Doing well in studies involves thorough preparation, for which students need to build a routine or follow a daily learning schedule. Doing so boosts their productivity and gives them ample time to prepare and recapitulate what they have learned. A well-structured study routine also leaves enough room and breathing space for students to pursue their hobbies, socialize with friends and family, and rest. There are a few ways to build a study routine that works.
Set Realistic Goals
The first tip for setting a daily study routine is to ensure that any goal set is realistic. Setting an agenda to finish reading five chapters of a book over 10 hours is easy; however, following through with it and actually managing to read those chapters is the hard part. Remember to break down larger academic goals into smaller, achievable tasks. Set realistic and specific goals for each study session, including the time spent on a particular subject.
Evaluate and Create the Schedule
In addition to setting goals, learning how to create a study schedule is equally important. When developing the schedule, students should consider various factors, such as the start and end times of their classes, any extracurricular activities they participate in, and work commitments they may have after class. A better understanding of the daily schedule can help with better time management and build a more personalized study routine.
Set Aside Specific Hours
After taking note of any commitments, students should chalk out a plan and decide the number of hours they wish to dedicate to their study routine. The duration can be as little as one hour; the key is to focus on effective learning. Students need to keep in mind that the quality of learning is much more important than the quantity of hours spent studying.
Review Study Material After Lectures
Many students often neglect the notes they have taken down during lectures for weeks or months. When the time comes to study for exams, they are often lost, as they struggle to make sense of the notes they have scribbled in a hurry during lectures. To avoid this, it is best to spend some time after school or university reviewing the notes and compiling them in a way that is coherent and easy to study. Reviewing the notes also helps students commit what they have learned to memory.
Set Up a Distraction-Free Zone
Spending 10 hours studying means nothing if a student scrolls through social media most of the time. This makes incorporating effective study plan ideas, like minimizing distractions during study sessions, imperative. Students should find a clutter-free and quiet space at home or school where it is easy to focus. At the same time, they should turn off their phones to avoid potential distractions. If studying involves a laptop, using quiet mode can help prevent notifications from disrupting the study routine.
Be Consistent
Trying to catch up with study material all at once rarely works for students. Those who leave studying to the end might find it difficult to retain information and often perform poorly during assessments. So, it is always better to be consistent with study habits, review the work in each course, and stay up to date.
Set Aside More Time Than Needed
While an assignment may ideally take around three hours to complete, many students may assume they can finish it more quickly. This assumption can lead to difficulties in completing projects on time. So, a valuable productivity tip for students is to double their estimated time for assignments. Suppose an assignment typically takes about three hours; they should plan for six hours instead. This approach creates a sense of urgency and encourages students to finish their work sooner. Additionally, completing assignments ahead of schedule provides time for any necessary revisions.
Organize Study Materials
Students may spend a few minutes or more searching for relevant study material in a cluttered backpack. So, staying organized with study materials is one of the best student productivity tips. Keeping things organized helps save time and stress when trying to find a book, chapter, or assignment.
Switch Up subjects
While studying a single subject for an hour or two can be effective for some, studies show that alternating between subjects can help keep the mind engaged for a longer period. Additionally, research suggests that an individual’s ability to concentrate on a single task decreases after about 90 minutes. So, one of the best study practices is to switch between subjects to enhance efficiency and boost productivity. This approach also helps students assimilate multiple concepts across subjects, keeping them on par with their classes.
Take Breaks
Study breaks are essential for students. Taking short breaks to get up and move around helps prevent mental fatigue and ensures that studying is not overwhelming. Students can pick a task to work on, focus on it for 25 minutes without distractions, and take a 5-minute break before going back to studying.
In addition to taking breaks, prioritizing sleep is important. If the brain is tired, a student isn’t going to retain much information even after studying for two hours straight. Ample sleep helps with recall and ensures the mind is active.
