The key to succeeding in academic routine is learning how to study smarter, not more or harder. That’s the reality. Having a one or two-hour study session a say is a perfect option for high school. But then you become a college student, and you realize that 24 hours a day are not enough to keep up with the academic program.
The truth is that most college and university students achieve their academic success by developing and polishing up a range of study habits. In this article, we have listed some of the best study habits that were recommended by skilled and successful students. That is why if you want to become more successful in class, don’t give up! All you have to do is to take the following steps and develop each study habit one by one.
1 Learn to Motivate Yourself
Do you ever find yourself 100% reluctant to studying? Moreover, even your body feels like you’ve been working hard for a hundred years as you drag yourself to your desk.
No need to worry! Every college and university student has been in your shoes at some point.
All you need to know is how to motivate yourself to start studying. For instance, you may put down all the reasons why you should study now:
- I want to learn as much information as possible
- I want to do my best in class
- I want to be ready for my future professional career
- I want to become more self-disciplined
Ensure to pin this list somewhere you can always see it when you’re in the middle of your study session. If you do so, the next time you feel like playing some game on your gadget or watching Netflix, just check this list. It will serve as your fuel, and you will get back to your essays and books in no time!
2 Never Try to Cram All Study into a Single Session
Is it typical for you to say awake late at night trying to keep your eyes wide open in order to get that research paper or book review done for tomorrow? If you tend to make a bunch of coffee during one night thinking, “I write my research paper and read 200 pages for tomorrow” with your eyelids almost closed, it’s time to change someone in your life. Successful undergrads typically deal with bite-size chunks of study materials and space them out over short time frames. In other words, they do not cram all of their papers and other tasks into one or two sessions. If you want to succeed in class, make sure to learn to be consistent in your academic work and have short, yet regular, study sessions.
3 Ensure Every Study Session Had a Goal
Having a study session without any specific direction and goal isn’t effective. It is important to know what exactly should be completed during each study time. Before you get to work, set a goal (or a range of goals) that will support your general college goal (for instance, writing 300 words for an essay or memorizing 55 vocabulary words in French).
4 Deal with the Toughest Assignments First
Let’s face it, the most difficult disciplines or subjects usually require the most time, mental energy, and effort. That is why you should start with it first. Once you’re done with the most difficult assignments, it will be much easier to cope with the rest of the tasks on the list. Believe it or not, if you begin your homework with the most difficult projects, you will be able to boost the overall effectiveness of your study sessions, and your college progress, as a result.
5 Form a Study Group
They say that two heads work better than one. This is especially true when you have to get college assignments done on time. Studying in a group with your fellow students provides you with a chance to get help from others, to get recommendations on the best custom writing companies, compose academic papers more quickly, and even teach the other members of the group. At the same time, studying in a group can become very distracting if you fail to structure your sessions, and if the group members are too lazy to prepare. Make sure to use study groups effectively.
6 Choose to Study Where You Feel Most Inspired
Trying to write a term paper in a noisy room, with a low-quality heating system, or with poor lighting will inevitably make your study session less productive and effective. It is important to make sure that your work environment is conducive to studying.
Check some of the key issues to keep in mind:
- Is there adequate lighting?
- Do you have all the necessary stationery and supplies at hand?
- Is your desk tidy?
- Is your study environment quiet?
- Do you have a comfortable chair?
- Have you switched your phone off?
- Have you cut off all the distractions in the room?
Well done! You have just read about some of the most effective study habits that will 100% boost your grades.