How to Improve Study Habits

Are you having a hard time studying? Do you keep on getting a low score despite long hours of studying? Well, students engage with a lot of things in a day. This will lead them struggling on concentrating and finishing their tasks, eventually giving them low scores. Cramming and studying longer is a popular thing for students, but this is really not the key to effective studying. The key is to know how to study smarter. Here are some tips on how to improve your study habits.

You need to change your mindset in terms of studying.

A lot of people think that studying is a requisite and not as an enjoyment or opportunity to gain knowledge. This is okay, but having the right mindset is crucial in order to study smarter. If you can’t force yourself to have the right mindset, that is the time you should simply avoid studying and just come back to it when you are not preoccupied and when you are able to focus on it.

a.) Be optimistic. Believe in yourself and always keep in mind your skills and abilities.

b.) Always think that you can surpass everything.

c.) Do not compare yourself to others. Always think that you are capable.

“I study because it gives me a sense of fulfillment in a way that it makes me realize how far I can go in terms of learning new things. It also paves the way to the job that I want to do in the future, in a sense, it is my ticket to become successful.” -Dana Araña, 21

Choosing the place where you study is important.

Choose a place where you can relax. Avoid going to places with a lot of distraction. For example, if you choose to study in your dorm room, you might find the TV, computer or even your roommate to be more interesting than the reading material you are trying to absorb. You need to find a place where you can concentrate. When choosing the perfect place to study, one consideration to have is to find a spot that is the least populated with the least amount of noise and distractions. Basically, it is easiest to study in a place that literally has nothing else to do other than to study.

“I’m comfortable studying at my room but sometimes, if I’m at the school and I have a long vacant, I go to library to study.” -Bethel Abonita, 20

Avoid bringing unnecessary things, but make sure you have everything that you needed.

Prefer using things that will not cause a lot of distraction. For example, use notes instead of the computer. Although computer might seem to be useful, it also capable of doing a lot of more things. This can cause you to get distracted.

Make sure that you have everything that you need for your study session. Time is gold, learn to value time. Do not waste your time by running back and forth habitually because you forgot an important material.

“I still bring my smartphone because I use it to view presentations and lectures online. Because for me, it is more effective than just using my notes.” -Gabriel Amador, 20

Make a habit of outlining and rewriting your notes.

It is easier to take notes of the important things to remember. Make sure that you use words that you are familiar with. Rewriting notes is one way of helping you memory retain information. Reading your notes out loud can also help your memory.

“For me, rewriting of the topics is a must. By doing this, I can rely on my photographic memory to do all the memorizing in a faster manner” -Dale Delizo, 20

Use memory games a.k.a. mnemonic devices.

According to Essential study skills by Linda Wong, A mnemonic is a technique or memory tool that works as a way to help you remember information from your long-term memory.

Try to come up with a nonsense sentence using the first letter of the words you are trying to remember. For example, A music students need to remember five notes for a treble clef which are EGBDF, Every Good Boy Deserves Fun is an easy sentence to remember in order to memorize the five notes.

The important thing here is to come up with a sentence that you are familiar with and something that you can easily remember. If this does not work for you, then don’t use them. This might be helpful to someone else but might just lead you to confusion if it is not working for you.

Study by yourself or even with your friends and make sure to prioritize it.

Some like to study on their own in order to focus more but studying with friends have some benefits too. But it is best to keep a small group. In this way, you can work together and test each other out.

“I study with a partner because whenever I do, I can memorize faster.” -Jake Cabataña, 21

Make a schedule and prioritize it.

A lot of people treat studying as something to do in spare time but it is better if you dedicate 30 minutes to an hour of studying. This will give you more time to prepare and will allow you to learn more about the material.

Make studying your habit, so that you will not have a hard time prioritizing it. A lot of students cram, they wait until the last minute then repeat the information again and again. It might save you once for a test but you won’t retain much information. Cramming is not good for the long-term memory.

“I study for about 2 hours, but it really depends on how much I need to study” -Katrina Arciaga, 20

Learn to take breaks and reward yourself.

Do not take studying as a task or a chore. If you are tired and you are having a hard time to focus, learn to take a break. You need to breathe in order to focus again. Studying longer doesn’t mean you are learning. Do not force yourself. You have to love what you do. But having a break doesn’t mean you will use your smartphones or play video games.

In book “The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World” by Dr. Gazzaley, a neuroscientist, and Dr. Rosen, a psychologist, they explained that good breaks can lessen mental fatigue, improve brain function, and keep us on-task for longer periods. But Gazzaley and Rosen said that having wrong sort of break can lead us to boredom and may actually make us want to take breaks more often than necessary.

Instead, do something that will relax your mind like taking a nap or eating some food. What is important is that you do something that you will be able to rest and not get distracted.

Also, reward yourself whenever you get achievements or whenever you succeed in every task. This will also help you to strive more for your studies

“Whenever I do good in an exam or a report, I make sure to buy myself something that will make me happy, like ice cream or milktea.” -Dana Araña, 21

Learn to balance things.

It’s important to know how to balance your life while you are in school. Make sure that you are taking a good care of yourself in order to become successful in your school as well.

“I usually study at night so that I can do more non academic stuff in the afternoon.” -Bernice Coloma, 17

Always strive to learn.

Studying is not about passing the exam or having a high grade. It is important that you gain knowledge that you can actually use in your life. Learning is a non-stop process. You need to have the right determination in order to succeed. Always have a goal and be inspired.

“I want to know more, and engaging in a life long learning is the way to do it. Plus it can help me secure both me and my family's future.” -Dale Delizo, 20

“When I hear the word studying, what comes to mind first is my future. That is the reason why I do my best in my studies” -Samuel Solomero, 20

“I believed that through studying, it will help me to be an educated person, for I know that this is my first step to success . Studying gives me passion to reach my dreams in life. And most of all, this the desire of my heart, to learn and improved myself more until I reach my goal.” -Bethel Abonita, 20

Get to know the expectations of your professors.

Talking with your professors is a good way to know what they expect. Do not hesitate to ask about the things that you need clarifications, this will make things easier for you. Pay attention in class and make sure to take note of the important things.

“I expect them, of course, to be attentive, it’s really a part of the discussion. They should always have inputs so that it will be interactive. Generally, I expect that they will be able to make something of themselves after graduation, but within the bounds of their degree” -Ivan Descartin, a professor at Malayan Colleges Laguna

So to sum it all up, improving studying habits will start from you. Learn to love what you do, so that you won’t have to work a day in your life. Keep these things in mind and your study habits will be surely improved!

sources:

https://psychcentral.com/lib/top-10-most-effective-study-habits/

https://powertochange.com/students/academics/studydorm/

https://www.vox.com/2014/6/24/5824192/study-smarter-learn-better-8-tips-from-memory-researchers

https://www.nirandfar.com/2017/03/how-to-spend-your-breaks-wisely-and-have-a-better-workday.html