𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞!

Studying isn't simply for the night before a test or an assignment is due.

To form good study habits, there is never a bad time. Your chances of earning good grades will increase and everything will be easier if you can get into a good study routine as soon as possible.

Here are our best suggestions for making the most of your study time.

1. Pick a place and time

Everyone has a different perspective on the ideal location and hour for studying. Find a place to study that works for you, whether it's your bedroom at night or the library after school, and stay with it.

Set up your study space –

Your study area should be peaceful, cosy, and free from interruptions. It ought to uplift and encourage you. Put your favourite photographs or things on it to personalise it. Choose a location that allows you to do so if you wish to listen to music or burn incense.

Find your best time –

Some people perform their best work in the morning. Others are more productive at night. Determine your best time for study and schedule it accordingly. Studying considerably later than when you normally go to bed can leave you too exhausted to do your homework adequately.

2. Study every day

If you do a small bit of studying every day, your memory will be constantly going over what you've learned. This clarifies things for you. Additionally, it relieves the pressure of last-minute cramming.

Early in the year, one or two hours per night can be plenty to keep up with everything. You might need to put in extra study time each day later in the year.

Reduce some (but not all!) of your other activities if you're having trouble finding time to study. Prioritizing your studies can require you to limit your internet time, work fewer hours, or skip a few weekends of sports.

3. Plan your time

It helps to have some plans in motion so you can make the most of your study time.

Set alarms – Set alarms to remind you about your study plans. A regular reminder keeps you honest and your plans on track.

Use a wall planner –  Stick a calendar or wall planner up so you can see it whenever you're studying. Mark it up with important dates, like exams and assignment due dates. Use it to block out your regular study timetable too.

Make to-do lists –  Lists break tasks down into manageable chunks. At the start of the week, make a list of the things that you need to have done by the end of the week. Make a to-do list at the start of each study session too, so that you're clear about what you need to be doing with your time. 

Set time limits – Before you start your study session, have a look at your to-do list and give yourself a set time to spend on each task. If you don't get something done in the set time, consider whether it's the best use of your time to keep going with it, or to start working on something else.

4. Discover your learning style

The majority of us prefer certain methods of learning. Discover your preferred learning style and approach your studies in that manner.

Keep in mind that these styles are only a tool to consider various studying methods; they are not rigid guidelines that dictate how you must always study. Try them all out and decide which approach you like best.

Auditory learners prefer to learn by listening. Try reading your notes aloud and discussing them with other people. You might like to record key points and play them back.

Visual learners prefer to learn by seeing. Try using colours in your notes and draw diagrams to help represent key points. You could try to remember some ideas as images.

Tactile/kinesthetic learners prefer to learn by doing. Try using techniques like role-playing or building models to revise key points

5. Review and revise

You ought to review what you learned in class at least once a week. You can better understand concepts by giving them some thought, which will also help you remember them for when you most need them.

Quiz – Get a friend or family member to quiz you on key concepts. Offer to help your friends with their work too. Quizzes are great ways to get confident about what you know and find out what you still need to learn.

Make your own study materials – Think up some practice exam questions or create your own flash cards to help you study. This way you learn it all twice: once when you make the study materials and once when you use them to revise.

6. Take breaks

When studying, it's crucial to take pauses, especially if you're feeling fatigued or frustrated. Your performance can actually suffer if you spend too much time on a task.

Make careful to leave your desk or study area when you take a break. A little exercise, even just a short stroll around the block, might occasionally help you see an issue from a new angle and may even help you solve it.

7. Ask for help

If you're stuck on something, or something just doesn't seem to make sense, you can always ask for help. Talk to your teachers or lecturers about the things you don't understand. Talk to your friends and fellow students too.

8. Stay motivated

When you're studying it helps to keep in mind your reasons for doing all this hard work, like a course or career you're working towards. It can help to have something in your study space to remind you of your goals.

You could also decorate your study space with inspirational quotes or photos of people you admire and family members you want to make proud of you.

9. App it up

There are heaps of apps out there for helping students with all aspects of study. Have a chat with your friends and teachers or lecturers to see which apps they recommend.

10. Look after yourself

You’ll study better if you take care of yourself. Make sure you eat well and get enough sleep and physical exercise. Don't reward yourself with too many sugary or fatty snacks or push yourself to study late into the night. It’s also a good idea to make sure you drink lots of water when you’re studying.