| How to Work Your Back Muscles at Home Posted: 02 Dec 2016 04:00 PM PST The back is a major muscle group in your body, and targeting it with effective exercises can burn calories and boost your metabolism. Even if you don't have the time to get to the gym or can't afford a membership, you still can get a comprehensive back workout at home. Some of the muscle groups you'll want to work include the trapezius in your shoulders and upper back; the latissimus dorsi (lats), which run from your armpit to your mid-back and down the outside of your ribs; the spinal erectors, which run the length of the spine; your rotator cuffs in the back of your shoulder; and rhomboids between the shoulder blades mid-back. You can target all of them by performing basic exercises in your own home using your own body weight, some simple and inexpensive equipment like dumbbells or elastic bands, or even while doing regular chores around the house. EditUsing Your Body Weight - Make reverse snow angels. This exercise involves reaching your arms out wide, just like when you were a kid in the snow. The arms can move through the full range of the "angel wings," from overhead to beside the hips for a full trapezius, latissimus dorsi, rhomboid and spinal erector exercise. Hold a soup can to increase resistance once you have mastered keeping the torso and arms slightly lifted off the floor, shoulders pulled back.[1]
- Lie facedown on the ground, or a mat. Put your hands to your side with palms facing down.
- Slowly bring your arms forward at the shoulder until you reach past your head and your thumbs touch.
- Slowly bring your arms back to the starting position. Make sure your arms are straight and elbows are locked for the entire movement.
- Do three sets of five reps. Make sure to rest for about 30 – 60 seconds between sets.
- If you are a beginner, and not comfortable bringing your arms all the way around, you can work to get them even with your shoulders. Eventually you should be able to build up the strength to reach over the head.
- Do hip hinges. Also called "Good Mornings," these are simple exercises that involve bending forward at the hips. You'll be able to work your spinal erectors (as well as your glutes, hamstrings, and hips) as you perform a very simple maneuver, one that doesn't require any equipment.[2]
 - Stand up straight with your feet slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Put your hands on your hips.
- Pull your shoulders back slightly to tighten your back muscles.
- Slowly bend forward at the waist. Make sure your shoulders keep in line with your hips as you go forward.
- Bend forward until you are parallel to the ground, then slowly pull back up.
- Keep the movement slow and keep the abdominal muscles contracted.
- Start with one set to be sure this exercise agrees with your back. Gradually increase up to three sets of 10 – 15 reps. Give yourself 30 – 60 seconds of rest between sets.
- You can also do these exercises while sitting. Sit up straight in a chair with your feet planted on the ground directly below your knees. Put your hands on your hips. Pull your shoulders back slightly to contract the muscles, then bend forward to a 45 degree angle.
- When you do this, be careful not to bend your back. This will not only prevent you from really working your back muscles, but there is also a chance you will hurt your spine.
- Do the Superman. This is a great exercise for your spinal erector muscles, glutes, and trapezius. It doesn't require any equipment, just enough room to lay out on the ground. By emulating Superman as he flies, you'll be able to isolate your core muscles to give them a good workout.[3]
- Lie facedown with your arms and legs extended out straight. Your palms and the tops of your feet should face downward.
- Lift your arms and legs off the ground. Make sure they stay straight while keeping your core in place. Think of Superman, stretched out as he flies.
- Hold the position for 15 to 30 seconds, then slowly lower your arms and legs back to the ground.
- Do three reps with this hold, then rest 30 to 60 seconds before doing another set.
- To work the deeper lower back muscles, you can try what is called the Aquaman, where you raise and lower the opposite arm and leg (for example, your left arm and right leg), and hold for 15 to 13 seconds. Repeat with the other arm and leg.
- If you are a beginner, try holding the Superman for five seconds, working your way up to 15 to 30 second holds.
- Try the cobra yoga position. This is a beginner yoga position that works the mid to lower back and increases flexibility.[4]
- Lie facedown on the floor. Stretch your legs straight out behind you with the tops of your feet on the floor. Bring your arms into your body, elbows bent and hands under your shoulders.
