--- description: Turn off the computer and write by hand title: 20 Ways to Supercharge Your Ability to Learn image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9e03387fc4ed433a/698786062dce0155e59de4c3/168351286-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1080&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Psychology](/tag/psychology/) ## Psychology Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 20 Ways to Supercharge Your Ability to Learn by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 2, 2015 4:01 AM CUT  Man writes mathematical equations on chalkboard Man writes mathematical equations on chalkboardGetty Images by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 2, 2015 4:01 AM CUT * “Learning occurs best [when important information is selected from less important ideas, when selected information is organized graphically, when associations are built among ideas and when understanding is regulated through self-testing](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-techniques-are-proven-to-help-students-s "undefined")“ * Know the [rules your brain works by](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-are-the-rules-your-brain-works-by "undefined") and [general tips for getting smarter](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/25-research-based-ways-to-increase-your-intel "undefined"). * A negative attitude [increases motivation to learn](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-a-positive-attitude-make-you-more-motiva "undefined"). Cheerful students think they’re doing well but [have lower GPA’s](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-cheerfulness-improve-success-in-college "undefined"). Good moods can [harm your memory](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-being-in-a-good-mood-make-your-memory-wo "undefined"). * [Being social](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-easily-improve-your-memory-and-test-ta "undefined") before a test increases performance. * [Testing yourself](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/should-we-study-to-take-tests-or-should-we-ta "undefined") is the best way to study — even if you [fail the tests](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-getting-it-wrong-help-you-get-it-right "undefined"). * [“A well-timed sugary drink](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-quickly-and-easily-boost-your-ability "undefined"), thirty minutes to an hour before you have to remember or take notice of something particularly well should improve how well you remember it.” Or just have [coffee and a donut.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-coffee-and-a-donut-improve-brainpower "undefined") * Turn off the [music](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-background-music-improve-your-ability-to "undefined") and [don’t study in groups](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-group-studying-more-effective "undefined"). * [Gesturing](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-a-quick-and-easy-way-to-improve-learnin "undefined") improves your ability to learn. * Do not forget your [good luck charm](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-superstition-actually-increase-performan "undefined"). * [Talk to yourself](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/if-talking-to-yourself-improves-performance-w "undefined"). * [Take naps](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-an-easy-way-to-boost-your-learning-a "undefined") after you study. * [Doodle](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-doodling-actually-increase-your-ability? "undefined"). * Don’t be afraid to fail. In fact, you might [want to do it deliberately](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-deliberately-screwing-up-the-best-way-to-l "undefined"). * The Socratic method [works](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-the-socratic-method-really-help-people-l "undefined"). * [Teach](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/would-your-team-be-more-more-creative-if-memb "undefined") others. * Find a way to [relate to the material](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/are-stories-we-can-relate-to-the-key-to-learn "undefined"). * Turn off the computer and [write by hand](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-an-easy-way-to-increase-your-learning-a "undefined"). * There is a way to [increase learning as you sleep](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-improve-learning-while-you-sleep "undefined"). * Don’t cram. [Spacing out learning](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-secret-to-improving-your-ability-to "undefined") is a powerful way to [increase performance](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-can-you-learn-about-learning-from-harvar "undefined"). * More tips are [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-best-way-to-study "undefined") and [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-are-science-based-tips-for-increasing-yo "undefined"). **Join over 161,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined")**.** **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/06/20-ways-to-supercharge-your-ability-to-learn/ "undefined")**_._** Related posts: [A Navy SEAL Explains 8 Secrets To Grit And Resilience](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/01/grit/ "undefined") [New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful ](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/ "undefined") [How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/ "undefined") ### 5 Horrible Habits You Need to Stop Right Now  Do Not Email First Thing in the Morning or Last Thing at Night “The former scrambles your priorities and all your plans for the day and the latter just gives you insomnia,” says Ferriss, who insists “email can wait until 10am” or after you check off at least one substantive to-do list item. Chris Pecoraro—Getty Images  Do Not Agree to Meetings or Calls With No Clear Agenda or End Time “If the desired outcome is defined clearly… and there’s an agenda listing topics–questions to cover–no meeting or call should last more than 30 minutes,” claims Ferriss, so “request them in advance so you can ‘best prepare and make good use of our time together.'” Sam Edwards—Getty Images/Caiaimage  Do Not Check Email Constantly Batch it and check it only periodically at set times (Ferriss goes for twice a day). Your inbox is analogous to a cocaine pellet dispenser, says Ferriss. Don’t be an addict. Tools like strategic use of the auto responder and Boomerang can help. Jetta Productions—Getty Images  Do Not Carry a Digital Leash 24/7 At least one day a week leave you smartphone somewhere where you can’t get easy access to it. If you’re gasping, you’re probably the type of person that most needs to do kick this particular habit. by nacoki ( MEDIA ARC )—Getty Images/Flickr RF  Do Not Let People Ramble Sounds harsh, but it’s necessary, Ferriss believes. “Small talk takes up big time,” he says, so when people start to tell you about their weekends, cut them off politely with something like “I’m in the middle of something, but what’s up?” But be aware, not everyone agrees with this one (and certainly not in every situation), and you may want to pay particularly close attention to norms around chit chat when traveling internationally. Reza Estakhrian—Getty Images ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3765494/supercharge-ability-learn/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3765494/supercharge-ability-learn/"},"headline":"20 Ways to Supercharge Your Ability to Learn","datePublished":"2015-04-02T04:01:05.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:49:41.010Z","description":"Turn off the computer and write by hand","url":"https://time.com/3765494/supercharge-ability-learn/","keywords":["Psychology"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9e03387fc4ed433a/698786062dce0155e59de4c3/168351286-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eric Barker","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/eric-barker/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9e03387fc4ed433a/698786062dce0155e59de4c3/168351286-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"man-writing-chalkboard-math","caption":"man-writing-chalkboard-math","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/psychology/","name":"Psychology"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3765494/supercharge-ability-learn/","name":"20 Ways to Supercharge Your Ability to Learn"}}]}] ```