back to school

For those of you starting a new school year, here are 9 evidence-supported study tips:

1. Adopt a growth mindset. "Students who believe that intelligence and academic ability are fixed tend to stumble at the first hurdle."
2. Sleep well.
3. Forgive yourself for procrastinating.
4. Test yourself.
5. Pace your studies. "the optimal time to leave material before reviewing it is 10 to 30 per cent of the period you want to remember it for."
6. Vivid examples may not always work best.
7. Take naps.
8. Get handouts prior to the lecture. 
9. Believe in yourself.

That advice may seem obvious. Fine -- but let that serve as #10: you don't have to be original.