It doesn’t matter what grade or kind of school you are in, studying is one of the most important and valuable ways to remember information. In order to study effectively, you have to have the right environment, a few tools, pens/pencils/highlighters, and at least fifteen minutes to an hour to study.
Are you ready to begin?
1. Put Your Phone Away
I know this is hard and for some, impossible. You may need music or your phone may be the only way you can access the internet. No matter your situation, there is still a way to ‘put away’ your phone: put it on silent and don’t answer texts or calls unless it is an emergency!
Phone’s are both great tools and even greater distractions. They take us away from living in the moment and they also have an annoying way of making time disappear. If you need to study, then the distraction sure isn’t going to help.
2. Find Focus Music
Binaural beats are by far one of the best ways to focus in on music. This doesn’t mean that the music is everyone’s favorite though. Binaural music has been shown to literally change your brainwaves; this helps you hone in on a specific mental state like peace or creativity and even sleep.
3. Set Up a Study Group
Once you have been in your classes for a week or so, it’s time to start setting up study groups. The practice of study groups has been around for quite some time and for good reason: studying together helps you retain more information.
4. Use Quizlet/Notecards
There is always a dilemma between hand-writing notecards for the mind/action connection and typing them to save paper and money on supplies. Either way, both are helpful options for studying.
Generally speaking, definitions, images, and quick facts are going to be easier to use on notecards while long definitions, a series of images, or websites are going to be easier to use in Quizlet.
5. Take Notes
For the majority of people, we have to write things down or interact with information to remember it. This is why so many people suggest taking notes. You can take your notes in a notebook or you can take them on a computer.
If you don’t have a computer, check out these options for desktops by Dossier Labs. It will help a lot!
Taking notes helps you stop, recall the information, and then translate that information to your hand. The entire process literally helps solidify the information in your brain and body.
6. Use Tutoring
Don’t be embarrassed! Tutoring is not somewhere to go when you are failing and tutoring doesn’t mean you are behind. When used correctly, tutoring is one of the strongest tools a student has.
Tutors can help you review information, discuss topics from class, and help with homework or where you are stuck. Utilize this resource as much as you can when you study!
7. Review Previous Assessments
An assessment can be a lot of things. Most importantly are the exams and quizzes, but assessment can also include handouts and projects. Anytime an assignment is due, this is also a sort of assessment.
Essentially, review everything that has a grade. This way, you make sure to review what was more difficult and also potentially review some exam questions.
8. Find Outside Resources
Not every school or college will have every resource needed. Not every teacher, instructor, or professor is going to have every answer or the most efficient way of getting through homework. Outside resources are a great way to shore up loose information.
9. Schedule Your Time
The hardest thing to do when studying is actually setting aside the time. For some, they can’t schedule out study time due to other responsibilities. This is completely understandable.
If you can, schedule out your study time for each course: this will help you stay on track with assignments and also ensure that you get ample time to review notes and other resources.
10. Reward Yourself
It’s surprising that more and more people forget this part of studying. Studying is hard work and sometimes the motivation isn’t there. This is where rewards help out.
Make a glass of your favorite drink, have a piece of candy, or go for a walk. Rewards are healthy and necessary. Everyone learns to keep resilient in their own way.
If you don’t reward yourself, you’ll get burnt out very quickly when you study.
Conclusion
No matter what your preferred study environment is, these tips can help you stay on track when you study. Not only that, but they can also help you remember more information too. Good luck!
