With the change of seasons, the motivation and drive to study and do work has dropped. When it is sunny outside, I tend to either study poorly or just procrastinate doing it altogether. However, we are only halfway through this semester. Now is not the time to let bad studying habit flourish and neglect schoolwork.
Sometimes, it is difficult to recognize studying patterns and habits that are more harmful than helpful. Unconsciously, one might be practicing bad study habits without realizing it because they have been able to get by. But once your grades start to drop and you can’t pinpoint why, reevaluate and consider if you’re practicing one of the following bad study habits.
Procrastination
Every student has been guilty of procrastination at one point or another during their academic career. It is so easy to allow procrastination to take over your studying style and to just continue to put off assignments and reading. It tends to start small, letting yourself push back an assignment a few days. But eventually, procrastination leads to cramming and that’s not a habit you want to keep around.
While it can be difficult to break the cycle of procrastination, it is possible. Begin slowly by scheduling time each day to work on specific assignments and projects. By sectioning off a given amount of time to do your work, you’ll be more likely to complete the assignment before the last minute.
Studying with distractions
Given the current, virtual nature of school and studying, this poor studying habit is more prevalent than ever. As you try to get work done, a notification form your phone can deter you from your original drive and motivation. Slowly, you become distracted and neglect your work.
This is not only a phone issue. Other distractions, like music or being close to friends, can create big distractions that do not allow one to be efficient or have great focus. This is something that varies person to person, so try to take it into consideration if you find yourself being distracted by specific things or people while doing your work.
Not having a study plan
Being organized and knowing exactly what work you need to get done is one of the most important parts of when I study. When you go into studying without having an idea of what you need to get done and how to go about it, you won’t be as productive. Having a plan and a purpose will allow your study session to be more useful and planned to what you need to accomplish.
Wrong environment
Finding a good study spot is a difficult task. Some people work best in quiet, secluded areas with zero distractions. Other people prefer to work in coffee shops or libraries on campus. Regardless of where you prefer to study, there are certain places that you know you won’t be successful at. Personally, I cannot study in my room or bed because it tempts me to fall back to sleep and not get my work done. As you continue to study and figure out what environment works best for you, it will be easier to realize where you are most productive.