There are different ways to approach your ways of studying. Different people have different ways to have effective study times. I had an acquaintance who would contort herself Yoga-style to be able to focus. And I thought blaring music was already a bit extreme for me.

Anyway, here’s a simple guide on how to make yours a killer one – with M.U.R.D.E.R. Don’t worry, no physical killing needed for this one. Just a simple mnemonic that stands for:

• Mood – Put on music, contort yourself, do it under a tree. Just make sure you’re comfortable and away from distractions. Find the best time, place and attitude.
• Understand – Chunk things up. Mark information that you don’t understand so you can go back to it and explore it further. Highlighters do work.
• Recall – Pause after each unit. Try to interpret things in your own words.
• Digest – Go back to those things that you don’t understand. Check the library, the Internet, your professor.
• Expand- Try to ask three questions:
  • If I could speak to the author, what questions would I ask or what criticism would I offer?
  • How could I apply this material to what I am interested in?
  • How could I make this information interesting and understandable to other students?
• Review – Go back over the material. And review the way you studied too. Take note of what works.

Source: Study Guides and Strategies. Adapted from Hayes, John R., The Complete Problem Solver, Lawrence Erlbaum Publishers, Hillsdale, NJ: 1989.