Knowledge is power, and as a student, your brain needs to be ready to absorb all the information you need to pass those exams and get the best career opportunities possible. There are so many different ways of learning and studying, and not all of them will work for you. But there are some things that all students can do to that will help you on the journey to successful studying. Here are eight tips to help you stay focussed and study effectively.
1. Tidy Room, Tidy Mind
It may sound cliché, but the space you study in really does affect how well you concentrate and take in information. If you are studying at home, before you begin, have a quick tidy up. Honestly, it will make such a huge difference to your mindset. Having a clutter free room helps you stay focussed, motivated and productive. There are less things around distract you, and it gets you ready to sit yourself down and work hard.
2. Create a Routine
Having a set routine makes studying so much easier. If you know you have to study at a specific time and are free to do whatever you want for the rest of the time, you are able to stay focussed and motivated easier and for longer. Figure out what time of the day you are most productive and set that as routine study time. Some people are early birds and work better in the morning hours, others are night owls and prefer a leisurely morning but are able to be productive later on in the evening. You need to figure out what works best for you and create a personalized routine that suits you perfectly.
3. Set Goals and Targets
We need things to work towards. Aims, goals and targets make us push ourselves and get things done. Before you begin a study session, set out at least three things that you want to achieve before you finish for the day, and don’t stop until you have met those targets. Whether they are big or small, making the goals you set yourself gives you a boost in confidence and provides a motivational push to keep going. Make sure the targets you set yourself are achievable, so you can keep giving yourself those feelings of progress, achievement and success.
4. Change Location
Sitting in the same room and staring at the same pictures on the wall for hours and hours each day while you study can unsurprisingly lead to boredom. If you find yourself gazing around, fiddling with things on the desk and being distracted by anything and everything, maybe its time to change your location. If you’ve been working in your room, try going to the library instead, or take your laptop to a nearby café, treat yourself to a hot chocolate and a slice of cake, stick in your headphones and study away.
5. Take Regular Brain Breaks
Concentration cannot last forever. You cannot stay focussed and be productive for long periods of time; it’s a scientific fact. Short bursts of study always work best and it is the most effective way to learn and retain information. In between these flares of studying, give your brain a break and do something completely different. Why not try and win yourself a bit of money at the same time and check out the top casinos listed at www.onlinecasinos.co.uk? Don’t worry if you’re not sure which one to sign up for as www.onlinecasinos.co.uk personally try and test out the online casinos, review them and give them a rating so you can be sure you are playing the best of the best.
6. Go for a Walk
It is a well-known fact that being outside and amongst nature is soothing. It helps us release, relax and reset our mind. Taking a short stroll through the park can help you feel less stressed, give you time to think about things other than studying and provide you with a well-deserved break. Going for a walk alone can be perfect when you are feeling overwhelmed, but it is sometimes more beneficial to have someone to go for a walk with. It could be your mum, friend or even your dog, but having someone to talk too, confide in and have fun with whilst being outside and getting some exercise is a perfect self-care cocktail.
7. Eat Properly
Your mind cannot be working at full capacity if you are not giving it the fuel it needs to keep going. Eating is important, and so is having three healthy, balanced meals every day. When you’re hungry, it becomes much harder to concentrate and you will not be taking in information and learning effectively if you are hungry. Plus, snacks can also be a great way to motivate yourself; reward yourself with that bar of chocolate after completing the task you’ve been procrastinating over for the past week – you deserve it.
8. Decorate with Knowledge
Exposure helps us remember. If you see something every day, you are more likely to remember it with ease. Decorate your home with simplified study materials using bright colours and highlighting key words. Put them in places where you can read and see them every day, like around your mirror, in the bathroom or on the fridge. Each time you pass one, read the information aloud and repeat it. After a few days, you should be able to recite the information without even looking!
9. Find a Study Buddy
Studying with someone else can be fun and motivating. You can help each other out by sharing study tips and talking about the methods that are most effective for each of you individually. Even if you aren’t studying the same subject, you can swap notes and quiz each other on the content. Having someone by your side for moral support while you study can be a great comfort; you can take breaks together, eat together and learn together.
It can be hard to motivate yourself to get into the routine of studying, and everyone has different ways of working productively. Try out some of these top tips and you’ll be studying effectively, smashing those targets and exceeding expectations in no time!
