I feel like I've lost the last 2 months to the process of getting my head meds sorted out. The panic attacks of Wellbutrin have now given way to the 5:30 AM wake-up call of Prozac. At least I know that in a week or so, I'll be back on my usual sleep schedule. Prozac and I are old, if somewhat quarrelsome, friends. I may lose my libido, and have a harder time losing weight, but at least I know it will not pull any funny stuff on me.
Now, to focus on the Massage Cert. Ugh. Judging by the numerous study guides I've got, there are going to be lots of questions on lots of topics we barely touched on in school. I need to know a ton about Chinese Medicine, hydrotherapy, macro and micronutrients of all sorts… all things I'm not actually allowed to meddle with when I have a practice. It makes no sense!
I know that many of you fine folks have a lot more formal education that I do. Can you offer any study advice? I have gone and purchased my own weight in study guides, anatomy books, flashcards, etc., but I'm kind of at a loss for study infrastructure if you follow me.
Do you find it's helpful to sit at a desk with few distracting items in view? What time of day works best? Can you point me to any references (books, sites, whatever) on study procedures that you have found helpful? It feels like I'm terribly out of practice. Any thoughts you might have will be of immeasurable value to me!
Now, to focus on the Massage Cert. Ugh. Judging by the numerous study guides I've got, there are going to be lots of questions on lots of topics we barely touched on in school. I need to know a ton about Chinese Medicine, hydrotherapy, macro and micronutrients of all sorts… all things I'm not actually allowed to meddle with when I have a practice. It makes no sense!
I know that many of you fine folks have a lot more formal education that I do. Can you offer any study advice? I have gone and purchased my own weight in study guides, anatomy books, flashcards, etc., but I'm kind of at a loss for study infrastructure if you follow me.
Do you find it's helpful to sit at a desk with few distracting items in view? What time of day works best? Can you point me to any references (books, sites, whatever) on study procedures that you have found helpful? It feels like I'm terribly out of practice. Any thoughts you might have will be of immeasurable value to me!
Comments
Also, don't study for hours and hours in one day and then nothing the next - make it a routine you can stick to. Flash cards are great and can be used on the way to things/waiting (ie the metro, waiting in line, etc)
And I think you are spot on about routine. It's easy for me to fall into the "5 hours one day, then nothing for a week" trap.
Oh... and we should figure out an evening for a casual massage party, if you guys are still up for that. Maybe early January?
As for the actual process of studying. For me, I do not do well if I sit at a desk (and worse in a comfy chair) and stare at books for hours and hours. I study in max 20-minute bursts with some other activity--checking the laundry, making tea, looking out the window, walking the dog--in between so that the information has time to settle. Then, when I sit down, I do a quick five finger summary of that information and then I move on to the next bit. I learn very little by pushing my brain to a state of despair.
And I write everything out. Over and over. Because that mechanical process seems to solidify things in my mind. I can never remember a thing if I just read it.
I don't know if that will help, but I suppose the more different techniques you have to choose from the better off you'll be.
Good luck!
1. Don't try to do it right after eating. If you need to break the study to eat, go and take a walk after your meal before trying to hit the books again.
2. Flashcards are a real good memory device, because they work both ways. You can learn things from A-->B and from B-->A with the same tool. They are bi-directional instead of uni-directional in terms of the pattern of the information going into your head. :)
3. Study with a friend. Have that friend quiz you. (I will happily come over and quiz you. I helped my mom get A's in German and Psych that way.)
Study infrastructure wise, I used to find that 2 thin gs worked we well for me:
1. Take good written notes as you're reading, and then rewrite them several times, summarizing each time, so that you end up with a short study guide you've created yourself.
2. As you sit down to read/memorize/learn things, formulate questions that you think are relevant about the material and then answer those questions using your own words. (See this: http://www.memory-key.com/StudySkills/elaborating_information.htm)
Very good suggestions. I sort of already intuitively do 1. I'd never really thought of 2 before, and find that link tremendously helpful! Thanks very much, hon.
Especially if you're a visual learner, mind-mapping can be a very effective tool for note-taking and memorizing information.
Study breaks are crucial - experiment with different timings and see what works best for you, but a short break every hour or so can make a lot of difference to your ability to focus.
If you've got to remember a lot of anatomy, check out the various anatomy colouring books available - they really do help.
Absolutely!
Especially if you're a visual learner, mind-mapping can be a very effective tool for note-taking and memorizing information.
I've heard that, but I've never fully investigated it. I did find a free online service that was supposed to help you do this, but I couldn't make it work, and gave up in frustration. Perhaps I will Google a bit on it.
Re: breaks and coloring books; I'm on it! Thanks very much, and you are always welcome to drop in.
also, i found that i learned something best when i explained it to someone else. that's still how i prepare lectures for class.
Also, I plan to bend E's ear a whole lot about the stuff I'm reading, so that should help. Thanks very much.