Hone Your Study Skills with These 4 Habits

Studying is an essential but often challenging part of academic success. Just as all students learn and flourish differently in a classroom setting, so do all students need to study in the unique way that feels right and successful for them. There are a many variations of study methods and habits you can try out in order to reflect on, develop, and hone your study skills to your advantage. Here are four study habits that will assist you in improving and better understanding your own studying traits and challenges:

1. Choose a Smart Study Area
Our minds and bodies are extremely sensitive to our physical environments. A location that has too many or too few noises, people, memories, lights, or even pieces of furniture can make the difference between a successful study session and one that is unfocused and frustrating. With this in mind, planning out study time is actually a great way to get to reflect on your own preferences and come to know yourself better. Finding out what study area works best for you may take some experimentation and change over the years or depending on the subject matter. Once you find a few areas that work, returning to them with consistently can be a powerful study success-booster. Your mind and body will begin to automatically remember that this is where you come to get your studying done and shift into focus mode. Education Corner lists these possible study spots to try out: library, kitchen, bedroom, school study lounge, classroom, or coffee shop.

2. Be Smart about when You Study
We all have times of day when we are more or less energized and clear-thinking. Working and learning during daylight can be most effective for some, while night-owls’ minds come alive in the evening. Pay attention to how you feel when you are studying and plan more sessions during the times of day when you feel successful and less when you feel stuck. This can sometimes mean moving around other activities in your busy schedule but will likely save you time and stress overall. Another good idea when you are refining your study schedule is to try using your free and unplanned time to carry out brief studying. When you are waiting to see the doctor or are unoccupied between classes, a light overview of the day’s notes or a quick vocabulary self-quiz can help your brain to stay connected to the topics you are learning about.

3. Set Priorities and Unplug
Once you start to realize when and where studying works best for you, it’s time to make it a priority. Remember that when you study successfully, you will be rewarded with increased learning and academic success, which can benefit many areas of your life in both the present and future. Committing to making studying a priority can mean saying no to various things and people, which can be challenging at times. Try to be honest each day, week, and month about what you have the time and energy to do. An honest and polite “no” is often a much better and more respectful response than trying to cram in too many activities and interactions that will not receive your full attention. If certain friends or family members seem to constantly interfere with your studies, kindly discuss this with them and set some boundaries. This applies to email, calls, texts, and social media interactions as well—unless these directly relate to your studies, they need to be put on hold while you work. Monitoring social media sites or apps while trying to study fragments your attention and sabotages your efforts.

4. Take Breaks and Stay Positive
If you’ve ever taken on a big studying initiative, you know that breaks are essential. Just as an athlete’s body needs to stretch, rest, and recharge, so do our minds need to relax and rest in order to stay in prime condition. There is a limit to the amount of sustained attention and information absorption we are capable of at any one time, and working beyond these limits ends up being unproductive. Your brain can actually preserve and consolidate information while you take a study break and a more passive role for a period of time. During your breaks, you may enjoy a variety of activities such as shooting hoops, walking a pet, having a healthy snakc, or perhaps listening to a favorite song. When possible, choose a study break that nourishes you. The Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center suggests you also use breathing exercises as a way to deal with academic stress. Here are the steps for their “Natural Breathing” exercise, which they recommend you carry out for about ten minutes, twice each day:

• “Sit or stand with good posture.
• Breathe through your nose.
• Inhale, filling first the lower part of your lungs then the middle part, then the upper part.
• Hold your breath for a few seconds.
• Exhale slowly. Relax your abdomen and chest.”

Finally, try to keep a positive attitude and inner dialogue with yourself. While sometimes getting tired or upset is completely natural, remember to go easy on yourself and try to be a friend to yourself. After all, you are the primary friend and supporter who will always be with you throughout your entire life. If you make a mistake or feel you are falling behind, it doesn’t mean that a situation is hopeless. As Psych Central advises, avoid absolute, all or nothing thinking; “instead of thinking ‘I always mess things up,’ the more objective view is, ‘I didn’t do so well that time, what can I do to improve?’”

Being honest with yourself about your understanding of a topic and progress towards a goal will help you to make realistic study plans. It’s smart to ask for help from teachers, trusted adults, and peers when you need it. As you apply these study habits and discover what types of study sessions best serve you, your time and energy will be increasingly well spent.

Written by Julia Travers

Contact us today to learn more about how our tutors can help your child with their studying skills!

Learn More!