Healthy Study Aids? Real or Fantasy?

[ParadiseLost]

Hi all,

I've done a quick search and couldn't find anything specifically related to my queries, so I'm going to go ahead and post a broad range of questions that have probably been asked before..

Essentially i've got a period of intensive studying over the next two months. I'm a fairly driven and diligent student anyway but my desire is to maximise my potential to absorb and digest information over this period...

I don't want to slip into using stimulants such as Ritalin or Adderal however I'm not against the possible use of some nootropics. Im tempted to try a regime of Provigil or Piracetam. However I'm not expecting a wonder drug here. I'm well aware that if anything it will be a minor enhancement. However, I am looking to cover all bases, even if it is just for the psychological satisfaction behind the process.

Im also partaking in more traditional methods such as eating healthy, doing cardio and having power naps (in the vain hope it will help in memory consolation and thus retention) Can such factors really make a difference to the mental processing of my studies etc. ? I struggle to see how effective these factors can be when I already have decent mental health thus a decent capacity to engage with information and hold a likely normal level of attention.

Are harder stimulants really the only way to go if I want a noticeable difference in ability to keep my attention engaged on one mental task..? Aka Jack Kerouac with On the Road. I really don't want to find myself slipping down the hill to a full blown amphetamine addiction!

If this is in the wrong forum could a moderator please move it! Any information or perspective would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

[somedud]

Dual N Back.

Research it, youll be surprised.

 

[Wolfmans_BrothEr]

Well I can tell you the brain works more sharply on an empty stomach.

I don't think you need stimulants to learn, if your motivated, stay well nourished, rested, and focused, you should have no problem.

People learn in different ways, some learn better with a hands-on approach, others with reading, others with listening, I guess you'll have to figure out whats your best learning method.

I'm a student and what works best for me is to have a set place designated for school work, like a room, or a desk or whatever, where you have no distractions like music or roommates and everything you need easily accessible.

Also I've heard bananas been referred to as brain food, I don't know how much truth to that there is though

 

[wooger]

Yeah, agree with the person above that you should try not to get into the habit of using stimulants to study.

but anyway, if you have an 'emergency' then modafinil is quite useful. In fact, I watched a documentary recently where a bunch of students at Cambridge were using it to stay up and revise. They called it modafevising.

 

[mgrady3]

Yeah, agree with the person above that you should try not to get into the habit of using stimulants to study.

......They called it modafevising.

sounds like it could be a wheat beer... modafenvisen

I second the vote for not going down the Adderal route.

I recommend as mentioned eating really healthy. Things like good quality tuna and salmon, blueberries, dark chocolate, flax seed, avocado, essentially things that are high in anti oxidants and high in omega fatty acids are supposed to be good for the brain.

You could sub in something like Yerba Mate instead of having a cup of coffee. I find the stimulation from Mate much more suited to studying compared to coffee. Coffee makes me jittery, hard to focus.

Healthy diet, good work out regime if for nothing else than to take a break form studies to clear your mind while doing your body well, plus staying very hydrated is your best bet.

cheers

 

[aislinnna]

I was going to suggest Yerba Mate too. You really need to pack it into the teapot and keep pouring water through it to get the full effects I find. Good thing is that its cheap for a student budget