If you are concerned about grades or promotion, know that by working hard you can hone your study skills. By studying harder, you have the opportunity to achieve good results in interrogations and during exams. Create a curriculum, employ the best learning strategies and focus on classroom lessons. If you study effectively, you won't have to spend all day on books to improve your academic performance.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Creating a Study Ritual
Step 1. Create a suitable space for studying
The trickiest first step is to create an area where you can focus on your subjects. It is more effective to work in the same place every day because the mind learns to associate the space with the activity to be carried out. When you are here, you will have less difficulty getting to work.
- Students who struggle to find a space to study often waste valuable time. Therefore, you will need a place to study every day.
- Choose a distraction-free area. Find a place away from the television and other noise. You shouldn't study in bed or on the sofa. Choose a place with a desk to work at while sitting with your back straight.
- Make sure you have everything you need available. If you need to prepare a class project with a series of small pieces to arrange, it will be best to find a tidy space, large enough and equipped with a work surface. If you just have to read a textbook, a comfortable chair and a cup of tea will do just fine.
Step 2. Stick to a curriculum
Once you have found an appropriate location, work out a curriculum. If the sessions are regular, they will help you not to postpone and stick to your goals. You should start planning it as soon as you have the final schedule of subjects (or courses if you are in college). That way, nothing can catch you off guard.
- You should prioritize studying. Put it before your extracurricular activities or your social life. Try to study every day as soon as you get home.
- Schedule study sessions around the same time every day. A regular schedule can help you stay consistent. Write them down on a calendar, like you would for a dentist appointment or football practice.
- Start slowly. In the beginning, the sessions will have to last between 30 and 50 minutes. Once you get used to it, try to increase the duration. However, take a few short breaks from time to time. You may get stressed out if you study for several hours straight, so give yourself 10 minutes. Do not go more than 2 hours without taking a break.
Step 3. Set specific goals for each study program
You will find it hard to assimilate the concepts if you do not trace a path. If you want to effectively use the time you spend on books, sit down at your desk with a specific goal.
- Don't forget your goal. In order not to lose sight of it, break it down into more manageable parts and dedicate a study session to each.
- For example, let's say you need to memorize 100 words for a Spanish exam. Divide them into 5 study sessions and try to learn 20 at a time. Review the older ones at the beginning of each session to make sure you print them well in your mind.
Part 2 of 4: Practice Good Study Habits
Step 1. Test yourself
A key part of the study is repetition. During each study session, review what you have learned, especially if the subject is difficult. Make flashcards with vocabulary, dates, and other concepts. Use them to test your knowledge. If you are taking a math exam, answer the questionnaires in the textbook. If your teacher or professor gives you exercises, do them as much as possible.
- Try to come up with exercises. Analyze the kind of questions the teacher asked in class and try to rephrase them in your own words. Prepare a questionnaire with 10-20 questions and answer them.
- If the professor has recommended some useful exercises to assimilate certain concepts, do them in your free time.
- Start early and bring your exercises to the attention of the teacher. For example, ask him, "I've reviewed my notes and completed this questionnaire to prepare for next week's assignment. Could you tell me if I'm heading in the right direction?" Certainly the teacher will not be able to guarantee you if certain things will be present in the class test, but he will be happy to tell you if you are studying the right topics. He will surely be impressed with your hard work and preparation!
Step 2. Start with the more complex topics
More difficult topics require more mental energy, so start with them. Once you've finished digging into the thornier concepts, the easier ones will feel much less stressful.
Step 3. Use study groups effectively
Study groups can be a great way to make the most of your time spent on books. However, keep in mind that to get good results, you need to use study groups effectively.
- You need to structure the study group as you would a self study session. Choose the topics to focus on and set times and breaks. It's easy to get distracted when working with other people. A program can help you do your homework.
- Choose diligent and willing students. Even the best study groups can be ineffective if you decide to work with people who distract you and put off work to do.
Step 4. Seek help when you need it
Remember that there is no shame in asking for help if you need it. If, despite your best efforts, you are unable to overcome any obstacles, ask a partner, tutor, teacher or parent for a hand. If you are attending university, the Faculty could provide students with a free tutoring service for those who encounter obstacles in particular areas such as writing papers, foreign languages or mathematics.