- Contract the muscles in your back to lift body upward, using your hands to assist with the positioning. Press your feet, legs, and thighs against the ground. Inhale as you lift upward.
- Hold the position for 15 to 30 seconds, breathing normally.
- Slowly lower yourself back to the ground, exhaling as you do.
- Do around 10 reps. Like any exercise, try to push yourself to hold for a few more seconds each time you do it. You don't need to do this every day, but it is one you can do several times a week.[5]
- Do some wall slides. These are simple exercises that you can do using only a wall. They are also really good for preventing or relieving back pain you may experience while working.[6]
- Stand with your back against a wall, feet shoulder distance apart and heels one stride length away from the wall.
- Slide down into a crouch, getting so that your knees are at a 90-degree angle. Hold that position for five seconds.
- Slowly slide back up the wall until you are straight again, then repeat five times.
- Do pull-ups. Also called chin-ups, this is a common exercise that involves pulling yourself upward using a fixed bar. It is one of the simplest and best exercises out there for working your lats. It does require a pull-up bar, which you can permanently install in a doorway, or buy a door-hanging bar that you can easily hang and remove when you're done. Keep in mind that this is an advanced move — you can use a resistance band to start if you are a beginner.
 - Wrap your hands over the top of the bar, slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Hang for a moment with your arms straight. Arch your back and pull yourself up so that your chin clears the bar. Pause at the top of chin-ups to sustain muscle contraction. Return to the start position and repeat.
- You can change your grip to work different muscle groups. If you spread your hands further apart on the bar, it will be more difficult to pull up, but you focus more energy on your lats. A reverse grip, wrapping your hands around the back of the bar, will put more emphasis on your biceps.[7]
- Don't swing during this exercise. The temptation is to help yourself up using momentum, but this lessens the effect of the exercise on your lats. You will wind up pulling the bar towards your chest, which engages other muscles that you aren't trying to work out.[8]
- To do a beginner modification with a resistance band, wrap the band around your pull-up bar and hold on to the two ends of the band, backing up so that you feel some tension in the band. Keep your arms shoulder-width apart and pull your elbows down toward your sides, bringing your shoulder blades together. Do two to three sets of 10 reps.[9]
- Pull-ups can be difficult to start, as you need some good bicep strength already before really attempting them. The key is to push through the early frustration so you can build the muscles necessary to do more and more.[10]
- Make sure the chin-up bar at your home is positioned above shoulder height and firmly in place. You'll suffer a pretty nasty fall if it comes off during the exercise.
EditExercising With Dumbbells - Do a reverse fly while bent-over. By effectively lifting your arms while leaving them fully extended, you can work the full range of your upper back's muscles. You'll need a bit of space for spreading out your arms, but won't need any equipment other than your dumbbells.[11]
- Bend at the waist with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees bent, back straight, abs pulled in, butt out. Hold dumbbells with your palms facing in and your elbows slightly bent. Your arms should be hanging toward the ground, but not dangling loosely.
- Slowly elevate your arms out to the side. They should end parallel to the ground. Make sure to keep your elbows slightly bent, and use your upper back to carry the weights up.
- Slowly lower your arms back to their original position. Your arm muscles should be focused on staying straight. Let your back do the work.
- Repeat the exercise, slowly elevating and returning your arms for about 30 seconds. Keep your spine straight during this exercise, and make sure that your arms don't swing. Moving slowly will help make sure your back is doing the work.
- Do arm dumbbell rows. You can work your upper back by pulling weight upward, a similar motion to rowing a boat. This will help develop your shoulders and upper back, building muscle to help your arms when lifting things. You'll want access to a weight bench, or at least a low, sturdy chair with which you can support yourself.[12][13]
 - Put one knee and hand on a weight bench or sturdy chair for support, and hold a dumbbell in the other hand. Keep that arm extended toward the floor.
- Pull the weight upward by bringing your elbow toward your body. Make sure to tighten your back muscles for each rep. At the height of your rowing, hold the position for a second to maximize the contraction.
- Slowly lower your arm.
- Make sure your movements are slow and deliberate to make sure you are properly working the muscles in your back. You shouldn't be jerking your arms up and down, but slowly moving them between the positions.
