How to study effectively?

I know that you can find in  the internet a lot of such posts but I wanted to write mine and show you may ways to study :) Especially that it's a good time for such topics: exams, tests etc :)

Before every exam I'm trying to use few really important for me steps and it help me to study better and faster :)

1. Hand writing notes

I know it's quite old method, but when I'm writing something I'm already starting to remember a lot of things. I'm also a visual so it's better for me to read hand writing notes that computer notes.

2. Using colors.

It's commonly know method. Even my mum and probably grandmother used it. The more color on my notes the better way to remember important things :) Another good thing about this method is that it's so much nicer to look at such colorful notes than on those where you used only black or blue pen. 

3. Association

I'm using this method when I have to remember difficult definition or name of something and I can't do this in any other way. I'm just trying to associate this hard name with something what I always know. For example when I had to study physiology and anatomy and I had problem with remember which fibers are read or white and which of them slow twitch or fast. I said to myself that if we have to stop on red light then red fibers will be slow twitch but if white light is fast then fibers also should be. Maybe it's seems to be stupid but it helped me :)

4. Music therapy

For me it's nothing more than listening to favorite music when you're reading your notes. Maybe favaorite song will let you remember really hard definitions or when you're sining to the rhythm of your song you will know something more and even faster? You never know, maybe it's worth a try :)

5. Recording

It's good method especially for auditory people. It's about reading your notes loud and recording it so when you're really tired then you can just play your voice and listen to it. Maybe something will stay in your head? What's more about this method? You can also check your voice and pronunciaton. 

So I showed you 5 methods of good studying :D Of course you have to remember that breaks are really important :) You have to relax a little and clean your mind :) And what about yours method?