Step 5. Take a few breaks and treat yourself to rewards
Since studying is considered to be a routine job, you may be able to study with more grit if you establish breaks and rewards. Stop every hour or so to stretch your legs, watch television, surf the Internet, or read something light. Give yourself a reward at the end of each study session to encourage you to work harder. For example, if you study three days in a row, reward yourself with a nice lunch.
Part 3 of 4: Study the Smarter Way
Step 1. Prepare your body and mind before studying
If you put yourself directly into books after school, you may feel drained and have a hard time concentrating. By taking half an hour to mentally and physically prepare for a study session, you will achieve better results.
- Take a little walk before you start studying. By stretching your muscles as you walk, you will help your body relax and clear your mind before you get to work.
- If you are hungry, eat before studying, but limit yourself to a light snack or meal. A heavy plate can cause drowsiness and keep you from staying focused.
Step 2. Study with the right frame of mind
The state of mind with which you put yourself to work can affect your results. Try to positively prepare for each study session.
- Think positively when you study. Remember that you are acquiring new skills and abilities. Don't be discouraged if you run into any difficulties. Think you're studying because you need to improve, so it's normal if you don't catch something.
- Don't let yourself go to catastrophism and don't think it's all black or white. For example, catastrophic thoughts may be: "If I don't understand it now, I will never be able to", while the ones that lead you to see all white or all black are: "I can never study well for exams." Instead, try to be realistic. He thinks, "I have a hard time understanding these concepts, but if I insist, I'm sure my ideas will clear up."
- Don't make comparisons with others. Keep focusing on your homework. Don't think about other people's success or failure.
Step 3. Use memory games
Mostly known as mnemonic techniques, they allow you to remember certain information through the use of associations. They can be quite useful when you want to study smart.
- Many remember a topic by joining certain words together to form sentences in which the first letter of each word refers to a part of the topic to be memorized. For example, "Ma con gran pena them bring down" is a phrase widely used in Italian schools to memorize the correct sequence of the Alps: Ma (Marittime); COn (Cozie); GRAn (Graie); PENa (Pennine); LE (Lepontine); REca (Rhaetian) / reCA (Carnic); DOWN (Giulie).
- Make sure you use mnemonics that are easy to remember. If you are making up a sentence, choose words and phrases that have a personal meaning that will be easy for you to remember later.
Step 4. Write down your notes
If you have notes, write them down. Rework them by changing the text a little in order to assimilate the topic. You must not only repeat what is written, but also try to explain more carefully. This way you can learn the concepts and remember them more easily later.
It's not enough for you to copy them multiple times. Rather, try to summarize the basic steps. Then summarize them again until you have the most essential concepts
Part 4 of 4: Taking Advantage of Classroom Moments
Step 1. Take notes well
Create resources to study better. When in class, take notes. They will be invaluable when you have to study at home.
- Organize them by date and topic. At the beginning of the lesson, mark the date in the top corner of the page. Then, write the title and subtitle related to the explanation. If you search for notes on a particular topic, you will have less difficulty finding them.
- Use beautiful handwriting. You need to be able to read them clearly when you need them.
- Compare your notes with those of other classmates. If you've missed a class or missed a few words while taking notes, a classmate can help you fill in those gaps.
Step 2. Read carefully
When reading what you have written in class, try to do it with due concentration. How you read can affect how you assimilate the contents of the text.
- Pay attention to the chapter titles and subtitles. They often offer clues to help understand the main topic of the text. They show you the concepts you need to pay close attention to while reading.
- You should also reread the first sentence of each paragraph. It usually offers a summary of the most important information you will need. Also, pay attention to the conclusions, because they summarize the main arguments.
- If you can, underline the passages and write a few footnotes that summarize the key points. This way you will be able to find the most important information.
Step 3. Ask questions
If you are confused about any topic discussed in class, don't hesitate to ask for clarification. Usually, teachers allow some time for questions after explaining. You can also contact the professor during student office hours to ask for clarification on concepts you have not understood.
