the resources around you and ask for advice. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to do well, and the expertise of a mentor can not only help you with your questions but may offer encouragement — even if you weren’t looking for it!^^^

Dedication to studying doesn’t mean you have to spend all day with your head in a book. By setting aside short bursts of time, you can sharpen your focus and make the most of your practice. Perfectionism sets an unrealistic expectation of what “success” looks like, but allowing yourself to make mistakes and ask for help when you need can lead to better results over time.

Sources:

*Mindful Health Solutions

**Samba Recovery

***NPR

^News in Health

^^fs

^^^Lead Change Group