- Do this for 30 seconds with one arm, then switch sides to work both shoulders. One set involves working both arms.
- If you don't have a bench or a sturdy chair, bend your knees and hips to lean forward towards the floor. You want to be pulling upwards to use gravity for additional resistance. If you are leaning forward, you can also use two dumbbells at once since you won't need the other hand for support.[14]
- If you don't have dumbbells, look for something that weighs about 3 to 5 pounds, and you can hold easily in your hand. The weight is there to provide resistance, so as long as you can grip it easily in one hand, it will help. A can of food from your pantry is a good replacement.[15]
- Do a Romanian deadlift.[16] Adding dumbbells to this exercise provides some additional resistance to give your back the workout. Deadlifts will also really engage the backs of your legs. Rounding your back during this exercise can cause serious injury — make sure you keep it straight. When done correctly, however, reaching downward can help stretch out the muscles in your middle and lower back.[17]
- Stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart. Hold a dumbbell in each hand, and make sure your knees are slightly bent.
- Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight, until your back is almost parallel to the floor; the dumbbells should be at about shin-height. Make sure your arms stay straight in order to make sure it is your back doing the work lowering you down. Keep your abs pulled in to protect the lower back from rounding and becoming injured.
- After a brief pause at that position, slowly raise your upper body back until you are fully upright.
- Do a twisting bend to the opposite foot. This exercise will use the dumbbells to provide resistance as you bend over. In addition, the twisting you make moving between feet with help strengthen your lower back and core. Keep your abs tight throughout, back straight.
- Stand up straight with your feet spread further than shoulder-width apart. Have a weight in each hand. If you only have one dumbbell, grab it with both hands.
- Inhale and reach your hands down to one foot, twisting your body toward that foot. Make sure your knees are slightly bent and that your arms stay straight. Keep the forward reach well within comfortable range of motion.
- Slowly stand up straight, then lower your upper body towards your other foot. Continue alternating sides.
- This exercise should not be performed by anyone with any lower back pain, or sciatica, since this move may aggravate that condition.
EditStrengthening With Elastic Bands - Do some pulling straps.[18] With a resistance band and enough space to lie down, you can give your shoulders and upper back a quick workout.[19]
- Lie facedown with the elastic band under your torso. Make sure to hold one end of the band in each of your hands. Hold your hands underneath your shoulders with your elbows drawn into your sides.
- Lift your chest off the ground and reach both arms straight out from your shoulders. When you are fully extended, pull on the band by drawing your shoulder blades together. You won't hold this position for very long, maybe a few seconds.
- Relax your shoulders to bring your hands back to the original position. Slowly lower your chest to the ground. Repeat eight times.
- Do sitting rows. You can use the elastic band to mimic a rowing machine. The band provides resistance to your shoulders and upper back as you pull back.[20]
- Sit on the ground with your legs extended in front of you. Wrap your elastic band around the bottom of your feet, or a fixed object near your feet. You should keep your arms extended so that the band is as loose as possible, with one end in each hand.
- Pull your arms toward your body, tightening your shoulder blades to get the effect on your back.
- Return your arms to the original position. Make sure your feet stay planted as you pull and return the elastic.
- Do back extensions. By anchoring your elastic band to the floor, you can extend your back muscles by leaning backwards. The band gives some resistance while you keep your back straight.[21]
- Make sure the elastic band is anchored to something stable below your knees. It can be under your feet, or be held down by a really heavy object.
- Sit upright on a stool, or some other object without a back so you can lean back. Hold the other end of the band up against your chest so it is taut.
- Slowly lean backwards until you are at about 30 degrees. Make sure your pelvis doesn't move and your back stays straight.
- Hold that position for several seconds, then slowly return upright. Repeat 10 times.
- Do trunk rotation exercises. Using the elastic band as resistance, you can rotate your upper body to work the back muscles while seated. You'll need a door knob or some other point you can use to anchor the elastic band.[22] Rotation, especially under resistance, can injure backs, so do this exercise with caution and remember to keep your abs engaged.
