BEAST MODE STUDY III: The Roar Power of Interleaving

<p> INTERLEAVING</p><p>Interleaving is the art of moving from one topic to another in a set block of study time. <br> <br> The word broken down describes inserting additional pages (or leaves,) into a book. <br> <br> While it may seem counterintuitive to move away from one subject while you’re in the thick of it, it’s less about moving away from a subject and more about connecting it with other subjects. It’s about finding the commonalities as well as the differences and using those revelations as bridge builders. Actually, continuing with the “bridge” analogy, it’s a way of connecting worlds. For those who are into Norse mythology or the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s like the Bifrost or Rainbow Bridge that allows Asgardians like Thor to travel to different realms. Using the interleaving method essentially opens up your world and by making connections, expands your understanding. Research into this method is particularly favourable towards this being effective for the subjects that ask for problem-solving. <br> <br> Cognitive psychologists that have studied the effects of interleaving feel that the method improves the brain’s ability to differentiate between concepts. They believe that interleaving helps to strengthen memory associations. <br> <br> It is harder at first that blocked practise and study but, as we’ve spoken about in past episodes, the short-term pain leads to longer term gains. If you haven’t listened to our episode on ‘Desirable Difficulties’ please go back and check that out. It’s the podcast episode with the bear in the image. <br> <br></p><p>As part of the interleaving process, it is important to remain conscious to those links and not forget to find the connections. The recommendation is to vary the order that the subjects are studied. This helps the mind to avoid going into cruise control. It keeps the mind actively learning.</p><p>I’ve used physical workouts as an analogy for study or “mental workouts” before because that’s the world I come from being an educator for health and fi