Good study habit
Study is a habit that stays with you throughout your life. You may forget what you have learned but the study skills learned when you were young always stay with you. That is why it is important to make this skill as effective and efficient as much as possible.
Many students consider learning is simple, just open a book and start reading but actually it is much more than that. Some students read books but their minds are somewhere else. Other students develop bad habit of reading a little then jumping to something else such as emails, chat rooms and texting then forget what they have read. Many students only read for few minutes then fell asleep. However, you can improve your study skills by pay attention to where, when and how you study. By knowing how to read; how to take note, you can be more efficient and learn better. You need to get your studying environment set up so that you can concentrate on the subject matter. You need to remove all distractions that disrupt the flow of your study. Here are few advices to help you to study better:
Students need to have a dedicated area for studying. It is important that you find a specific place where you can study without distractions even if that means leaving your home and go to a library. If you can associate that place with studying, and studying only, then you will have a better chance of concentrating on the subject matter. When I was student, I prefer the library and always find a quiet corner far away from the rest of other students so my friends cannot find me.
When you are in your studying place, do not allow yourself to pay attention to anything but study. You must turn off your phone and computer because your study place is for study only. Today many students have laptops and it is easy to “give in” to the temptations of checking emails, enter chat rooms, or listen to music. Some students told me that having music helps them to study better and they like to put on headphone to listen to music during study. It may work and it may not. If you know your study habit, you can decide whether you want to listen to music and study at the same time or really listen to music instead of study.
To maintain good concentration, your studying area needs to have adequate lighting, proper ventilation, and easy access to study materials and that is why I believe library works best. Studying in an environment that is too comfortable tends to make the mind wander, and sometime feel asleep. If it is too easy to get distracted then you may not be able to concentrate for long.
You must set a goal for each study session but keep it achievable. When I was student, each day I set myself a list of thing to study and a goal for each topic. It is better to cross items off a list than to add them on. Setting your goals achievable means you have a better chance of making them, and the sense of satisfaction and enthusiasm you will get from reaching each goal will drive you forward. For example: Read the entire chapter 5 of the history class for this week and answer ten questions at the end of the chapter correctly. Complete fifteen short problems of the chapter 7 of the calculus course before come to class. By doing it this way you will have an idea of how you are prepared to deal with whatever study goal you set for yourself.
Keep a notebook to write down important things that you must remember. In college there are so many materials and it is impossible to know them all. Many students have a tendency to try to memorize as much as possible. That is not the proper way to study in college. You must read through the chapter at least once then go back the second time to identify important things and write them in short sentences that you can memorize in your notebook. Afterward, close the book and try to read your notebook to see if you really comprehend what the chapter is all about. Review the chapter one more time to make sure that you have correctly captured all the important things. From now on, your notebook is what you really need to know. This method of reading three times is very effective in college studying. This also helps to avoid cramming the whole book at the last minute.
Since we are not a machine that can work non-stop, you need to take regular breaks, to keep your mind afresh. However, it is important to maintain your focus during those breaks. You know what easily distracts you, so during your break avoid anything that is likely to get you lose focus. Do not talk to friends or read emails during the break. This is your quality study time and you need to stay focus.
When you find yourself difficult to concentrate, try to walk around for 5 minutes then continue. A light exercise like walking could help your brain to refresh and less stressful. If you still cannot study then simply close the books and go and do something else for an hour or so then come back. Forcing yourself to study will not help. Please remember that you do not have to be studying all the time. You will be more effectively if you have rest periods in between solid studying sessions. For college students, the best way to refresh is to participate in some light exercise such as walking, participate in sports such as Ping-Pong, Badminton or Aerobic exercises. Try to have a good night sleep at least six to seven hours as much as you can, and you will feel refreshed and ready to study more.
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
