The Everything Study Book; Everything you need to know to get great grades without spending all your time in the library
by Charles Lanham
Category: Self-Help

The one problem all students run into while they prepare for a test is not what you might think. You might naturally assume that the problem is one of memory (i.e., remembering the answers to the test), but the real problem is what I call the Situation Effect. In laymen terms, our intelligence is composed of two halves, the first being genetic, the second being environmental (e.g., diet, sleep, sociability, etc.), and these two halves come together to form our current situation. Therefore, effects on either of these halves can help make or break our grades. The only way to improve your situation is to learn how to make your brain happy and comfortable, because when youre sad or stressed you will not function as well. In fact, some people are physically disfigured to a certain degree because they endured so much trial. In this state of mind, motor skills are frustrated and do not function like they should. Also, because of provoking anxiety, ability to fight disease is infringed. Above all, your focus, drive to succeed, and mental activity are all incredibly bankrupt. When theyre bad enough, it feels like they dont even exist. Therefore, if you keep yourself as happy as possible you will study more effectively.