- Anchor the band to the knob of a closed door or some other location at your seated chest height. Make sure the door or whatever else you have anchored the band to won't move.
- Sit next to the door so that it is off to your right side. Hold the other end of the band against your chest with one hand. Make sure the band is taut.
- Slowly rotate your upper body to the left, away from the door. Make sure your pelvis and knees stay in place so your back muscles are doing the work.
- Hold the position for a few seconds, then slowly rotate back. Repeat 10 times, then turn around and rotate to the right to work the muscles on your other side.
EditDoing Chores at Home - Use a broomstick for thrusters. With a broomstick in place of a weight bar or other equipment, you'll be able to work out your back as well as a variety of other muscles. It can be a nice break while sweeping up in your house. For your back, this exercises your upper back and shoulder muscles.[23]
- Stand with your legs apart, slightly wider than your hips. Hold a broomstick in front of you, arms shoulder-width or a little wider. Hold the broom parallel to the ground, at chest-height.
- Squat down, and push the broomstick straight up. Make sure you are tightening your upper-back muscles as you push the broom stick upwards.
- Lower the broom and stand back up again.
- Try some standing push-ups. Similar to regular push-ups, you can use the edge of a household appliance like the washing machine to help work your back and arms. This is a great exercise if you have a few minutes to kill while the washing ends.[24]
- Stand a few feet away from the washer. Place your hands on the machine about shoulder-width apart. Keep your feet together.
- Slowly lower your chest toward the washer by bending your arms. Don't keep your feet flat on the ground, but lean forward on your toes.
- Push back out until your arms are fully extended again. Repeat 20 times.
- Leave your laundry basket on the floor. This is good when you are moving clothes to and from the washing machine, dryer, ironing board, or drawers. By leaving the basket on the floor, you will constantly be bending over to pull things out. Make sure to stretch out your back each time you bend over.[25]
- Remember to keep your abs tight and back straight as you bend forward.
- It can also be helpful to take out items one at a time. This will force you to repeat the motion over and over again.
- Clean out gutters. Reaching up and clearing leaves and debris out of your gutters will give your whole body a workout, including your back. You'll be stretching and reaching from the ladder over the gutter to get your hands in there, and your core will be engaged to keep balance on the ladder.[26]
- Remember to keep moving your ladder as you go along the gutter. Reaching too far can cause you to fall over, plus the constant up and down is good exercise for your legs.
- Do some gardening. Planting, watering, and weeding outdoors are all good ways to get in some stretching and exercise without going to a gym. You'll be bent down near the ground. Just be sure to bend at the knees and avoid arching your back to avoid strain.[27]
- Mulching is another good gardening task for working your back. You'll need to carry around heavy bags of mulch, and then shovel it around your yard or garden. Just remember to lift correctly when carrying the mulch to avoid straining your back.[28]
- New research shows that stretching before an activity can make your muscles weaker and slower and it is not likely to reduce your chances of injury. Focus instead on warming up.[29]
- If you are just starting to work out, try using just the weight of your own arms or body, or starting with 3 to 5 pound dumbbells. You'll be able to increase as you gain strength in your arm and back muscles. If you can't increase the weight, that's fine. The important thing is to provide a little resistance to your movement.
- Correct posture is an important part of doing all of these exercises. Improper back workouts can lead to injury, or not properly working the muscles. Back muscles in particular can be sensitive to injury, so you'll need to be careful.
- For lat exercises, you'll want to keep your shoulders pulled back. This will isolate the lats to help them reach peak muscle contraction. It will add the work of the rhomboids at well, and prevent strain in the shoulder.
- Work out in a low-traffic area of your home so any equipment you have doesn't get in the way and you don't have to think about dragging it out each workout.
- Weight and resistance are important, but so is your safety. Start with weights you can handle and slowly work your way to heavier sizes. If you find that you just can't lift something, stop trying. Overexerting your muscles is a good way to hurt yourself.
