MAKE A Good Study Habits
for a Breakthrough Routine
SOME USEFUL TIPS
ON HOW TO DEVELOP YOU’RE READING HABITS
Are
you finding your current study routine not as effective as it could be? Maybe
it’s time to follow a new study schedule that will help you better retain
material, manage your time and even help you improve your concentration and
focus. Here are some ways to enhance your learning style, develop a good study
routine and start achieving your goals.
The spate of students’ failure in examination,
extra-curricular classes etc or and even in core subjects such as English and
Mathematics is alarming. Several discoveries have proved and shown that
students read for exams and yet fail there exams, uhm here comes the question
WHY? And the almighty answer to this very question is because they employed bad
reading culture and that has also influenced their academical performance too.
So
today after reading this article, your reading habit will definitely become a
thing that will come to a plethora platform of growth. Below are the reliable
ways and tips to grow and develop your reading habit for better.
1 – Know Your Dominant Learning
Style
It’s important to know that there are many
different styles of learning and each person will retain information better in
different ways. Check out this link to see what we mean.
·
As you
can see, visual learners learn best when pictures, images, and spatial
understanding is used.
·
Auditory
learners prefer using music, sounds or both.
·
Kinesthetic
learners prefer a more physical style of learning through using the body, sense
of touch and hands.
·
Logical
learners desire to use reasoning, logic and systems.
·
Verbal
learners will prefer using words in writing and speech.
·
Social
learners will prefer to learn with other people or in groups.
·
Solitary
learners are able to learn best alone.
Once you
have figured out which style of learning works best for you, it will help you
determine how to study, where to study, when to study and other important
factors like what study aids you should use and be aware of, and knowing what
things may distract you while you are trying to study.
2 – Create and Write Down Realistic Study Goals
An essential part of having a successful study
routine is to write down realistic goals that include a deadline. If you do not
set up a deadline, you will not be motivated to do the work on time.
Furthermore, if your goal is too big to achieve,
then you might be setting yourself up for failure and this will also not help
motivate you to study and accomplish your goals.
Once you know you’re learning style, do a
self-assessment of your current study habits and your current grades. Here are
some questions to ask yourself that will help you create realistic goals and
come up with a plan for good study habits.
·
When do
you usually study and for how long?
·
Do you
find that it is effective?
·
Are you
happy with your grades?
·
What
subjects do you need to focus on or are having difficulty with?
·
What
grades do you need to have in order to pass?
·
What are
your personal commitments and priorities?
After answering and reflecting on these questions,
you’ll be able to see what areas you need to put a little more focus on. Maybe
you are not spending enough time doing the right amount of work necessary each
day or perhaps you choose to study late at night when you’re not as alert and
energetic.
If you have noticed your grades are slipping in
certain courses then perhaps you need to hire a tutor to help you with those
subjects.
If you are finding yourself short on study time and
are more focused on your personal commitments, then maybe you may need to give
up some social activities and devote more time to focus on your studying.
Use the SMART method when setting
up goals: set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound goals.
3 – Make
Study Time a Part of Your Daily Routine
If cramming all of your study
time into a few long days isn’t working for you then it’s time to try something
new (and way less stressful). Make time for studying
every single day, with or without exams coming up.
Remember that consistency is key and once you start
getting into good study habits, it will become a routine and that you will be
able to maintain throughout the school year.
Check your schedule for the week or month, and
consider your personal commitments: chores, must-attend activities and
appointments. By looking at your calendar, and setting up your priorities, you
will be able to schedule your study sessions for the month. All you need to do
now is to stay committed to your new study schedule.
When placing your study sections on your calendar,
choose blocks of time during the day when you are at your peak performance.
Some people work best in the mornings, and others, at night. If you’re unsure
when you work best, try studying at different times of the day to see which
suits you and your body clock best.
Once you have found which block of time works best
for you and scheduled it in, be aware that you can always add in additional time
to study by waking up an extra hour early to review your notes, or if you work
better at nights, go to bed an extra hour later.
