Over the years, it’s likely you’ve been haunted by some questionable study habits – we all have!
While some habits are harmless and may even help us focus, others linger, slowing down your progress. Research shows that breaking a habit can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days, but the good news is that with the right approach, you can overcome them.
If you’re ready to leave your ghostly study habits behind and boost your focus, productivity, and results, this one's for you!
Haunted Habit #1: Studying without a plan
Nothing's scarier than sitting down to study and realising you don't have a plan. 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 can feel limited.
A positive way to break the curse, however, is by creating a study calendar.
We recommend:
- Listing your subjects or modules: once your subjects are listed, you will be able to easily identify what work and assessments need completed for each.
- Planning how long modules will take: look at your assessments for each module and plan how long you think each take. This then means you know how many study sessions you need.
- Developing your schedule: put each task into a certain time block, e.g., between 8:30-9:30pm. This will help you focus at that time on that task.
- Thinking about your learning style: once you have your tasks planned out, analyse how you best learn, whether that be visually, through reading and writing or through listening. This will then allow you to make study materials that best suit you and how you absorb information.
Haunted Habit #2: Getting easily distracted
Distractions are like sneaky spirits, often creeping in without us even noticing. While some are beyond our control, you can take charge of your study space and surroundings.
To keep your focus sharp, try:
- Preparing your space before studying: whether this be a comfortable chair, your notes, a bottle of water or a snack. If you are without these things, you’re likely to keep getting up when you want something, making it easier to get distracted.
- Turning off your phone: research says that people around the globe spend around 6 hours and 40 minutes on their phone per day. While you might need your phone to help you study, through apps, for example, try to limit scrolling completely or just keep your phone in a another room if you don't need it at all.
- Time blocking: like we mentioned earlier, if you set a specific amount of time to do a task in and you know that the task needs to be done in that allocated slot, you’re much less likely to get distracted. For those who are really easily distracted, we recommend The Pomodoro Technique, short bursts of 25 minutes.
Haunted Habit #3: Cramming
We’ve all been a victim of leaving assignments until the last minute or staying up all night to study before an exam.
However, with cramming proven to actually increase stress levels, break free by:
- Writing the introduction straight away: this reduces the feelings of overwhelm that come with starting a big task and makes it easier to work over several weeks.
- Starting your assignments early: if you know you have a piece of work due at the end of the month, start it at least 2 weeks in advance! Even if you don’t finish it until the last minute, your assignment is likely to be of much better quality if you give yourself a bit more time.
- Distracting yourself the night before deadlines: keeping yourself busy (within reason) the night before an exam is a good way to prevent any last minute cramming.
Haunted Habit #4: Sticking to the same old studying techniques
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.
You can then mix up your studying techniques and you’ll probably find you are able to absorb information much easier.
Add magic to your methods by:
- Recording blocks of text and listening back to them
- Making flashcards and having someone else quiz you
- Drawing images, diagrams and mind-maps on paper
- Practicing demonstrations, relating your tasks to real-life situations
- Creating acronyms, short stories or brain teasers with your study material
- Reading notes out loud, whether that be while studying, out and about or while doing housework
Haunted Habit #5: Forgetting to take regular breaks
Taking breaks is great for refocusing, improving energy levels and increasing productivity.
To protect your break from just becoming a long-winded holiday, however, try:
- Timing your break: find a number that works for you and stick to it. This will help you feel in control and reduce the fear of getting distracted and not returning to your study session.
- Thinking of a break not as an if, but as a when and for how long: shifting your thoughts and trying a change of perspective might be more beneficial than you think. Tell yourself that you must take a break, no matter when it is or how long it is.
- Scheduling your breaks: if your breaks are included in your study planner, they’ll soon become part of your routine and something you look forward to
- Planning something to do on your breaks: having something to look forward to, like making a cup of tea, or phoning a friend for 10 minutes will help you associate taking a break with something positive.
Haunted Habit #6: Studying in a chaotic environment
A cluttered, noisy, or uncomfortable space makes it harder to focus. It’s like trying to study in a haunted house – unsettling and unproductive.
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, such as:
- A storage box or tray to keep your study material organised
- A desk plant or some kind of greenery
- A supportive chair to reduce slouching or feeling uncomfortable
- Natural lighting or a desk lamp to make sure you don’t strain your eyes
A calm, organised space can transform your study sessions from stressful to successful.
How to break bad study habits and study smarter
Bad study habits don’t have to haunt your learning journey forever. By identifying what’s holding you back – whether it’s cramming, distractions, or studying without a plan – you can take practical steps to replace them with productive, lasting routines.
With consistency, structure, and the right study environment, you’ll be able to stay focused, absorb information more effectively, and approach exams and assignments with confidence.
Don’t let poor study habits drain your time and energy! Focus on smarter study strategies that will set you up for long-term success.
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