Many people have made lists of highly effective people, of highly effective study habits etc. You must determine for yourself what works best for you. We all learn in different ways. Some of us learn things that we hear; some of us learn things that we see. You might know already, but you might not. Now is the time to learn how you learn best so that you can be a better student.
I have a list of eight things that will help you in your study habits. And you’re already determining to have better study habits, just because you are taking the time to read this article.
- Control your environment
- Bring nothing extra to your study area
- Have a study habit
- Take breaks
- Feed your brain
- Understand what to learn
- Understand how to learn it
- Have a great attitude
Control your environment
We all know how frustrating it is to be trying to watch a show or play a video game with constant interruptions and distractions. Your study habits are actually more vital to your future than any movie that has been put out in the past 10 years. Take the time to be in control of your time of study. I mean, it’s something already that you’re going to set apart the time for study; you might as well make the best of a situation so that you will benefit most from your study time.
Keep noise and music to a minimum. If the style of music that you listen to encourages you to “sing along†to the words, than it is not good study music. You want to provide an environment in which your brain gives undivided attention to your topic. You may not think that music is very much, but it can divide the attention that you brain should be giving to one subject into 2 subjects.
Seldom do people study well together. Unless you are group studying just before a test, and you are quizzing each other, you should study alone. You might say that you are only going to keep each other “company†but that “company often becomes an excuse to be distracted. You will find things to talk about just to avoid studying.
Bring nothing extra to your study area
We just discussed not having friends with you when you study, but surprisingly students think that their phone is attached to them physically and they just can’t not have it along. Texting and answering messages and calls will take up your valuable time. If you must have it with you silence it so that you don’t hear the distraction. But truthfully, it’s better just to leave it on your bed or desk while you take some time to study.
Video games and other devices will also distract you from your study time. IF you want to take a break (this is step #4) and play video games, fine. Go to the video games, having them close at hand is simply a plan for disaster and failure in studying.
Have a study habit
A habit is simply that. A habit is something you do regularly. You brush your teeth, you comb your hair. You should study. By establishing a regular time that is set aside for study, you are telling your brain that you value study time. You also will be able to schedule things better. Instead of finding out that a quiz or test has “snuck†up on you without you being prepared, you will take the time to regularly study so that you will be better prepared and better informed about what’s going on in your class.
Take breaks
Relaxing your brain will help it work better. Just like relaxing your muscles after a track meet will help your muscles knowing that you have a break coming will help you to focus before the break time has come, and it will reward your for sticking to a specific plan.
Feed your brain
While you’re on your break, make sure to feed your brain. Providing junk food and sugars do not help your brain work well, and they make your body feel sluggish and tired. Fresh fruits and vegetables will energize your body and your brain.
Understand what to learn
Realize that each course of study has different things required for you to learn. Your mind learns all kinds of things differently, so knowing ahead of time what is expected for each class will help you to be prepared. The teacher will typically tell you what you must know. (They are not a success if you fail – they are not trying to make you fail, they want you to succeed.)
Understand how to learn it
Applying different study techniques to different things that you must learn will maximize your study time. If you have to memorize the periodic table of elements, then you need to know how you can best learn them. Will it be flashcards, memorization, or will you need to learn by association? However it is, half the battle is learning how you best learn things, and then learning them comes so much easier!
Have a great attitude.
Probably ever since you were 13 or 14, you started hearing about your attitude. Well in studying having a good attitude will help you have good success in learning. If you understand the wisdom of having good study habits, then you will be more determined to have those good study habits. If you determine to have better grades, then you most likely will do what it takes to have better grades. I heard the saying once (I don’t’ remember where) “Attitude affects your Altitudeâ€. Aim high, think high, achieve high!
So now you’re going to provide a good environment in which to study, that will not have any extra distractions for you. This study will be at a specific and regular time and place. You will enjoy rewarding yourself with breaks and snacks that will not bog your mind down with sugars and junk food. You will understand exactly what is expected of you in your classes, you will understand how to learn exactly what you need to learn, and your attitude will be what skyrockets you to a new level of grades and learning.