Make sure you build flexibility into your schedule.
Your calendar and schedule will change because of unforeseen events. Be ready
to plan around some things that come your way and still make time to study.
4 – How
to Structure Your Study Time
Here are some great ways to structure your study
routine. It works best when you are mixing some of the different leaning styles
as mentioned above.
Try starting with watching or attending your
lectures, and then doing an additional 1-3 hours of personal study (with
breaks) to reflect and review notes on those lectures. This way, you are using
your auditory and visual learning styles as well as repetition, which will help
you remember what you learned more clearly.
Start with the difficult topics and subjects first,
so that you are not going to put them off until a later date. If these subjects
are really difficult for you, then shorter study sessions will work better.
Schedule study sessions in 2, 30-minute to 1-hour
blocks and be sure to take short 5- to 10-minute breaks in between. When you
take breaks, you allow your mind to rest, revitalize and be ready for more
learning.
5 –
Establish a Study Zone
Establish a study zone. Some people like quiet
places, others will need a little bit of background noise. Which one do you
prefer? If there is too much going on at your house then maybe it’s time to
think about going to the library or a coffee bar and using headphones.
Make sure you have the necessary items with you
when you study. You’ll need a desk that’s big enough to spread your books,
laptop, paper and supplies.
Using the best study lighting is also important for
everyone when studying. If you want to preserve your eyesight and maximize your
time and energy, then choose lighting that will not cause eyestrain or fatigue
so you can keep your study session effective at any time of the day.
Don’t be afraid to establish rules when you’re in
your study zone. Let people living with you know that when your door is closed,
it means you do not want to be disturbed. Try not to respond to phone calls or
texts, this will break your concentration and you will lose focus.
It’s best to find not just one place to study, but
at least 2 or 3. This way, you will have a backup plan in case your main study
area can’t be used. A change of environment is said to improve concentration
and creativity so even if you don’t need to change places, it wouldn’t be a bad
idea.
While you establish rules for others, you also need
to establish rules for yourself. Get rid of all distractions. Don’t choose a
place where you will be tempted to watch TV, check in with your smartphone, or
study in a high traffic area where people will be coming and going.
Choose to study offline as much as possible. There
are way too many distractions that are only a click away. If you need to check
something, write it down and check it after your study session is over.
Here are
some other helpful study tips to get the most out of your study session:
·
Avoid
eating a heavy meal before studying. A heavy meal can make you sleepy which
will make it more difficult for you to study. Choose to eat small and frequent
meals instead.
·
Move or
take a short walk before sitting down to study. Stretching, walking or even
dancing will help prepare your body and mind to be more receptive to learning.
·
Prioritize
your assignment dates: write down every assignment or task when you first hear
about it instead of just “remembering” it. We live in such a fast paced world
that’s full of distractions and it’s easy and normal to forget things.
·
Include
important details such as page numbers, due dates, test dates, pointers, or
anything else that might be helpful when writing assignments down.
One way to make prioritizing
your tasks simple is to organize your study notes by using
colors or labels. Whether you use an online notebook or a binder, developing
your own color-coding system will help you (and your thoughts) get
organized.
You can use colors to color-code your subjects,
projects and even teachers. You can also use different colored pens,
highlighters, sticky notes, folders and labels.
Colors and labels will also help you later when you
when you need to review your notes, the colorful sections will help those notes
stand out and be unique and memorable.
6 –
Review Your Notes
Before and after your study sessions, you should
always skim your notes from the recent lesson or topic you studied before
starting on a new one. Reviewing your notes once before going to bed will also
help to cement new knowledge into your brain.
If you couple reviewing your
notes with a good nights sleep, then you will
significantly improve your ability to retain more information.
7 – Take
Great Notes
Do you find yourself struggling with taking good
notes? It’s important that you develop your note-taking skills so that, when
you review them, they are beneficial and will help you study and remember
important information.
Remember that you don’t need to
take notes of everything! Only write down what is
important; if the teacher keeps repeating something or has written something
down then, you should take note of this.
