Every generation rewrites the rules of learning. Back in the 17th century, a young Isaac Newton locked himself away in a dimly candlelit room to scribble while the world outside battled plague. Almost three centuries later, a Gen Z student sits at a desk illuminated by LED lamps, juggling digital flashcards, Pomodoro timers, colourful mind maps, YouTube explainers and more.
The contrast is not only sharp but startling as well. Newton pushed through 18 hours a day without breaks, meals or distractions; today's generation studies with quick and efficient techniques, algorithms and productivity hacks. Yet, strangely, both generations share the same pursuit: understanding difficult concepts and mastering knowledge. The question arises, "How is Newton's method helping, and are the trending study techniques revolutionising exam prep in 2025?"
The fascination with Newton's legendary work ethic mirrors the growing obsession with "grind culture," partly because students are under pressure to perform in increasingly competitive academic environments. Gen Z has chosen a different path, one that values time and efficiency over exhaustion and technique over hassle.
Today's students swear by interesting frameworks like Pomodoro, Feynman technique, mnemonic technique, active recall, spaced repetition, mind mapping and blurting technique. These tools are designed not to grill the brain but to train it. As exam patterns have evolved over the years and cognitive research advances, these methods are quickly becoming the norm rather than the trend.
Isaac Newton's Study Routine
Sir Isaac Newton's study habits have long fascinated historians and students alike. His legendary dedication was not just intense, but it bordered on the extreme. During the plague years, Newton immersed himself in books, experiments, and theoretical work with a ferocity unmatched even by today's "study influencers." He worked in isolation, surrounded by nothing more than candlelight, ink, rough notes, and the deafening silence of a quarantined world.
This period produced breakthroughs that would shape the world forever:
Biographer Gale Christianson once described Newton's study habits as "pathologically addictive." His employees during the 1680s recalled that while preparing Principia, Newton would sleep at 2 or 3 am, barely socialise, rarely engage in leisure, and live in a self-imposed intellectual tunnel. This grind, while extraordinary, came at psychological and physical costs.
Fast forward to 2025, in today's era, students are looking for efficient hacks to score well without much exhaustion.
The Rise Of Smart Study
Unlike Newton, Gen Z has grown up in the age of high-speed internet, short attention spans and intense academic pressure. Instead of dedicating 18 hours a day to studies, many prefer studying effectively, not endlessly. Numerous studies also indicate that the human brain learns best with effective studying, and this understanding also gave birth to a new era of "smart study," where techniques are backed by neuroscience.
These methods are not shortcuts; they are optimised techniques proven to enhance long-term memory, reduce burnout and improve performance under pressure. Let's understand the core study techniques revolutionising learning in 2025.
Pomodoro Technique- Gen Z has started adopting this technique as their antidote to digital distraction. It works on a simple principle: 25 minutes of deep focus, 5-minute break, after 4 cycles, a longer 15-30 minute break. This prevents cognitive fatigue, maintains momentum and encourages disciplined study without forcing long hours. Students use timers, mobile apps or even YouTube pomodoro videos to stay on track.
Feynman Technique- This technique was popularised by physicist Richard Feynman. The idea is to explain the topic to a sixth grader to check if someone has learnt or memorised it by heart. This technique works best for maths, economics, physics and theoretical subjects. This concept uses a four-step approach:
Blurting Technique- This method allows students to identify weak areas quickly and boosts memory through active recall. This is widely used before exams as a final revision technique.
Active Recall Technique- Considered the backbone of modern study science, rather than re-reading notes, students actively test their memory by retrieving information from the brain. The challenge strengthens the neural pathways, ensuring that information shifts from short-term to long-term memory.
Mnemonics Technique- Mnemonics convert complex information into catchy phrases, memory triggers and acronyms. Some of the examples include, if someone wants to remember the correct order of the planets, they use "My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas".
For rainbow colours, VIBGYOR.
Students use mnemonic devices to memorise the chemistry equations, biology cycles, physical laws, historical timelines and more. They make learning less tedious and memorable.
Spaced Repetition Technique- This method takes advantage of the spacing effect, where information is reviewed at increasing intervals. Spaced repetition ensures that students are constantly reviewing content just as they are about to forget it, the sweet spot for memory reinforcement.
Mind Mapping Technique- To organise complex ideas visually, mind mapping appeals particularly to visual learners and students studying interlinked topics. It transforms difficult chapters into easy diagrams. A popular example is:
For the nervous system: "Nervous System" - "Central Nervous System" and "Peripheral Nervous System" - further branching into spinal cord, neurons, sensory pathways, etc.
The 2025 Study Revolution
As Gen Z becomes more aware of mental health and cognitive science, the approach to exam preparation is undergoing a massive transformation.
Fewer Hours- Modern techniques allow students to achieve in 2-3 hours what might have taken Newton 10 hours of brute-force studying.
Focus on Understanding- Techniques like Feynman, mind mapping, and blurting build comprehension rather than blind mugging.
Science Over Superstition- Memory research, psychological studies, and digital tools have refined how learning works at a neurological level.
Better Retention and Less Burnout- Unlike Newton's draining routine, modern methods prioritise balance; sleep, breaks, mental health, and sustainable performance.
Newton vs Gen Z: Who Really Wins?
Newton's genius is unquestionable, but his study routine is not practical or even healthy. His obsessive work ethic might produce brilliance, but for most students, it is a recipe for burnout. Gen Z's smart techniques, however, democratise learning. They allow average students to perform at extraordinary levels using scientifically optimised methods.
In terms of efficiency, retention, and long-term performance, Gen Z's methods clearly outshine Newton's 18-hour grind. But in terms of raw intellectual passion, Newton remains unmatched.
Newton lived in a world without distractions, but also without research on how the brain learns. Gen Z lives in a world filled with distractions but equipped with powerful tools to overcome them. If Newton represented the era of extreme study, Gen Z represents the era of intelligent study.