Ask the Expert Five Simple Tips for Lifelong Learning: An Illustrated Guide Stories You May Like A Decaf Soy Latte, with a Shot of Entrepreneurship With Spirit (and Sousaphones!), the Pep Band Powers Big Red Fandom Sick and Tired of Politics? Here’s Why It (Really) Matters Want to master something new? An alum and University staffer offers some straightforward ways to optimize your brainpower By Cornellians staff llustration by Shea Oleksa Editor’s note: These visuals originally appeared in a LinkedIn post from the University. The Learning Strategies Center provides academic support to undergrads through Cornell, with more than 20,000 annual student visits made to its office hours, tutorials, workshops, and other offerings. As classes wound up in May, the University tapped its senior associate director for some tips on sound study habits—not only for current students, but for learners throughout their lives. A Human Ecology alum in nutrition, Jen Bokaer-Smith, MS ’97, is a longtime staffer at the center who holds an undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to her work on the Hill, she spent nearly three decades in local agriculture as a founder of Ithaca's West Haven Farm. Blank page testing helps you actively recall information from memory. Write down what you know—in text, flow chart, or diagram form. Compare to course material to identify knowledge gaps and areas for review. Working on several skills, subjects, or concepts throughout a day helps enhance learning and locks in connections between topics. Study one subject, switch to another, then a third, and back again. Stories You May Like A Decaf Soy Latte, with a Shot of Entrepreneurship With Spirit (and Sousaphones!), the Pep Band Powers Big Red Fandom Start with a study plan and be willing to tailor it as needed. Being successful isn’t about blindly sticking to a plan, but adapting to changing needs and goals. Get help when you need it. Plan one fun activity a day—your brain deserves it. We still process and learn material even when we step away. Give your body and mind plenty of fuel through sleep, liquids, and food. Taking care of yourself sets you up to learn best. Published May 5, 2026 Comments Rick Willin, Class of 2024 6 May, 2026 I like how this breaks learning down into something practical instead of making it feel overwhelming. The idea that lifelong learning isn’t about intensity but consistency really stands out. Small habits, like reviewing regularly, staying curious, and actually applying what you learn, probably make a bigger difference than cramming or trying to “optimize everything” at once. Also, it’s cool that the tips come from someone with such a diverse background, from academia to agriculture. That kind of experience makes the advice feel more grounded in real life, not just theory. Curious though, out of the five tips, which one do people here find the hardest to stick with long-term? Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Cornelliana Slope Day 2024 in Photos Cornelliana A Century of Hospitality Education on the Hill, in Photos Alumni After Decades as the Nation’s Leading Health Columnist, Jane Brody ’62 Retires