As the title says, how do you study?
I go to lectures and take some notes, but don't obsess over getting everything down on the page. This is more just important for being the first exposure to the content. In a few days I go to read the pertinent material that was covered in the lecture and take detailed notes. This is the second exposure, and material is already starting to cement in my mind from the lecture now. Then make some flash cards and repeat the notes to myself aloud until I remember the bits that I didn't initially.
I realise I spend a lot of time studying, but that I'm not very aware of how I study, so this is mostly a collection of my thoughts, in no particular order, on trying to study effectively. - Reading is never sufficient, I need to take notes, solve problems, and be exposed to a concept multiple times in order to remember it. - More so, I need to see concepts and tools in a variety of ways to gain any meaningful understanding of it. This is why problems, applications, and examples are important, as well as seeing the same concept explored by different sources and authors. - Remembering facts and definitions, as they are presented, is arduous compared to understanding why we have them in the first place, and how they behave. Again, this is why examples and problems are important. I don't believe that you can meaningfully understand something from just the definition. - If you can, talk to others about what you're studying. This is much easier if you're a student taking a class than if you want to learn about a topic by yourself, although there are online forums for people learning about almost any topic imaginable. This again exposes you to new viewpoints and perspectives.
Furthermore, think about how you would explain what you are studying to a layperson, without having to put them through an hour long lecture in the topic. - Ask stupid questions, even if you just ask yourself. If you don't know the answer immediately, and you think you should, then find out. Not knowing is only going to make your life harder. - Answer questions from other students. Again, online forums and stack exchange sites are great for this if you aren't in a class. Being able to help others means that you understand what makes a topic difficult or confusing to learn, and can make you aware of difficulties that you didn't notice in the first place. - Distinguish between studying hard, and studying effectively. You need to balance reinforcing the material you already know, and encountering new material for the first time. I have no clue as to what the best mix between these two is, or should be. NB: For context, I study mathematics, and some of this may not transfer effectively to your choice of subject.
My notes are always littered with pictures, whether they be diagrams or charts. After that, I'll read through any texts, assigned or otherwise, and take more notes (draw more pictures). When it comes time for testing, I always seem to remember information based on their location on the page or in a picture. But I guess that's only helpful for a visual learner and thinker.
I am on my 4th year at university, studying physics. Attend all lectures and write them down thoroughly. We also have seminars where we solve mathematical and physical problems, don't miss them too. Do not feel any necessity for using books at all, can't say the same about my classmates, though. Some fast revision before exams is all I need after term.
I generally study alone, with varying conditions of noise. For example, when I start out, I generally start listening to some Rush to get me psyched and interested. However, after a while, I'll just stop listening to music and study with my headphones in but not playing anything (only in noisy environments, though). Of course, this depends on what subject I'm studying and what I'm actually doing. For example, I'll listen to music if I'm not doing anything too intensive, and concentrate in silence on mentally heavy tasks such as assignments.
I've had better results at studying when I was doing it with other people willing to study. I find that focus comes more easily when you interact with people in order to figure out something. It also depends on the subject at hand. For example, programming is for some people better studied alone, as everyone has their own perception and can come with their own ideas when it comes to coding, whereas maths, a stricter subject, can be better tackled with group studying.
Politics, huh? I guess the best way you can feel you've actually learned something is to apply your knowledge to actual recent cases. Though I have absolutely no idea what your curriculum looks like (I'm an IT engineering student), you might even be able to find discussions about what you're studying on Hubski or other communities. You could also maybe broaden your study to recent events that may apply to your subject. In any case, I think politics is a subject you have to debate with other people to actually learn from it long term, so I'd advise you to find debating partners if possible. Can be from your entourage as well as from the Internet.