Your note-taking style might also depend on your
learning style like we mentioned above. Perhaps you might need to draw little
diagrams in your notes if you are more of a visual learner. If you are an
auditory learner, you might learn better if you audio-record the class
discussions and lectures and then listen to them over again to help you study.
The definition of a good study routine is, after all, one that works with your
specific quirks and personality.
Another fun way to remember things is to use
mnemonics for better memory recall. For any type of list, steps, stages or
parts you can use mnemonic devices to help you retain information. Mnemonic
types include: music, name, expression, rhyme, spelling and more.
8 – Use
Laptops and Smartphones Wisely During Class
If you are using a laptop for
note-taking in class, then make sure you are still able to focus and pay
attention. Laptops and phones can bring down your grade. Don’t believe us? Check out this link. (source)
You don’t want to get used to surfing the web or
using your smartphone while learning in class, if you are on the internet,
texting, or checking your email in the presence of a teacher, then you will
probably do the same when you’re studying.
9 –
Consider Joining a Study Group
If you are a social learner then you should
consider joining a study group. Study groups can help you remember class
material better. You can ask questions to clarify difficult points, and hear
questions that others have that may be beneficial for you to know the answer
to.
In order to find a study group that will work for
your needs; find people as dedicated as you are. You don’t want to study with a
group that isn’t devoted and willing to work hard. You should also keep your
study group numbers to a decent size; you shouldn’t need more than 6 people in
your group.
Exchange contact details and decide together on a
place and what type of study schedule will work best for the group. One of the
best benefits of joining a study group is that you will be able to ask, discuss,
debate, and quiz each other on the topics at hand. You could even keep your
study group online if traveling to one spot won’t work well for everyone.
10 – Get
Enough Sleep and Rest
Studying when you’re sleepy is
ineffective. If your body is telling you that you’re tired, then have a nap or
go to bed early. A good night’s sleep will help you
understand and remember information better. It is also much less stressful to
take an exam or attend a class when you feel well rested and alert.
If you’re finding that you are getting stressed out
or tired, reflect back on your study schedule and priorities. Make sure that
you have dedicated time for rest and de-stressing. You can’t be a study machine
24/7 and taking some time away from learning is a great way to relax your mind.
Good study habits require you to be fresh and
sharp. A good night’s sleep is far more effective than a night cramming for a
test could ever be.
11 –
Track Your Progress
Make sure you track your grades
along with your study hours and lesson notes to see if your new studying
techniques are helping. If you find that it is not helpful,
then it’s time to re-prioritize your schedule to fit in more time for studying
and re-examine your goals for success.
Remember that throughout school, work and life, you
will always need to be learning something. When you have set up the proper
studying techniques and note-taking skills, you are giving yourself one of the
greatest gifts possible, the ability to learn.
Below
are the reliable tips and how you could develop your reading habit.
Make reading your lifestyle: This has been one issue why we
generally face in this adventures society or generation. So many students only
when when there is need to, for example; they only read when they have
assignments or examination which is very bad and it is not advisable too. When reading becomes your
life style, your reading habit is at the peak of growing,
because you will now see reading as something you can’t do without.
Date
books: When you see books as your
lovers, you are growing your reading habit becomes you will always love to
be with them and being with books will also lead you to read them.
See
reading as fun: When you see
reading like the football or whatever game you love, you will always find it
ideal to read and this means you are growing your reading habit.
But when the reverse is the case, you will not find time to read because
to you is not pleasurable. So see reading as fun.
Make
Research: Try possible best to make research and
discoveries. If a person, always try to make research/discoveries about something, when will find
time to read always and thereby growing his reading habit.
So always try to make research.
Have
a friend that love reading: A wise saying says"
show me your friend and i will tell you whom you are" this means if when
your friend is such that love reading definitely that attribute will be found in
you because he/she will always tell you what they came across in the
process of reading and this will boos-ten your moral to be always
reading and thereby growing your reading habit.
Having
read this tips, you are expected to expand your reading habit to a greater height.
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