Mindful Study Strategies
As a nurse educator, I am often approached by students asking for advice on how to study effectively. Of course, I coach them to meditate each day, if only for a few minutes! Ultimately, I encourage them to try different study strategies, and to simply notice, observe, and become aware of what aids their success. Here are a few mindful study strategies you can share with your students:
Identify how you learn best. Take a Learning Style Assessment at how-to-study.com to determine if you are a visual, auditory, or tactile/kinesthetic learner.
Utilize a “Time Management Diary”. Print out a blank calendar that lists each day broken into hours. At the end of each day, jot down how you spent your time hour by hour. At the end of the week, reflect on the amount of time you spent doing each task and evaluate what helped you the most. This will help you identify which activities fuel you and which tasks are barriers to your success.
Schedule breaks – and take them! Prior to a study session, set your alarm for 45-60 minutes. Place your phone and anything else that may distract you in a different room. When the alarm goes off, stop studying! Go for a walk, watch a TV show, or talk to a friend – give your brain a break. Think of this break time as an investment in your success. This will help you return to your work with a fresh, focused, and attentive mind. Eventually, start to pay attention to when you notice yourself becoming less attentive to your study sessions. Most people cannot stay focused for more than 60 minutes at a time and retain information without taking at least a small break.
Move! As your heart rate increases, blood will more readily flow to your brain and you’ll end up with more brain power! Do jumping jacks while flipping through flashcards, chew gum while studying, or even read your textbook while on a treadmill. If you’re anything like me and that sounds like those activities may result in injury, consider having an informal dance party, take a walk, or do some yoga on your scheduled breaks.
Practice positive self-talk. Pay attention to your inner dialogue. Do you communicate to yourself how you’d speak to your best friend? When we are discouraged and stressed, it’s so easy to tell yourself that you’re not good enough, or even that you won’t survive nursing school. When you catch yourself thinking these negative thoughts, turn those thoughts into something positive. Instead, remind yourself that you ARE good enough, that you are strong, and you WILL survive nursing school!
Pass It On
If you know of a nursing student or faculty member who could benefit from these self-care and resiliency building tips, please forward this on to them so they can sign up here for the free Mindful and Resilient Nurse monthly tip.
Want to Learn More?
If you found this tip valuable and are looking for further options to build your resilience, or that of your nurses or nursing students, please consider our Mindful and Resilient Nurse Program. Feel free to contact us to discuss how this program can be seamlessly weaved into your curriculum or simply be another resource you provide to your stressed-out nurses or nursing students.