My goal for this year is to develop a passion for studying (read more about that here). There are so many instances where you study in life, whether it is in your profession, with a group of other Christians with an open bible, or in a crowded library. Anyway, how will I achieve this goal? Two words: Take Control. Take control of your study habits. Whether this is planning out a daily study schedule, effectively using a planner, or simply living at the library, you need a proactive plan to be an effective student.
No matter where you are in life, you can always improve your study habits. Below are tips that I continue to use throughout the craziness of life. I hope you will find that these tips will help you take control of your learning to positively impact yourself.
Keep a Planner (or Two)
During the school year, I keep two planners. One is for schoolwork (due dates, exam dates, and homework assignments), and one is for my everyday life (work, organization meetings, doctor appointments). This keeps me super organized. At the beginning of each semester, I take all my syllabi and write down each assignment in my school planner. I color code each class to make it easy to read and quick to recognize. Each Sunday, I plan out my week. I set up a monthly view and a detailed weekly view. In the weekly view, I write down class times, all appointments, club meetings, and my work schedule in a colored coded format. Having both an overview for the month and details for the week helps me stay organized and not become overwhelmed.
Take Notes on Everything
Handwrite: I am not going to tell you to never type out your notes because whatever works for you works, and that’s all that matters. What I will say is that it’s scientifically proven that people retain information better when notes are handwritten versus typing them. I find that I focus better and remain less distracted when I take handwritten notes.
Rewrite: There are so many benefits to rewriting your notes. When rewriting notes, it helps you better memorize. They will also allow you to organize your notes. Sometimes professors skip around, especially if students ask questions or ask for clarification. By rewriting, you will be able to better organize your notes. Rewritten notes allow for better readability. During lecture, you’re likely writing quickly and sloppy. While this helps ensure you capture as much information as possible, it also tends to make your notes difficult to read. Sometimes all you get down is one word before the professor is onto the next subject, while other times you have included too much irrelevant information. By rewriting notes, you can address both these issues. Finally, with rewritten notes, you can combine lecture notes with textbook notes. This way all relevant information is in one place and all tied together.
Study the Night Before and the Morning of
Not only do I study the night before, but I also study the morning of a test. Why? I remember in AP Psychology learning that you need one REM cycle to better process information. Additionally, according to science, your brain only retains 1/3 of the information you studied the night before. Therefore, studying the night before and the morning of, right before class starts, allows your brain to retain as much information as possible. I truly believe this is one of the major reasons I receive great marks.
Join a Study Group
Joining study groups is the perfect way to meet like-minded people that also contribute to the class, can help you clarify any topics, or assist you with any missing information in your notes. Study groups are also a great way to push yourself out of your comfort zone. They allow you to try new methods of studying that may ultimately help you in the long run.
Teach Yourself
Teaching yourself the information is another way to learn. It helps you see what you know and what you need to study a little more. If you can explain everything, you are good to go. If you are having difficulty explaining something, you may need to attend your professor’s office hours for a better understanding.
Take Care of Yourself
While it’s important to study hard, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Eat nutritious food, drink water, get some exercise, and get plenty of sleep.
Develop a Study Schedule
I can easily admit that, for the longest time, I didn’t bother with a study schedule because I just couldn’t stick to it. I’d end up delaying doing my work, and then the schedule was ruined. I’ve since managed to figure out a realistic study plan and have managed to make it work for me. When developing a study schedule, it needs to be realistic.
Have Goals For Each Subject You Are Studying
I absolutely fell in love with setting goals and have been doing it for years now. Goal-setting is a good habit to have to get clarity and motivation in working towards the things you want to focus on for the semester. I love setting goals for the semester, but you can also set them for the day or even year. Setting goals will help remind yourself of what you truly want out of life and help you cultivate the things that matter to you most. If you have vague goals, you’re not going to end up where you want. The power of S.M.A.R.T. goals lies in its simple formula. Goals should be smart, measurable, attainable, realistic, relevant and time-bound. I have a list of goals written down in the front of my planner and also write my weekly goals in my planner every week. This way, I know that I am taking baby steps towards my ultimate goals, and if I’m ever feeling discouraged, I can look back through my planner and see my progress.
Get to Know Your Professor
Contrary to popular student belief, professors are more than just lecturers. Yes, professors are professionals, intellectuals, and researchers. But they are also artists, musicians, writers, parents, and just regular people. Honestly, most of the professors I have built relationships with are just cool people. And if that does not make you feel comfortable, remember a part of your professor’s job is to facilitate students’ learning in every way they can, and that includes being available to talk about schoolwork and other aspects of their life. Additionally, a sense of connection with teachers helps students feel like they belong at the institution.
Remain Organized
In college, being and staying organized is half the battle. There is a ton on your plate, including school, work, organizations, and somehow trying to maintain a social life. And while it seems like being organized is just another thing to add onto your never-ending to-do list, it’s vital if you want to stay on top of everything and be successful. Being unorganized leads to losing track of assignments, due dates, and classwork. Staying organized will help you feel prepared for class, which will ultimately help you succeed in college!