Effective study habits are necessary for students who want to excel in their classes, standardized tests, and college admissions. Cramming for exams or procrastinating homework can negatively impact performance and lead to stress.
The key to forming good study habits is consistency and planning. Successful students typically work in regular, short study sessions rather than trying to cram all their studying into one session.
Set a schedule.
The best way to study is to develop a routine. Successful students plan specific times a week to work on assignments and stick with those plans. Having a set schedule will help you focus and may prevent you from pulling an all-nighter to finish an assignment.
Start by writing a list of all the materials and resources you will need for your studies, then keep them together in one place. This will act as a study checklist, similar to the ones used by pilots before takeoff or mechanics while servicing a car. Checking off items as you complete them will give you a clear sense of accomplishment and make it easier to maintain momentum.
Find a dedicated study space that is free of distractions and comfortable enough to stay in for extended periods. Some people study better with background noise but be careful not to listen to music that is too loud or an overly interesting podcast. Make sure you can block out any nonnegotiable distractions on your phone, and consider using online tools that limit social media use for certain lengths of time.
Write down your course syllabi, exam dates, and major assignment due dates in a calendar (paper or electronic) and use it to plot out the weeks ahead. It can also be helpful to write down any questions you have for your teachers and include those in your weekly schedule as well.
Prioritize your tasks.
One of the most important study habits you can practice is to prioritize your work. This may sound rudimentary, but it’s an essential step for getting the most out of your study time.
Without this, you can get overwhelmed and end up doing a lot of busy work that doesn’t produce results. Instead, try to qualify and order your tasks by importance and urgency to create an effective plan for your day. This is often referred to as the Eisenhower Matrix, and it’s designed to help you focus on what matters most so you can achieve real results.
When planning your schedule, be sure to set aside a block of time for your most challenging subjects or homework assignments. This will give you the best chance of understanding and remembering what you’ve learned, as well as help move it from your short-term memory to your long-term memory.
You should also start your homework on the day it’s assigned. Not only will this make you feel accomplished, but it’ll also be much easier to complete when the information is still fresh in your mind.
If you’re struggling with a subject, be sure to ask your teachers for help. They are there to support you, and they will be more than happy to answer any questions you have. It’s also a good idea to keep a list of questions for each class and bring it with you when studying so that you can check them off as you go.
Take regular breaks
Taking regular study breaks can help you stay focused. This is because it’s harder to concentrate for longer periods, and your brain needs a break between studying sessions. Taking a break doesn’t mean stopping to watch TV or check your social media news feed; instead, try to choose a healthy activity that is fun for you. Creative activities like coloring or dancing are a great way to clear your mind, boost energy, and enhance your mood. If you need a snack, choose healthy foods that are high in protein, fat, and slow-release carbohydrates. This will keep your blood sugar stable and give you the brain power you need to focus.
If you are studying at home, consider having a dedicated study space. Whether it is a desk in the corner of your bedroom or a table at the kitchen counter, having a dedicated study area helps you stay on task and eliminates distractions. It’s also important to set up a study environment that is free from clutter. Organizing your papers into separate folders can make it easier to find what you need and prevent overwhelming clutter.
The length of study breaks should vary depending on how long you’ve been working. For example, if you’re using the Pomodoro technique, it’s best to take a 5-minute break every 25 minutes. However, if you’ve spent two hours slogging through difficult math theorems, then it may be appropriate to take a 20–30 minute break.
Work in Active Techniques
When studying for an exam or completing a project, it’s important to use active techniques. This includes reading, taking notes, identifying key concepts, and reviewing the material to ensure you understand it. These types of study skills are essential for success in school and beyond.
Reading and attending class are the foundations of effective learning, but a 58-page study that looked at many different methods of studying ranked “active recall” as one of the most helpful. Students who study using this method often outperform those who only re-read their notes or other study materials.
It’s also important to break up long study sessions with short breaks and to study subjects with similar subject matter separately. This is because the brain is susceptible to interference from information that is too similar. For example, it’s helpful to study math and Spanish separately to maximize your understanding.
Asking for help is a critical study habit that allows you to gain a better understanding of the material. It can be difficult to put yourself out there and admit you don’t know something, but doing so can improve your chances of mastering the material on test day.
Using active techniques during in-class activities like Think, Pair, Share, or Jigsaw can also help you understand the material better. These methods are designed to encourage collaboration and discussion in small groups and can help you get to the bottom of confusing or unclear information.
Eliminate Distractions
Whether it’s the TV, your cell phone, or even the quiet of your room, distractions can be a huge obstacle to studying success. Eliminate them as best you can to allow your mind to focus solely on the tasks at hand. For example, turn off notifications on your phone and use apps that limit how long you can browse social media each day.
It’s also important to make it clear to anyone who might interrupt you that your time is reserved for studying. You can do this by posting your schedule somewhere visible or even telling others that you’re working on something very important and shouldn’t be interrupted.
You can also minimize external distractions by creating a study space that is tailored to your needs. For example, some students thrive in a dark and quiet space, while others need light or a little background noise.
Finally, you should try to eliminate internal distractions by getting enough sleep, eating healthy meals, and exercising. These simple habits can help you stay focused and motivated for longer periods of study.
When you feel your attention start to wander, repeat to yourself, “Be here now.” You can also try focusing on one thing at a time. Studies have shown that multitasking can reduce productivity and lead to inaccurate results. If you have a project that requires research, for example, try to break it up into two or three sessions and give each task the appropriate amount of time.
Seek help when needed.
Whether it’s an instructor for class notes or a tutor for homework help, students need to seek assistance when they are stuck. It can be easy to sweep a confusing topic under the rug, but it can also make it difficult to learn new information. Asking for help is a vital study habit that can ensure you are retaining and understanding the material rather than just memorizing it to regurgitate on a test.
Distractions are another common problem for many students, particularly when studying at home. It’s important to find a quiet and distraction-free area for your study sessions. Some people may benefit from using a white noise app or working in a library cubicle, while others find that a more familiar and comfortable environment helps them concentrate. It’s also a good idea to switch locations from time to time, as some studies suggest that learning in different environments can increase retention of the material.
Finally, it’s a good idea to review any notes or assignments you have before beginning an assignment. This is similar to the way a pilot checks off items on his checklist before takeoff or a mechanic inspects a car, and it can help you focus and prevent missing any steps in the process of moving information from short-term to long-term memory. This is one of the most common study habits of successful students, and it can dramatically improve your academic performance.