Look, I know studying isn’t exactly the most exciting thing in the world—but since we have to do it, we might as well make it easier for ourselves. In this video, I share the evidence-based study strategies I actually rely on when I want to understand concepts deeply, remember them for the long run, and walk into exams feeling less nervous and way more prepared. The biggest theme is this: familiarity is not mastery, and you’re the easiest person to fool if you’re only rereading. I start with intentional elaboration (my go-to “why/how” method inspired by the Feynman technique). Instead of shallow memorization, I ask better questions, research intentionally, and practice explaining concepts in my own words until I stop hitting mental blocks. Then I talk about dual coding—pairing words with visuals—so you’re encoding information in two ways (text + diagrams/mind maps). I also cover interleaving (alternating topics instead of blocked studying), plus memorization tools like mnemonics and the memory palace when you truly need to recall names, dates, and terms. Finally, I break down the Study Cycle—preview, attend, review, study, assess—so you have a step-by-step system you can repeat for any class.