A good study is not something that is achieved overnight ... nor is it something that should be done the day before an exam. It is never too early - or too late - to start having good study habits. The sooner you start to understand what are the good habits to have study techniques that work, the sooner you will start to have better results.
Effective study is not something you should leave to chance. Educators, educational psychologists, and psychologists have long investigated various study methods and techniques to find out which ones are really the most effective. Some of the best studies come from the best universities.
Universities such as Stanford, Indiana and Chicago have done precise experiments with groups of students to understand a little better what are the most effective study techniques. Students who follow these methods learn more easily and retain information for longer periods of time, as well as saving hours of study time that can be spent on other things.
Do not miss below which are the most important study techniques, and also the most effective. Once you have it clear, you will realize that studying is not so complicated and that with a little perseverance and above all with will, you will achieve great results.
Make and keep a study schedule
Think of a few hours a day that you can dedicate to studying, just like you do for lunch or sleep ... that is, do it as a priority. Keep that same schedule faithfully from day one and stick to it every day. The amount of time needed for the study It will vary for each individual based on the competencies they need in each subject.
It is advisable to spend two hours of study per day and per hour of each class. Going to class is just the beginning… the real work starts later.
Study in an appropriate environment
It is necessary that you always study at the same time and in the same place, every day. If concentration is your problem, then the right environment will help you greatly. The study table should be in a quiet place, out of all the distractions that might bother you. You will be able to concentrate much better when you study in one place every day. It will be like a place to think better.
For example, when you sit at the kitchen table you may feel like eating, when you sit in an armchair you will want to rest or watch television ... For all this, it is necessary to develop a study habit in the same place and in the same site every day so that your concentration improves little by little. Of course, in this place of study you should always have the materials at hand to avoid having to get up every so often ... something that will distract you.
Plan your time
You need to take advantage of study time to make it more effective and the only way to do it is with good planning and organization. To achieve this, do not miss the following tips:
- Set alarms. Set alarms to remind yourself about your study plans. Thus, you can be honest with yourself and know when you should start studying each day ... and do it. You can also set a different alarm for breaks and for the end of study time - as long as it has been productive. For every two hours of study, rest 10 minutes.
- Use a planner. Planners or calendars on the wall to write on, are ideal to help you mentally organize your week and know what you have to do at all times. In this way you will not feel that you are overwhelmed or that things are piling up ... Each thing will have its moment. You can also mark important dates, such as exams or the delivery of work.
- Make to-do lists. Since everything cannot be done in one day, it is necessary that you learn to prioritize tasks but at the same time keep them in mind to carry them out later. For this reason, it is important to have a to-do list that allows you to divide tasks into more manageable parts. At the beginning of the week you can make a list of the things you want to have finished at the end of it. Make a to-do list also at the beginning of each study session, so you can organize the session and know how to have your time well organized.
- Set time limits. Before starting a study session, take a look at your to-do list and prioritize the most important tasks. If you can't get something done in the allotted time, consider adding a little more time to finish everything, but without going too far beyond the set time limits. Remember that rest is as important or more important than study time ... Your brain needs to rest and recharge to be able to cover a good learning.