How many times have you read a few pages of text, only to discover you have no idea what you just read? Or, equally frustrating, you have no idea what parts of it are important? The keys to good studying—no matter what the topic—are effectiveness, efficiency, and consistency. Studying smarter is the ultimate goal, which will increase your retention and decrease your stress level.

Here are some tips for smarter studying:

1. Same place, same time. Get into the study habit by designating one area for studying only. Develop a habitual "study period" and stick to it.
2. Get it together. Gather everything you will need (books, notes, handouts) before you sit down to study.
3. Browse the headlines. Skim the pages of text you are studying, reading subject headings and bulleted or bold-face information. This is the big picture.
4. Find the moral of the story. After reading the headlines, ask yourself, "What's important here?" Keep the main ideas and concepts in mind as you go on to study.
5. Have a cup of joe and read. Prop your feet up and read the material. Don't try to memorize right now—just read it.

 Source: Stressed Out About Nursing School, HCPro, Inc., 2006. Order your copy today.