College is full of excitement.
New friends, independence, activities, and perhaps the first big steps toward achieving dreams are in store for students. However, the looming pressure of studies, assignments, projects, and exam dates are an everyday threat. Students often say – “there is much time, but I am not able to study properly” or “I have acquired the habit of memorizing everything at the last moment.”
If you have the same feelings, do not panic. Right study habits will not only help in scoring good marks but alsoit reduce stress and boost confidence as well. The question is how to create habits which are sustainable and beneficial in the long run?
Let’s understand point by point.
1. Organization and Planning
Create a routine for studying
The main error is postponing studying until the last minutes. Thus, cramming does not bring deep understanding and does not inculcate long-term memory. It is better to allocate fixed study time every day or perhaps once a week. For example: 7-9 a.m. or even an hour after dinner. Eventually, this will become habitual and studying will feel an organic phenomenon.
Define clear goals
You will very soon lose concentration sitting aimlessly. Set up small targets to achieve every session.
Sample: “Today I have to understand only the first topic of this chapter” or “I have to memorize 20 vocabulary words in 30 minutes.” Completing small goals gives you a sense of success and energy to continue learning more.
Choose the right place
Your study environment has a direct influence on your concentration; it should be quiet and comfortable yet tidy. That place does not have to be a library; for instance, it can also be your room, just be sure that there is no other noise or disturbances.
Empty your study surroundings of distractions.
Mobile phone, social media, video games-all the most important enemies.
Switch the phone to mute or stow it away while studying. You can also keep websites from appearing so that you can avoid social sites when studying.
2. Techniques of Active Learning
Many students go on reading notes over and over and think that this is studying. This is so much passive learning that the result is negligible.
Don’t just read-it’s trying to remember
Close the book and ask yourself, ‘What did I just read?’. This makes the brain work much harder and deepens memory.
Active Memory Recall
Put together a list of questions regarding each topic when you’re done reading them. For example, after finishing a chapter from your biology textbook: “What are the differences between DNA and RNA?”.
Spaced Repetition
When it is read only once, it is very simple for the info to be forgotten. However, if that subject is repeated first on that day, then again after two days, and once again after a week, it does stay in memory for long.
Mock Tests
Complete some mock tests or practice papers. This would let you know which topics had been covered fairly well and where extra hard work needs to be invested.
Join a study group
Studying with friends gives you different perspectives. Explaining a topic to your friend cements it further in your mind.
3. Balance Health and Care
Not only studying, but we must also care for this body and this mind.
Take regular breaks
A brain gets tired after studying g for hours; take a ten-minute break after every 45-50 minutes. Take a walk, drink water, or close your eyes and rest.
Prioritized sleep
For studying at night, students lose because it is about quality sleep-an average of 7-8 hours-strengthening memory and making the brain work better.
Be active
Just a little exercise, a little yoga, or even a little walking every day gets the blood pumping in the brain and reduces stress.
Feed your brain appropriately
Don’t eat junk movies instead eat a balanced diet. Fruits, vegetables, nuts and omega 3-rich foods such as fish or flaxseed will help to foster memory and concentration.
4. Ask for Assistance
They must not be afraid to ask for help
If the subject does not make any sense to you, you should not be embarrassed to ask a professor, tutor, or your peers.
Do resource utilization
Nowadays, thousands of tools, video lectures, and applications are available online; use.
Find a study buddy
Studying with a friend will not only make studying enjoyable, but will also motivate each other. This powers a buddy system to get you motivated while making sure you are responsible.
Practical example
For instance, if your semester exam is three weeks away, you have a regular study for 2 hours a day, breaking topics into smaller portions to have revision of old topics every three days, and you will be left with very light revision in the last week.
On the other hand, if you procrastinated and tried to study 10 hours a day during the last three days, you wouldn’t be successful only to stress out, forgetting most of what you know.
Conclusion
The ability to balance the pressures of college life with that of studying is indeed an art. The right timetable, active learning techniques, and good health complement the right support. Other words, within the study process, remember that it is not a race but a journey. Slow but steady do hard work leads towards true success.
