1. Don’t Try to Multi-task
Successful students typically space their work out over shorter periods of time and rarely try to cram all of their studying into just one or two sessions. If you want to become a successful student, you need to learn to be consistent in your studies and to have regular, yet shorter, study periods.
2. Plan When You Are Going to Study
Do you work better right after school or after you have eaten dinner? Are you more productive in 90-minute blocks or half-hour spurts? Find a schedule at specific times throughout the week that works for you, and stick to it.
Students who study sporadically typically do not perform as well as students who have a set study schedule. Creating a weekly routine, where you set aside a period of time a few days a week to review your courses will ensure you develop habits that will enable you to succeed in your education long term.
3. Study At the Same Time
When you study at the same time each day and each week, studying will become a regular part of your life. You will be mentally and emotionally more prepared for each study session, and each study session will become more productive. If you have to change your schedule due to unexpected events, that’s okay, but get back on your routine as soon as the event has passed.
4. Each Study Time Should Have a Specific Goal
Making a plan for what you are going to do and when you are going to do it will make sure you are always ahead. Simply studying without direction is not effective. You need to know exactly what you need to accomplish during each study session.
Before you start studying, set a study session goal that supports your overall academic goal (i.e. write a short story on an interesting news story, from a fresh and different angle, in preparation for the upcoming creative writing test)
5. Never Procrastinate
It’s very easy and common to put off your study session because of lack of interest in the subject, because you have other things you need to get done, or just because the assignment is hard. Successful students DO NOT procrastinate studying.
If you procrastinate your study session, your studying will become much less effective and you may not get everything accomplished that you need to. Procrastination also leads to rushing, and rushing is the number one cause of errors.
6. Start With the Most Difficult Subject
As your most difficult assignment or subject will require the most effort and mental energy, you should start with it first. Once you have completed the most difficult work, it will be much easier to complete the rest of your work. Believe it or not, starting with the most difficult subject will greatly improve the effectiveness of your study sessions, and your academic performance.
7. Take Notes and Review Them
Obviously, before you can review your notes you must first have notes to review. Always make sure to take good notes in class. Before you start each study session, and before you start a particular assignment, review your notes thoroughly to make sure you know how to complete the assignment correctly. Reviewing your notes before each study session will help you remember important subject matter learned previously, and make your studying targeted and effective.
8. Eliminate Distractions
Everyone gets distracted by something. Maybe it’s the TV. Or your family. Or maybe it’s too quite. Some people actually study better with a little background noise. When you are distracted while studying you: (1) loose your train of thought and (2) are unable to focus — both of which will lead to very ineffective studying. Before you start studying, find a place where you won’t be disturbed or distracted.
9. Use Study Groups Effectively
Working in groups enables you to (1) get help from others when you are struggling to understand a concept, (2) complete assignments more quickly, and (3) teach others whereby helping both the other students and yourself to internalize the subject matter. However, study groups can become very ineffective if they are not structured, and if groups members come unprepared. Effective students use study groups effectively.
Read More: 7 Techniques To Help You Make the Best of Study Groups
10. Take Care of Yourself
Stay healthy. You can’t have a healthy mind without a healthy body. Eat right, exercise and move around, get sleep, and drink lots of water.
See Also: Don’t Just Study Harder, Study Smarter! Consider 4 Ways of Doing This
