As the summer dwindles down, we are left facing the dilemma that is the ongoing coronavirus. COVID19 does not seem to be leaving anytime soon. Many schools have opted for the online remote learning model once again for the upcoming school year. Education is a lot more independent, self-sufficient, and isolated than ever before. It is now the student's responsibility to learn and keep up with the material. No one is going to be watching over you and urging you to get your work done. This upcoming school year does not hold much margin for procrastination. It is now imperative to study even smarter and more efficiently. Here are 5 ways to improve studying at home!
1) Organize A Space Designated For Studying:
Feeling organized and put together is a huge factor behind motivation. Studying in a messy or disorganized environment can lead to a lack of motivation and procrastination. Having a desk or study corner in your house that is designated for studying helps put your mind into a studious mental state. Every time you enter that space, your mind will automatically associate it with studying and productivity. Having a small study space also allows you to organize your books, supplies, and tools. Having everything you need in one space saves on time spent finding supplies and getting settled. When your mind begins to associate that certain space with studying, you will find yourself in a productive mindset every time you sit down in the space to study.
2) Keep A Planner, Calendar, Or To-Do List:
Physically writing down and tracking tasks provides us with a visual interpretation of our schedule. The only way to stay on top of deadlines is to track them. You can use anything you prefer, a planner, a calendar, or basic to-do lists. I would recommend manually writing down and crossing out tasks as you go. This is because it will stick in our memory better. We do a lot of things on our phones and often times recording tasks on our phones can lead to us forgetting about those tasks. A physical piece of paper sitting out in your study space will give a constant visual reminder of the tasks that need to be completed.
3) Effective And Cohesive Notes:
Typically professors and teachers will upload their powerpoints and lecture videos online for students to watch and use. Since this is not your typical lecture, you will have to go through the content yourself. This can actually be much better than the traditional in-classroom note-taking where the professor is talking a mile a minute and you are rushing to catch up. Open up the powerpoints, lecture slides, and the corresponding chapter in your textbook. Go through every subsection of the chapter with ease, understanding, and patience. Make notes of what you need to know. Do not transcribe the whole chapter. These well-taken notes serve as effective review sheets for memorization later when an exam is looming over your head. This kills two birds with one stone.
4) Keep A Standard Studying Time:
Organize your day in a way that your studying time falls into the same time range every day. You may like to study in the mornings, or in the afternoon, or in the evening. Choose a block of the day that you can commit to studying nearly every day. Having a designated studying time helps your brain associate that time of day with being productive. Studying at randomized times is not optimal. Everyone has a certain window in the day where they are most focused and alert. Pick that time frame and commit it to studying.
5) Make Studying Therapeutic:
Studying is a chore for many students and it will stay that way until you make it enjoyable. There are very simple ways in which you can make studying fun and relaxing. You can take color-coordinated notes to feel organized and put together. Put on some light study music in the background to help calm you. Light some scented candles or wax warmers for some aromatherapy. Get cozy in your study space and get some refreshing snacks to keep you going. Making your study sessions a whole experience will make you look forward to it. It will help calm tensions, increase focus, and even give you mental clarity, thus making you more productive.
Slowly try to incorporate these 5 tips into your studying routine. Soon they will become very natural and habitual to your regular routine. With time, these tips will help you feel more put together, in control, and productive. Initiation is the toughest step. If you can get over the patchy start, the benefits are worth reaping at the end. It looks like we'll be social distancing and quarantining for a while, so the earlier you give these a go, the earlier you will be achieving effective study sessions!
Thank You For Reading!
No comments: