Let’s admit it – we all spend more time on TikTok than we probably should, right?
There’s just something about the endless scroll of trends, recipes, dances and influencer drama that’s oddly comforting after a long day of study or work. Don’t ask us why that’s the case, it just is. But – did you know there’s actually a surprisingly in-depth subgroup of TikToks specifically for studying and study hacks?
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular trends for studying and see which ones are worth trying and which ones you should just scroll on past.
BLURTING
Okay, we don’t love the name for this one either, but it actually seems to be a pretty effective hack for committing information to memory. Popularised by TikToker @unjadedjade, Blurting is basically a levelled-up version of that memory game we probably all played in primary school. You quickly read a section of the text you're trying to learn, close the book and then jot down as much information as you can remember (without peeking). It sounds simple because it is, but it’s not a bad way to break down your revision into small, manageable chunks.
Check out Blurting in action here:
CANDLE STUDYING
This one is pretty much exactly what its name describes. You light a candle and use it as the ‘timer’ for when you get to stop studying. While the flame is burning, your brain is turning – when it goes out, you're free to put down your textbooks and relax. We like this one in theory, but maybe just be mindful of what size candle you pick, or you might find yourself in study mode for 40+ hours (and don’t forget, a candle is an open flame, so practice common sense and fire safety with this one!)
See more about Candle Studying here:
Gamma Waves Playlist
A study playlist sounds good in theory, but if you’re someone who gets distracted easily by catchy lyrics and boppin’ melodies, you might find listening to gamma waves is more up your alley. Said to improve concentration, focus and memory, they’re actually really relaxing things to listen to (think futuristic day spa and you’ve got the gist!). It might be nonsense, but it can’t hurt, right?
Put it to the test:
Double-handed studying
Okay, this one we’re not so sure about. The idea is that you use your non-dominant hand to doodle or scribble while your other hand takes your study notes or thumbs through your textbook. Maybe this works for some more ambidextrous people, but for most it’s probably likely to end up in a big scribbly mess and double the hand cramps…
Check it out here:
Spaced repetition
You know how you can spend 10 hours revising something, then a week later it’s like you never even opened the textbook? Well, it turns out that phenomenon actually has a name - the ‘Forgetting Curve’. Studies show that the human memory decays exponentially. After a single day, you might still have a bit of an idea of what you learned, but after five days, it’s gone.
With spaced repetition, instead of cramming a topic and then forgetting about it, you review your notes after one day, then after three days, then after a week (repeat as necessary). It keeps the information fresh in your brain, and you stop that speedy decay that leaves you wondering if you actually remember anything at all.
Learn more here:
Transparent sticky notes
We love a sticky note, but we can all agree that its aggressively fluorescent colouring leaves something to be desired from an ~aesthetic~ point of view. So in comes the transparent sticky note to save the day, and your vibes. All jokes aside, they are actually quite handy for tracing diagrams or charts, and whereas traditional sticky notes often cover up sections of your text, you can read straight through these. They’re probably more suited to longer-term study, rather than last-minute revising, simply because they’re really hard to find when you’re flicking through your books!
Have a look at transparent sticky notes here:
