As students, we probably all want to perform our best. However, there’s a lot of conflicting advice out there. So, I’ve gathered some of the most important tips so that you know what to do – and what not to do – while studying!
do: make a study plan
Making a study plan is so essential. Otherwise, how will you know what to study, and when? It’s so important that you stay organised as a student. I recently posted about making a study plan, but here’s a short how-to: list everything you want to study, decide when and how, and put it into your calendar!
don’t: allow distractions
The key to not getting distracted isn’t willpower, it’s changing the environment around you. If you notice that you’re getting distracted, rather than forcing yourself to ignore the distraction, remove it completely! For example, if you’re spending too much time scrolling on Instagram, use an app blocker or set time limits.
do: use active recall
Active recall is when you test yourself after first having learned something. It’s been proven to boost your memory significantly! Active recall study methods include going through flashcards, doing past papers, or answering practice questions. Here’s a short but comprehensive guide to active recall:
don’t: procrastinate
If you leave all your studying until the last moment, not only will you feel terrible, but your grades won’t be ideal either. Whenever you have homework or something to study, try to get some of it done now, rather than later. You don’t have to finish the entire task – just do what you can! Getting some studying done rather than procrastinating means you’ll have much less work later.
do: make studying fun
By making studying fun, you’re more likely to do it more often – and enjoy the process! Try use gamification (when you turn a task into a game-like process), for example by using Kahoot or Blooket. You can also listen to music while studying, study with your friends, or reward yourself based on how much work you do.
don’t: study what you know
Of course, it is important to study all of the content in a course. However, if you know you’re good at something, then don’t focus on this. Instead, study the topics you’re unsure about. This way, you’ll have an even knowledge of all the topics rather than being specialised in one.
