how i study efficiently + 5 useful study tips ft. soomus

TL;DR

Schedule study sessions in advance using Google Calendar time blocks to prevent procrastination.

Briefing Cornell Notes

Briefing

Efficient studying starts long before opening a textbook: building a deliberate preparation routine makes it easier to enter focus, then structured learning and revision turn that focus into retention. The workflow is organized into three phases—preparation, learning, and revision—each with concrete habits designed to reduce procrastination and improve recall.

Preparation begins with scheduling. Blocks of time for different activities are set in Google Calendar in advance, and specific tasks are then dragged into those blocks using Google Tasks so each study session has a clear target and deadline-like structure. After planning comes a “reset” routine: chores are done first to sharpen attention for a long session. The routine includes cleaning the desk, taking a shower, brushing teeth, and even preparing warm cocoa if desired—small actions that signal a transition from everyday mode into study mode.

Learning is handled with strict environment control. Study happens on a laptop and an iPad, set up beforehand to avoid mid-session distractions. The door is closed, and the phone is shut off or put on silent; missing messages becomes a known risk if the phone isn’t turned back on correctly. Rather than arguing for a single best method, the approach uses whatever learning source fits—textbooks or websites—then organizes material in Notion. For each subject or textbook, a dedicated page (and potentially unit/chapter structure) is created, and important information is written down as temporary notes. The point of note-taking isn’t permanence; it’s understanding. Writing helps connect ideas and clarify how different parts of a subject relate.

Once understanding is built, notes are converted into active recall. The revision system centers on Anki, using flashcards to make learned material retrievable rather than merely reviewed. The routine includes checking Anki and Notion regularly, with the expectation that occasional missed days happen as long as the system is resumed.

The retention strategy is reinforced through five study tips. First, space out studying to exploit the forgetting curve—revisiting material after increasing intervals supports memory. Second, test oneself periodically using resources like Khan Academy, New World, and textbook questions to get comfortable with exam conditions. Third, teaching in layman terms is framed as a high-impact method: explaining to an imaginary non-expert forces clarity and exposes gaps. Fourth, visuals matter; Anki’s image occlusion feature can hide parts of diagrams for later review. Fifth, mistakes should be embraced rather than treated as failure—fixing errors is positioned as a powerful learning mechanism, with the reminder that the goal is mastery, not perfect marks.

Cornell Notes

Studying efficiently is built around a three-phase routine: prepare, learn, then revise. Preparation uses Google Calendar time blocks and Google Tasks to define what happens during each session, followed by a short “reset” of chores to make focus easier. Learning is done with distractions controlled (laptop and iPad set up, door closed, phone silenced) and information organized in Notion, where temporary notes support understanding. Revision relies on active recall and space repetition through Anki flashcards, with regular checking of both Anki and Notion. Five practical tips—spaced repetition, self-testing, teaching others, using visuals (image occlusion), and embracing mistakes—turn the system into long-term retention.

Why does the routine emphasize preparation before studying begins?

Preparation reduces procrastination and makes it easier to enter a focus “flow.” It starts with scheduling study blocks in Google Calendar, then adding specific tasks into those blocks via Google Tasks so each session has a clear objective and deadline-like structure. A short chore-based reset—cleaning the desk, showering, brushing teeth, and optionally making warm cocoa—helps shift mental state before a long study period.

How does the approach structure learning so information becomes usable knowledge?

Learning starts with controlled conditions: laptop and iPad are set up on the desk in advance, the door is closed, and the phone is shut off or set to silent to prevent interruptions. Content comes from textbooks or websites, then gets organized in Notion using pages for each subject or textbook (with chapters/units). Important information is written as temporary notes to improve understanding and connections between parts of the subject.

What role do active recall and space repetition play in retention?

After notes support understanding, the system shifts to active recall and space repetition. Most learning material is converted into flashcards in Anki, leveraging Anki’s flashcard algorithm to make recall the goal rather than passive review. Regular checking of Anki and Notion keeps the cycle going; even if some days are missed, returning to the routine is treated as sufficient to stay on track.

Which five study tips are recommended, and what memory principle supports them?

Tip 1 is spacing study sessions to exploit the forgetting curve: intervals between reviews increase over time (space repetition). Tip 2 is self-testing using materials like Khan Academy, New World, and textbook practice to simulate exam conditions. Tip 3 is teaching in layman terms to an imaginary non-expert to surface misunderstandings. Tip 4 is using pictures/visuals; Anki’s image occlusion hides parts of diagrams for later recall. Tip 5 is embracing mistakes—learning from errors is framed as a powerful path to mastery.

How does the method handle distractions during study time?

It reduces friction and interruption. Both devices (laptop and iPad) are placed on the desk before starting, so there’s no need to search or switch mid-session. The door is closed, and the phone is turned off or put on silent; forgetting to re-enable the phone can lead to missed messages, which is treated as a practical risk to manage.

Review Questions

How do Google Calendar and Google Tasks work together in this study system, and what problem do they solve?
Describe the sequence from temporary notes in Notion to flashcards in Anki—what changes at each step?
Which two tips directly target memory retrieval (not just understanding), and how do they do it?

Key Points

1
Schedule study sessions in advance using Google Calendar time blocks to prevent procrastination.
2
Define each study block with specific tasks using Google Tasks so sessions have clear targets.
3
Use a short “reset” routine (desk cleaning, shower, brushing teeth, optional warm cocoa) to shift into focus mode.
4
Control the study environment by setting up laptop and iPad beforehand, closing the door, and silencing the phone.
5
Convert learning into active recall by turning material into Anki flashcards and reviewing regularly.
6
Use spaced repetition based on the forgetting curve by revisiting material at increasing intervals.
7
Improve learning through self-testing, teaching in layman terms, visual practice with image occlusion, and learning from mistakes rather than chasing perfection.

Highlights

Preparation is treated as a focus accelerator: time blocks in Google Calendar plus tasks in Google Tasks make study sessions start with momentum.

Temporary notes in Notion are meant to build understanding first, then get transformed into active recall through Anki flashcards.

Anki’s image occlusion is recommended for memorizing diagrams by hiding parts of images for later recall.

The five tips combine memory science (spaced repetition, forgetting curve) with retrieval practice (self-testing) and error-based learning (embracing mistakes).