- If you feel pain while doing these exercises, stop. Your back can be very sensitive, and a hurt back can give you other problems.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Crochet a Snowflake Posted: 02 Dec 2016 08:00 AM PST If you love crafts and want to spruce up your holiday season with homemade decorations, a crocheted snowflake can be a lot of fun. Although you should have at least a basic understanding of crocheting before attempting a snowflake, the process of making them is quite relaxing once you get the hang of it. Once you figure out the process, making these snowflake decorations can be done fairly quickly, so you can make multiple to gift to friends and family. EditCreating the Snowflake Core - Crochet your first loop.[1] Wrap a piece of yarn around your finger three times. Slide your crochet hook under the first two loops and use it to pull the third loop under the first two. This will result in your first two loops. You will use that as the foundation to base the rest of your snowflake around.
- Crochet the yarn five times. Crochet the yarn five times to begin your snowflake's core. When you're done, crochet the chain through your center loops. From there, you'll begin to see your snowflake's core emerge.
- Following that, chain two and double crochet around the center loop.[2]
- Tighten the yarn. Once you have finished your first loop around the center, it's a good idea to consolidate what you've done so far. Gently tug on the yarn, pulling the loops closer together. If you make a bit of consolidating the loops slightly as you go long, the snowflake shape will be sharper.
- Begin the second round by chaining three. Chain three loops and double crochet them in place. Continue to gently tug on the yarn after looping for the sake of tightening it up.
- Once you've started the second layer, continue in chains of four until you've looped around.[3]
- Slipstitch the loops in place. Slip stitching your thread through loops will help you complete the second layer and prepare you for the next step. After going around the first layer and double crocheting every four loops together, you should slipstitch back to the chain of three you began the second layer with.[4]
- A slipstitch secures a thread in place to another by weaving behind another.[5] This is useful if you're wanting to move your thread a few steps over.
EditCreating the Snowflake Edges - Chain three loops and crochet them into a chain two space.[6] A snowflake's edges are what most characterizes a snowflake. This is where a lot of its beauty will come from. However, they're quite a bit more difficult than the snowflake's core. First, chain three loops and tighten them until they occupy a space that two would have fitted in on earlier layers.
- Chain another five into the same space.[7] Creating the "wings" for your snowflake is a fairly complicated process, and relies on a number of crochet series. First, chain five loops and tighten them until they fit into the space worth three. Once you've finished this first step, do the following chain series in order:
- Chain seven and slipstitch.
- Chain five.
- Chain three.
- As always, slipstitch after you're done with each step.
- Repeat the process until you have completed your edges. A snowflake should be symmetrical on all sides. Repeat your steps until you have edges on all sides of your snowflake.[8]
- Cut the thread when you're done. Take a pair of scissors and cut the yarn off near the point you ended with. Take care not to cut too close however, as you may risk unravelling the final part of the snowflake.
- Hide the thread end with a darning needle.[9] Take the end of your yarn that you cut off and fix it to a darning needle. Next, weave the yarn in the existing pattern of the snowflake. This will hide any loose ends and prevent the snowflake from unravelling.
- Do the same with the other end as well.
EditBlocking the Snowflake - Soak your snowflake in water.[10] Blocking refers to stretching out the snowflake so that it holds a more rigid, distinctive form. You can do this by laying the snowflake down, stretching it out with pins and holding it in place with glue.
- Fabric stiffener (available from crafts stores) is a perfect alternative to water for this purpose.[11]
- Stretch and pin the edges of your snowflake to cardboard[12] After applying a stiffener to the snowflake, you'll want to stretch out and define the snowflake's angles. To do this, pull on each of the edges and pin it down onto a piece of cardboard. Do this for each of the snowflake's points. When it's secured in place, you'll be able to add other things like glitter.
- Apply craft glue to the stretched snowflake.[13] Putting a crafts glue (like Elmer's) onto the stretched snowflake will help solidify the stretched shape. Apply a dab to a cotton swab and brush it over the pieces of yarn. Although you don't need to cover the entire snowflake, you should at least glue the major points where yarn overlaps.
- Add glitter for decoration.[14] While the glue is still drying, apply splashes of glitter to the snowflake. These glitter specks will catch light, making your snowflakes more eye-catching as a result.
