Study Smarter, Not Harder
Do you often procrastinate or cram the night before an exam? Then you probably don’t need us to tell you those habits aren’t effective. In fact, they can hold you back, hurting your goals, progress, and even your GPA. If you’re ready to build healthier study habits, we’ve got you covered. Here are 10 terrible ones to quit, and 10 better ones to adopt.
1. Studying Without a Plan
When you study without a clear, organized structure, you might easily be led off track and end up trying to cover too much material at once, or too little. You can see how this can make your study session unproductive: without setting goals, you lack direction, and may come out not understanding anything you covered.
2. Passive Re-Reading
When you have all your notes and textbooks in front of you, don't just passively re-read the material from start to end—this isn't going to make it stick in your brain. Research has shown that our brains need to be actively engaged to form meaningful memories, so without actively trying to understand what you're covering, the words will only float through your mind and seep back out.
3. Not Asking for Help
Don't understand a concept? If your notes, lecture materials, textbooks, and online videos aren't helping, it's time to ask for help. It's understandable that you may sometimes feel too shy and self-conscious to reach out to your teachers or fellow classmates, but by keeping your questions to yourself, you're not setting yourself up for success.
4. Going Straight to the Solution
Ever come across a math problem you didn't know how to solve and went straight to the back of the textbook for the answer? Oftentimes, you're only met with a number or a correct equation, but never a step-by-step solution. By not trying to work through the problem yourself and making sure you understand the material or topic you're covering, you're not going to strengthen your learning.
5. Procrastinating
Ah, we're definitely all familiar with this one. When's the last time you waited until the very last minute to start an assignment that you were given ample time to finish? Probably not too long ago, right? But by procrastinating and making a habit out of it, you're only going to stress out your brain more, which will end up impeding your academic goals, progress, and grades.
6. Having Digital Screens Within Reach
If you're studying in front of the TV or have your phone, tablet, or laptop in reach when you don't need them, these screens will only distract you from your studies. You might be tempted to check your notifications, text your friends, scroll through social media, or watch an episode of your favorite show. Basically, you'll want to do anything but study.
7. Cramming the Night Before an Exam
Just as you shouldn't procrastinate your assignments, you also shouldn't postpone studying for important exams and cram the night before them. When you do this, there's only so much material your brain can hold and remember, and poor sleep will only make your memories worse.
8. Multitasking
You might think multitasking allows you to get more things done in a short amount of time, but trying to cram too much material (from different subjects, no less) into one study session isn't the way to go. For one, you'll need to constantly switch between tasks and divide your attention, which will most likely take longer than just focusing on one thing at a time.
9. Forgoing Breaks
Studying without taking breaks is only going to burn you out faster. You'll feel less productive and motivated, which may make you want to stop before you've even delved deeper into your tasks and study materials. And when you tire out your brain while it's already stressed, you're not setting yourself up for success.
10. Poor Sleep & Exercise
Not getting enough sleep, snacking on junk food, and forgoing exercise can all negatively affect your studying sessions. You might get easily tired and want to quit as soon as you start, which is why it's so important to nourish your body with good food and healthy habits to keep your noggin running smoothly.
Now that you know which study habits to quit, let's move on to adopting better ones so that you're always setting yourself up for success. Read on for 10 helpful tips:
1. Set Goals for Each Session
As mentioned earlier, going into your study sessions without clear goals in mind can lead to an unstructured plan that makes you feel less in control. Instead of going in blind, outline a concrete roadmap to follow so you're not just left wandering in the dark. Make sure you set realistic, attainable goals, too—don't just say you're planning to study for 10 hours.
2. Find a Good Place to Study
The key to having a successful studying session is picking the right place to study. Don't bring all your notes and material to the couch in front of the TV or to a crowded café when you know you're easily distracted. Being productive starts with a good environment, so stick to quieter and calmer spots.
Kyle Gregory Devaras on Unsplash
3. Group Up!
Feel unproductive and unmotivated when studying alone? Group up with your classmates and friends! By studying with more people, you can all support and hold each other accountable, as well as make sure everyone's on the right track with the material.
4. Understand Your Learning Style
If you're finding certain concepts and topics difficult to understand, ask yourself what your learning style is, and what methods help you retain material best. Everyone learns in their own way: some may prefer to take in information visually, while others might prefer hands-on activities.
5. Ask for Help
If you're still having trouble understanding something, be sure to ask your teachers or classmates for help. Just as we mentioned previously, everyone learns in their own way, so don't let your fear of looking incompetent stop you from reaching out for clarification.
6. Take Frequent Breaks
Again, you don't want to experience burnout as soon as you start, so make sure to take frequent breaks during your study sessions. One method you can follow is the Pomodoro Technique, which breaks down work into 25-minute intervals with brief five-minute breathers in between.
7. Minimize Distractions
We previously mentioned the importance of choosing a good, distraction-free study spot, but it's worth highlighting again. For example, if you know you're someone who's always glued to their phone and won't be able to refrain from looking at it while studying, keep it in a different room or in a hard-to-reach place.
8. Take Organized Notes
Oftentimes, being better at studying starts with taking good notes. Try structuring your bullet points, key topics, and questions in an organized way that aligns with your specific learning style. Sketchnoting, for one, is a popular and effective note-taking strategy that combines words with doodles and visual aids. And if you prefer all text, the Cornell method might suit you.
9. Review & Take Practice Tests
After you've learned something new and jotted down your notes, it's important to review, review, and review some more. Don't just passively re-read through it; take practice tests, challenge yourself with different problems, and see if you can effectively explain the concepts you've learned to someone else. The key is to flex and engage your brain so the material is properly retained and understood.
10. Reward Yourself
Don't forget to reward yourself afterwards! Studying can take a huge toll on both the mind and body, and celebrating your achievements, big or small, helps keep you motivated for the next session. So go ahead and treat yourself to something delicious or do something fun!
