Let’s be honest - Anki can be amazing, but if you’re spending more time making the cards than using them… you’re doing it wrong. Here’s a quick, no-fluff guide to save your sanity:
🧩 1. Use premade decks whenever possible
Check out AnkiWeb, Reddit, or even your school’s Discord/Google Drive. Medical students? Use AnKing. Language learner? Try the top shared decks. Don't reinvent the wheel.
🖼 2. Screenshot > Typing
Studying from slides or PDFs? Use the Image Occlusion Enhanced add-on. It lets you cover up parts of a diagram/text instead of typing out Q&A cards. Way faster.
🧠 3. Stick to the “Minimum Effective Dose”
Don’t overcomplicate. One fact = one card. Don’t write a paragraph. Break big concepts into bite-sized questions that are easy to review.
⌨️ 4. Keyboard shortcuts are your best friend
Learn the basic shortcuts (like A for add, E for edit, Space to flip, etc.) - you’ll fly through reviews much faster.
📚 5. Batch create with ChatGPT or Notion
Dump lecture notes or textbook content into ChatGPT and ask it to generate simple Q&A-style cards. Then copy-paste or import to Anki. Not perfect, but better than typing for 3 hours.
My personal tips for you, mates:
– I review on my phone in line, on the bus, or in bed.
– I use a “10-min timer” method when I’m dreading it.
– I only make cards when I know it’s a fact/concept I’ll 100% forget