GIVE YOURSELF A BRAIN BOOST

Yep, you can actually make yourself smarter.

- BY POPPY PRICE

Staying on top of your schoolwork requires more than just focusing in class and studying hard—it’s important to take care of your brain, too.

Why? Experts say your noggin actually continues to develop until you're well into your 20s (much later than previously thought). That means you've got a good window of time to develop habits now that'll make your brain function faster. How to do just that? Try these tricks to nail everything from speedier study sessions to mega memory boosts.

START MONO-TASKING

Sorry, busy babes: Science shows that the brain can do only one thing at a time really well—which means multitasking is a myth. Your new goal? Mono-tasking, aka the art of concentrating on just one task (or subject).

Here’s how to do it: First, increase your focus by doing homework in a quiet, distraction-free zone. Can't stand the silence? Choose a playlist where you already know all the words (your brain won't be trying to absorb new lyrics). Then get to work: Once you've ticked off an item on your list, move right to the next. Lost your place or got distracted? Set a timer for two minutes, close your eyes and reset your mind.

WRITE IT OUT

It’s easy to fall into the habit of tapping all your reminders into Notes, but studies show the physical act of putting pen to paper better engages the memory centers of your brain—especially when it comes to list-making. So grab a pretty pen (or four) and your fave notebook. Once you write things down, you're much more likely to actually recall your entries.

TAKE A TECH TIMEOUT