How to Study Effectively, study tips, how to study smart, how to study well, how to study for exams, how to study hard, study habits, study skills

Studying is not a particularly enjoyable task for most of us and we tend to put it off until the last minute. However, by effectively modifying your study habits, you can transform it into an enjoyable and productive session.

Here we list tried and tested methods to study effectively and thus maintain an impeccable academic record.

 

1. Prepare for the Session

Before you begin studying make sure you have all the necessary materials ready. Pick the place of study carefully, making sure it provides minimal distractions and allows you to focus for a prolonged period of time. Keep all your materials around you to minimize the time wasted in fetching each and every time. Necessary items include (but are not limited to): water (for hydration), notebooks and pens (for note-taking), laptop (as a reference) etc. Try to distance yourself from your phone unless absolutely impossible. It generally proves to be a major source of distraction for most students. If you’re reluctant to part with it completely, switch on your do-not-disturb mode which mutes all notifications and calls.

 

2. Identify a Method Of Study

Everyone has a unique method of study that proves most efficient for them. This specific method varies from person to person. You may be a visual learner, an auditory learner, a kinesthetic learner or learn through reading/writing. Depending on your learning style, you can tailor your study session accordingly. For example, a visual learner could benefit from learning through flashcards. An auditory learner can record lectures for revision later on. By identifying the method best suited to you, and thus modifying your study plan you can absorb the maximum amount of information in the least time.

 

3. Maintain Rigorous Notes

This step requires consistent and systematic effort from Day 1. Maintaining methodical notes makes the job of studying infinitely easier. It condenses all the essential information in one place as well as provides any extra insight your professor might have disclosed during class. Note-taking is an art and there are several different types that accomplish different tasks. Mind-maps help to graphically organize information. Charts and lists enable a quick overview of the material. Outlines can help structure your notes and differentiate each part based on relevance. You can employ a combination of these methods as required.

 

4. Revise With Your Friends

While group studying doesn’t work for everyone it is potentially a highly effective method to revise and cement information in your mind. Studying with others lets you pool study material/resources as well as clear doubts together. Often clarifying concepts for others solidifies the information in your own mind thus giving you a firmer grasp on the subject. Group studying also combats laziness and the tendency to postpone the task of studying by keeping you on a strict schedule that is managed by both you and your peers. Through interaction and engagement, your ability to assimilate the material and gain outside perspectives will increase only furthering your knowledge of the material.

 

5. Managing Time

It is a widely-known fact that prolonged and continuous study at a stretch is detrimental to the student’s health and capacity to learn. It not only reduces efficiency but also leaves you tired and demotivated by the end. Properly partitioning your study time is necessary to approach each new chapter/concept with a refreshed mind. Take short but restful breaks that revitalize your mind. Rather than scrolling through Instagram for a couple of minutes, meditate for a while. This helps to relax and destress the mind making it ready to absorb new information.

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