Being good at studying is a skill that anyone can learn, and that includes you! There are good study habits and there are bad study habits, and this article is going to show you how to ditch what’s not working and focus on strategies that will work and make a difference come test day. When you’re finished, you’ll know how to study smarter, not harder. Plus, you’ll have a few tricks up your sleeve for when you need that extra boost of motivation!
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
To study productively, create a daily study schedule, organize your desk, backpack, and study materials, and rewrite your notes to make study guides.
Study at a quiet desk or table and remove any distractions, like phones. Take short breaks, alternate subjects, or have a healthy snack to avoid fatigue.
Attend your classes and ask your teacher or study group questions about your assigned reading, notes, or key concepts.
1.CREATE A STUDY SPACE
Set up your study space. It’s great if you have a desk for studying, but a table will also work great. Make sure your space has good lighting and remove any clutter or distractions that might break your focus. Place the materials you need to study, like pens, highlighters, and a notebook, near the area so they’re handy.
It’s okay to switch up your study spot if that’s more convenient for you. For instance, you might like studying at the library or a coffee shop sometimes.
Play music while you study so it's more fun. Create a playlist of songs that inspire you but aren't distracting. You might try instrumental music if you get distracted easily, but it's okay to listen to whatever you like.
2.CREATE A SCHEDULE
Create a daily study schedule for yourself. Rather than trying to do all your studies in 1 day, plan to study a little every day. Start by choosing the time of day when you feel the most focused. Then, decide which subjects you’ll study each day. Keep your study schedule in your agenda or somewhere you can see it every day.
Everyone has a different time of day when they feel most energized. You might find that you learn best early in the morning, but it’s also possible you might like studying right after school or before bed. Do what works best for you.
If you participate in sports or activities, keep these in mind when planning your studies. Let’s say you have sports practice every day after school. You might decide it’s best to study for an hour each evening before bed and an hour every morning before school to accommodate your sports schedule.
3.ORGANISE YOUR MATERIALS
Organize your study materials so it's easy to find what you need. You probably have a lot to do, so you need to spend your time wisely. Keep all of your papers, notebooks, texts, and writing utensils in a specific place so you don’t waste precious study time looking for them. This way you can quickly pull out what you need and get started.
For example, you might keep your pencils, pens, highlighters, and erasers in a pencil pouch in your backpack. If you also have a desk at home, you could keep a cup of them on your desktop. Try using colorful pens for notes you write for yourself so it's more fun.
If your instructor sends handouts and readings in digital files, save yours to a Google Drive that you can access from any device. This way you’ll always have what you need.
You could use a hole-punch to add holes to handouts, readings, and other paper items so you can keep them in a binder. As another option, you could keep them in a folder. Pick a binder or folder that has an image you like on it! You might even decorate it.
Keep books or notebooks in your bookbag or beside your study space.
4.REMOVE DISTRACTIONS
Remove distractions so you can stay focused on your studies. You’ll have an easier time focusing if there aren’t distractions around. Ask the people around you to not disturb you while you’re studying. Additionally, turn off your TV and silence your phone so you won’t be tempted to check it.
If there’s clutter nearby your study spot, you might want to remove it if you find it distracting.
Try using a productivity app or website that can block social media and other distracting apps or sites during your study time.
5.REVIEW YOUR NOTES
Review your notes at the end of each school day so everything is fresh. You'll likely need to re-read your notes a few times before they start to stick in your mind. Set aside a few minutes every day to go back over what you learned in all of your classes. It doesn't need to be a big block of time.
Look for a few minutes of downtime, like when you're waiting for the bus, sitting on the ride home, or waiting for your after-school events to start.
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