Adopting good study habits and using time wisely is all a product of knowing how to make a plan and having the discipline to follow it.
If bringing home better grades is one of your objectives this semester, the following seven tips will help you make that goal a reality.
MAKE A TO-DO LIST
If you have an assignment that is due the day after tomorrow and a second one that doesn't have to be handed in until the end of next month, which one should get your more immediate attention? While this sounds like a no-brainer, a lot of people get overwhelmed when they look at the entire, dizzying picture instead of breaking the individual components down into manageable pieces. They also spend an inordinate amount of time worrying that things won't get done instead of taking the first step to actually start them.
To get a handle on how to organize your study program, make a list each day (or, if you prefer, each week) which not only lists the due dates of your respective assignments but the intermediate steps that need to be performed as well. For example, if you have to write a report on Sir Francis Bacon by the 15th, your intermediate steps would be to check out the necessary books from the library on the 1st, read the contents by the 7th, and supplement your knowledge with Google searches by the 9th. You then have between the 10th and the night of the 14th to assimilate what you have learned into your essay. (Sure beats pacing the floor that night and waiting for your brother to get off the computer so you can scramble to find out who Sir Francis Bacon even was!)
PRIORITIZE
It's only natural that we all gravitate toward those things that we WANT to do over things we HAVE to do. Certainly when a beautiful weekend beckons, it's easy to forget studying for a dreaded chemistry test and simply head outdoors for a basketball game. If that grade on your chemistry test, however, is what will make the difference between getting into your dream university or having to go to the local community college, the need to study gets bumped up a notch. As you put together your study plan, identify which courses are the most important to your academic and career goals. If you are having difficulties with certain subjects, allocate extra time for the material to sink in.
STUDY BUDDIES
Want to spend time socializing but still need to cram for an upcoming test? Enlist your classmates or members of your family as study buddies. Whether it's dates in history you need to memorize, a new vocabulary you have to master, or a technical procedure you have to explain, working with a partner will not only reinforce what you have learned but also allow you to reward yourself with a pizza or movie afterwards.
TUTORS
Have you looked into the possibility of working with a tutor? If your instructor is aware that you are having a difficult time, he or she may be able to recommend another student or assistant who can bring you up to speed on concepts. Treat this experience as you would any other class by showing up promptly, foregoing other activities for the opportunity to be personally coached, and don't be shy about asking questions. Remember that, once upon a time, they didn't know any of this stuff, either!
RECORDING SESSIONS
If it is permissible for you to take a tape recorder to class, use this as a supplement to your notes. If you're not able to record sessions, start a habit of reading your notes and study materials onto a tape as soon thereafter as you can. Not only does this get you verbalizing what you have just learned but the recording can be played back while you are later doing chores, exercising, driving your car, or going for a walk with the family dog. Experts have long maintained that even if you're not making a conscious effort to listen to the material, it is still registering with your subconscious mind.
STUDY ZONE
Create a special space for yourself that is for study only. Too often we get distracted if we're trying to work in a high-traffic area (a kitchen table, for example) or have too many temptations around such as televisions, stereos, street sounds, noisy siblings or roommates, etc. In the case of the latter, you will need to solicit their cooperation by letting them know that you don't want to be interrupted between the hours of 6 and 8. It may be difficult at first but you need to stand firm in reinforcing this new rule. What you are trying to create for yourself is a consistent "Me Time" zone in which you can focus 100% on your studies and, thus, maximize the window of opportunity to be left alone. Some students have found that getting up an hour earlier or going to bed an hour later can be effective, too, especially if these are the only times during the day they can be assured of a little tranquility.
DAILY RITUAL
Make learning a part of your daily schedule. One of the reasons that students of all ages have such a hard time going back to school after summer vacation is that, over the course of three months, they simply got themselves out of the practice of studying. Even if your hardest tests are behind you and your next essay isn't due for a couple of weeks, why not use the block of free time to read a book, learn a new skill, or start boning up for some of those classes you want to take next year? Behavioral psychologists have shown that in order for a new habit to become part of one's regular routine, it needs to be practiced for 21 straight days without a break. What that means is that even if the last of your homework was done after dinner on Friday night, you still need to utilize that one or two hour personal study hall you created as an opportunity for self-improvement. This, in turn, will be reflected in a more enthusiastic approach to trying new things as well as adopting the discipline to stick with whatever you start.