- Allow the snowflake time to set. Leaving a snowflake to settle overnight will ensure it has all the time it needs, but a couple of hours is usually more than enough. If you're making multiple snowflakes, set them down next to each other and allow them to set simultaneously.
- Hang up your snowflake. Add a piece of thread through the top of an edge on the snowflake and tie it in a knot. You can use this thread loop to hang your crochet snowflake on a Christmas tree. Before you hang it up, you should first make sure that the glue and glitter have settled sufficiently.
- Explore different crochet snowflake designs.[15] Once you become used to the basics of crocheting snowflakes, you may want to try different and more advanced designs. As if with homemade craft, there are a plethora of ways to go about making one. Home crafts makers are coming up with new and innovative ways of crocheting things every day, so it may be in your interest to go online and get in contact with crafts makers you particularly admire.
- Crochet snowflakes are perfect as a seasonal gift. Because they can be made in sequence, you can make a number and distribute them to your friends and family.
- Once you get the hang of snowflakes, you can make quite a few in a short amount of time. This is very helpful if you want to decorate your tree with a homemade theme.[16]
- Any errors you make in the cross-stitching will be visible in the final product. Although small issues can be looked past, it's nonetheless a good idea to be cautious, especially in the early stages of your snowflake.
EditThings You'll Need - A piece of cardboard.
- A size zero crochet hook.
- A darning needle.
- A set of pins.
- A pair of scissors.
- Scrap yarn.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Memorize Flashcards Effectively Posted: 02 Dec 2016 12:00 AM PST When learning new information, or preparing for a test, flash cards can be a great way to review lots of information quickly. They are easy to make, and easy to use because you can take them anywhere. There are many good ways to help you memorize your flash cards, and you can help yourself all along the way from learning the information to acing the test. Making your flash cards the right way and practicing good study habits while using them will help you get the most out of your work. EditMaking Your Cards - Make your own cards. Writing down the information yourself is a good first step to having it stick in your mind. Plus, this will help you summarize the information in a way that makes the most sense to you. It can be tempting to borrow someone else's flash cards, but this won't help you nearly as much as making your own.[1]
- Use thick paper. When you make your flash cards, make sure you write them on thick cards or paper. You need to make sure you can't see through the paper to get the answer on the other side.[2]
- If you are making your own cards, be sure that they are all the same size. You don't want different sizes of cards giving away the answers. Otherwise, you aren't memorizing the connection between the terms and explanations, but just what each size card says. That won't be very helpful when you're taking the test.
- A package of index cards is usually a great starting point, as they will all be the same size and made of nice, thick paper. Plus, one side usually has lines, helping you write neat sentences to explain concepts.
- Make your cards early. Don't wait until the night before the exam to put together your flash cards. Instead, make a nice pile right after class or school. That is when the information will be freshest in your mind, and you won't have to try and remember everything when you start making the cards.[3]
- This is also a good way to come up with questions to ask your teacher. If while making your cards, you come across a term that you can't write a good card for, ask your teacher about it in the next class. Write down the answer on the back of your card, and you've got a pre-made flash card ready to join the others.
- Keep your cards simple. A good way to help you memorize your flashcards is to make sure there isn't a lot of information on them. Limit your cards to one word or one sentence, depending on what you need. The less you need the remember for each card, the easier it will be the memorize it.[4][5]
- Make sure you keep your information on each card limited to just a few words of information. For example, if you are studying for a history class, and are making a card for George Washington, you'll want to limit your information. Using small bullet points like "Commander during the American Revolution," "First President of the United States," and "Father of the Country" is better than a paragraph listing every detail you can cram onto it.
- If you are using your flash cards to ask and answer questions, keep to one question per card. For a history card, don't ask "Who was the first President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, and Chief Justice of the United States?" That is too much information at once. Not only will you have a hard time memorizing each piece of information, but also remembering which one is tied to which.
- Use pictures. In addition to the words on your cards, consider including a picture. Your brain is really good as remembering visual images, and adding them to your cards can help you associate them with words. These don't need to be detailed drawings, just simple designs to help remind you of what you are looking at.[6]
- This is particularly helpful for flashcards to study a foreign language. In addition to the vocabulary you are trying to use, sketching a small picture can help the word stick in your mind.
