You probably think studying sucks. It’s boring. It’s stressful. You read, you forget, you panic before the exam, and then...repeat the cycle.
But what if I told you that studying could actually be fun? What if I told you it could be something you enjoy, something that makes you smarter, and gives you more free time for the things you love (like hobbies, projects, and hanging out with friends)?
I’m Collin, a Yale student studying Computer Science and Music. Over the past few years, I’ve not only studied a crazy amount but also helped thousands of students improve their grades through my YouTube videos.
…and LOTS of more success stories in my DMs.
Today, I’m going to show you exactly how to study like a sigma—using the same strategies that have worked for me and thousands of others.
This isn’t your typical "highlight your notes" advice. This guide is a practical system to learn faster, remember more, and crush any subject—while having fun doing it.
Sounds good? Let’s jump in
Step 1: Active Recall
Most people study wrong. They read and re-read their notes, highlight a bunch of stuff, then pray it sticks. That’s passive learning.
Pish posh.
You want to study actively.
Think of Active Recall like a brain workout. Instead of passively reading, you’re forcing your brain to actively remember the info. The more you make your brain work, the more it retains.
This works because your brain learns faster from testing. It’s all about retrieving information, which helps you actually understand it.
Fun fact: Andrew Huberman (Stanford professor) did a 2 hour video on study protocols. I’ve watched the video for you.
Main takeaway: Active Recall WORKS.
Here’s how to do it:
Create flashcards: Use apps like Quizlet or Anki. Don’t just look at the cards—test yourself. Keep going until you can answer without thinking.
Practice Papers: Want to ace the test? Start doing old practice tests or make your own tests. It’s like sparring before a fight. Super useful.
Teach it to a friend: Can you explain the concept to someone else in simple terms? If not, you don’t really know it. Teach your friend (or your mirror).
The more you force yourself to recall information, the more it sticks. And the best part? You’ll cut your study time in half and still remember more.
Step 2: Gamify Your Studying
Studying doesn’t have to be boring. Turn it into a game. The more fun you make it, the more you’ll want to do it, and the faster you’ll improve.
Here’s how to gamify your studying:
Beat Your Score: Turn flashcards into a competition—against yourself. Set a timer for 10 minutes. How many cards can you get right? Beat your score.
Treat It Like a Race: Try to solve practice papers as fast as possible. Time yourself. Go through the questions until it’s almost like muscle memory.
Reward Yourself: Set mini-goals for each study session. Finish a practice test, and then reward yourself. Maybe it’s a fresh green smoothie. Maybe it’s a 10-minute YouTube break :)
When you gamify it, studying becomes something you look forward to.
Step 3: Focus
Ever sit down to study, then suddenly an hour later, you’ve been scrolling or answering random messages? Distractions kill your productivity.
If you want to study like a sigma, you need to master focus.
Here’s the deal: the key to focus is short bursts of intense work. No one can focus for 12 hours straight. That’s pish posh. But you can focus for a solid 1 to 2 hours (sweet spot).
Here’s how to maximize your focus:
Use Parkinson’s Law: This principle states that “work expands to fill the time available for its completion.” If you give yourself 2 hours to study, you’ll take 2 hours, but if you give yourself 30 minutes, you’ll get more done in less time.
Flow State: To truly get in the zone, eliminate distractions and aim for tasks that are slightly challenging but not overwhelming. Enter your flow state.
Pro tip: Put your phone in another room. Also, try listening to binaural beats to get in the flow state. Sometimes I listen to house music, EDM, or jazz piano (I love jazz).
Metalearning – The Ultimate Skill
Once you learn how to learn, you can apply it to anything. Metalearning is the ultimate skill. Instead of grinding for hours every day, you’ve now learned how to study smarter.
And when you master this, you can learn anything—any subject, any skill.
Whether it’s coding, art, YouTube, or business, these principles work outside of school too. You can learn skills FAST.
By studying effectively, you’ll save time and free up time for the things you actually enjoy. This is how the Intellectual Chad does it.
As always, I hope you get value.
See you soon,
Collin
PS: if you found this guide helpful, share it with a friend :) And / or DM me your feedback on Instagram. I read and respond to almost all DMs.
If I say you are dumb then I lied
Hy collin
Your new subscriber is here from YouTube 💚