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Throughout the years, it’s likely you’ve developed some questionable study habits - we all have! While some may be beneficial and help us to focus, others tend to be counterproductive and probably more of a comfort rather than something that helps us along.
Research says it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit, and an even shorter 21-30 days to break one, so if you’re about to embark on a learning journey and keen to break some of your poor study habits, then this is the blog for you.
Having a solid study plan or outline is extremely beneficial when it comes to getting the most out of your study sessions. For many of us, we’re studying alongside full-time work and busy home lives, which means the time we do have to dedicate to our studies is slim.
A positive way to make the most of this time, however, is by creating a study calendar. We recommend:
Distractions can come in all different forms and most of time, it can be subconscious.
Although sometimes uncontrollable, what you can control is your study space and how busy your surroundings are. Some people are more easily distracted than others and if you’re one of these people, it’s possible to make things easier for yourself by:
We’ve all been a victim of leaving assignments until the last minute or staying up all night to study before an exam. With cramming proven to actually increase stress levels, we recommend nipping this habit in the bud and trying a few of the below instead:
Everyone learns differently and when we start studying in a way that works for us, it becomes a lot easier. Identifying the ways in which you learn best, whether that be as an auditory learner, kinaesthetic learner, visual learner or by reading and writing is the first step.
Following this, you can then mix up your studying techniques and you’ll probably find you are able to absorb information much easier. Some strategies we suggest are:
Taking breaks is great for refocusing, improving energy levels and increasing productivity. We know that for some people, however, breaks can be counterproductive due to the fear of getting distracted, procrastination or demotivation.
If this applies to you, a few things you could try are to:
Your study space is a vital part of any successful study session and everyone needs somewhere they feel comfortable, relaxed and motivated to learn. Take some time to perfect your environment, including a couple of items that bring you joy. These changes don’t need to be big or expensive, we recommend:
If you feel like any of these poor study habits resonate with you, don’t worry, as it’s never too late to turn it around! We hope these tips and tricks help you combat any negative connotations you may have around studying, which in turn will set you up for many a successful study session.
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