- Use electronic flash cards. While handmade flash cards are a common study tool, there are many new technologies out there for creating electronic cards. You can store these cards on a smartphone or laptop and have them accessible wherever you go. There are many different programs available for free that allow you to create a database of cards from your own notes as well as other people's work. These programs can create games and other study methods to hep you with memorization.[7]
EditStudying with Your Cards - Review at least three times a day. Practice makes perfect. The more you go through your stack of cards, the more you'll be able to remember. You can set slightly different goals depending on how fast you get the information, but the more times you are able to go through them, the more you will remember.[8][9]
- Space out your study sessions. Your goal shouldn't be to get through your flash cards three times as quickly as possible to skip doing it later. Taking a break between sessions will help you know what information you are having trouble remember. That way, you can focus on that more to make sure you get it right.[10]
- Study in short bursts. The best way to help yourself memorize flash cards is to review the in small groups rather than push through the whole pile at once. This will keep you focused on smaller chunks of information, which is easier to memorize. This will also encourage you to pick the cards up for a quick study session between classes or while waiting for your friends to show up, knowing you don't need to rush so you can get through the whole thing.[11]
- Engage yourself. Don't let yourself zone out, or mindlessly flip through the cards. Instead, find ways to keep your attention up. When you read each card, say the words out loud, or say things like "I know this," or "I don't know this." Staying engaged with the material will help you stay focused on what you are doing.[12]
- Shuffle your flash cards. Before you begin to go through and review your cards, mix them up a bit. If you just keep repeating the pile, you won't be memorizing the answers, just the order they appear in. Unless you know that's how the information will appear on your test, it won't be very helpful when you sit down to take it.[13]
- Make separate piles as you read. As you go through the cards, separate them into different piles. These can be one for those you know or got right, one for the ones you definitely got wrong, and maybe a third of things you "sort of" know. Once you have finished, go through the "wrong" pile until you can get them all into the "right" pile, then do the same if you have a "sort of" pile. This will help you put extra emphasis on the information you don't know as well. Just remember which pile is which![14]
- If you are squeezing in a quick study session, you may want to skip the piles. That way, you won't accidentally forget some of your cards when you need to move and do something else quickly.
- Always keep your cards with you. Flash cards are quick and easy to use, so if you have a five-minute break between classes or on the bus, you can always pull them out for a quick study session. Cards are nice and small too, especially compared to your notebook or textbook, so they are much easier to carry. You never know when you'll get a few minutes to get in some quick studying, so always be prepared.[15][16]
EditPracticing Good Study Habits - Find a good study time. Memorizing things can be hard if you aren't awake and focused when reading your cards. Make sure you find a time during the day when you will be wide awake and won't be interrupted. This time will be different for every person, so you'll have to find the situation that works best for you.[17]
- Listen to music. Having music on in the background when you study can help you remember things. Your brain will be able to connect information to the music by "playing" the song mentally in your mind.[18]
- Avoid music with lyrics. The best music for studying is instrumental or classical music, or just ambient noise. When you hear music with lyrics, like rap or country, your mind will focus on the words, meaning you aren't paying as much attention to the cards you are supposed to be studying.[19]
- Disconnect from the rest of the world. It can be hard to study effectively when your mind is somewhere else. If you are trying to study, you should put down your phone, get off the computer and turn off the TV. It might even be helpful to set a timer, knowing that you should only be memorizing flash cards until that alarm goes off.[20]
- Move around. If you can, try to move around a bit while reviewing your flash cards. It doesn't have to be very far, just pacing a bit can help get your blood flowing. A quick walk around your bedroom or office should be enough. Even just standing in line at the coffee shop, or leaning against a wall can helpful, just something to get you up from your desk.[21]
- Flash cards are great for understanding individual ideas and concepts. They are less useful, though, when preparing for something like an essay, which requires you to connect ideas rather than just identify them. Flash cards can still be helpful for learning concepts, but you'll need to combine it with other kinds of studying to prepare properly.
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