study tips

Education is empowering no matter your age, but going back to school as a working adult comes with a unique set of challenges. For adults in their forties and beyond, returning to class often means balancing the demands of work and family along with navigating new technology. For many, going back to school also means jumping back into the educational system after a long absence.

As a student, you want to retain as much information as you can -- not only to pass your exams, but to also effectively apply the knowledge you acquire in the real world.

To help you, we’ve compiled a list of tips for developing better study habits:

When you study, do you have music playing in the background? You might not know that what you listen to could actually help you learn better.

More than 16 million American adults have experienced it. It costs the country more than $80 billion in lost productivity and health care, and 50% of people never seek help.

Depression. It’s so common, yet somehow still has a stigma. With so many people resisting treatment, and the average psychotherapy approach taking 10-20 weeks, during Depression Education & Awareness Month we’re shining the light on how doing something as simple as switching your diet can have a profound effect on the condition.

Listen. What’s that in the background? Is it rock, country or classical music? Did you know that certain types of music can help you focus?

March is Music in Our Schools Month, which was created to increase awareness of the importance of music in student’s lives.

Could What You Eat Improve Your Educational Performance?

March is National Nutrition Month, and while much of the focus is on losing weight, at NCU, we’re focused on healthy study foods. Research shows that what you eat can boost brainpower and memory, something from which all students could benefit.

So next time you’re cramming at 2:00 am, reach for one of our five favorite study foods:

Let’s face it. We all experience stress. We know we should meditate to find our inner Zen, but sitting down and trying to let thoughts go? That can be a challenge. There may be another way to reach a meditative state that is much more fun: coloring.

“Coloring is like meditation because it encourages engagement with the present moment,” said NCU professor Dr. Mary Jill Blackwell. “When we focus on the present moment, we do not worry about the future, ruminate about the past, or engage in negative self talk. “

Did you know that the typical American spends about one hour every day looking for things? If you haven't already started doing the math in your head, that's seven hours per week, or a total of 15 days each year! Right about now you should be thinking about just how valuable your time is and wondering what you might do with an extra 15 days per year!

In recent years, scientists have realized that the brain isn’t set and fixed, but instead fluid and changing throughout life. This means that you can teach an old dog new tricks, and today is the perfect day to start.

“Learning, reading, engaging in daily cognitive challenges/tasks as simple as reading books, taking college courses and doing word puzzles confers a significant degree of protection against mental illness and degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease,” said NCU Professor Patrick McNamara, Ph.D.

If you are looking for ways to improve your memory and concentration and also relieve stress, reading will help. The brain-stimulating activities from reading have shown to slow down cognitive decline in old age with people who participated in more mentally stimulating activities over their lifetimes. It also has shown a slower rate of decline in memory and other mental capacities.