Best ways to improve your study habits.

Learning is one of the most useful “flexible skills” today. And, perhaps, it will remain so in the near future. Below we will present 10 useful habits that will make the learning process more effective and, no less importantly, enjoyable. By incorporating at least a few of them into your practice, you are sure to feel the results and improve your academic performance. If you study a lot and need help with essays or other assignments, our service of essay help will take care of you. It’s a great opportunity to save energy, effort, and time.

Our tips are suitable for both academic study and self-study.

Take advantage of the right mental attitude

Many people treat studying as something that “needs” to be done rather than as an exciting process or just a good opportunity to learn something. Of course, such an approach cannot produce high results and satisfaction from the process. If you

Here are a few ways to improve your educational mindset:

– Try to think positively while studying and remember to remind yourself of your skills and abilities;

– Avoid defeatist thinking. Instead of thinking, “I won’t have enough time to study for the exam,” tell yourself, “If I start studying right now, I’ll have time to learn most of the material.”

– Avoid absolutist thinking. Instead of thinking, “I never do well,” try a more objective approach: “I didn’t do well last time. What can I do now to make it better?”

– Avoid comparing yourself to anyone else. That usually ends up finding you worse than everyone else. Remember – your skills and abilities are unique to you, and it is in your power to improve them.

Choose the Right Place to Study

Most people make the mistake of studying in places that are not conducive to proper concentration. Places with many distractions are not good for studying. For example, if you’re trying to study in a college dorm room, the computer, TV, or your mates will almost certainly be more interesting than the study material. Habit matters, too – home to us is recreation and living, but in no way work or study.

You will need a place where you can concentrate, and that in itself will set you up to study. A library reading room, a co-working room, or a quiet coffee shop are great for this.

Take only the things you need

Unfortunately, many people, even when they find the right place, make the mistake of taking unnecessary and even unhealthy things with them. For example, it seems ideal to take a laptop to take notes. But, as we have already said, the computer is a very strong distractor. Think about it, do you need it that badly? Wouldn’t you rather have an old-school notebook and pen? Besides, writing by hand engages your motor memory, as we’ll talk about later. The same goes for your phone and other electronic gadgets. At the same time, don’t forget to take all the things you need-books, notebooks, etc.

Make notes

It is well known that taking notes helps you make sense of the text and remember it. You can’t rewrite everything – which means you have to highlight the main thing – focus on it and remember it that way. It’s important to write down material in your own words – we’re all unique in how we perceive information and create images and associations to remember. So even if you’re rewriting someone else’s outline, try to do it in your own words. You can use a variety of outlining techniques, such as Cornell outlines or mental maps.

Use as many sensory systems as you can to remember. When you write, both visual and motor memory work. You can also recite the text to yourself, which helps to connect your hearing. 

In case you need to write my lab report or other study help, our essay service will help you with that. This is a good chance to save time and energy, especially during exams.

H5 Try a «Mnemonic Technique»

Mnemonic techniques you can use to reliably remember information by using various associations. For example, if you need to remember a number of words, create a story out of them. The more absurd it will be, the easier it will be remembered. Or you can create an acronym, like the famous phrase for memorizing the rainbow colors: “Every hunter wants to know where Pheasant Sits.

Another popular technique is to create memory palaces (or the Cicero method). Use a location you know and then “attach” images to the objects you want to remember.

H6 Practice on your own or with friends

Just reading the desired material is not enough. To assimilate it well and permanently, you must practice not only memorizing, but also reproducing it, and applying it in practice (for example, by solving problems). After reading the text and highlighting the main points in it, try to retell it right away. You can also use the questions that usually go at the end of the chapter. Or practice with flashcards.

Another good way to improve memorization and comprehension is to work in a group. Collective discussion helps to clarify difficult points, structure knowledge, and memorize information. You can study a whole section and then work through it together, or have everyone learn one point and then explain it to everyone else. Among other things, this approach gives more motivation – you don’t want to lose face in front of the others. Don’t gather too large a group – 4-5 (or even 2) people will be more than enough.

H7 Make a schedule you can stick to.

Many people treat studying as something you can do in your free time, or when the moment just comes, but if you plan your self-education the way you do in school or university, you’ll find more benefits, especially in the long run. You won’t have to do a 12-hour marathon before an exam if you spend half an hour each day the month before. Remember: it’s regularity, not frequency, that counts. You can make time to study every day or study twice a week – but do it all the time. Just make a personal study plan and follow it.

H8 Reward Yourself

Many people see studying as a routine and something that doesn’t produce immediate results – and therefore try to avoid it. Obviously, this is not exactly the right view.  Introducing rewards into your educational practice will change this attitude and increase motivation.

If you have successfully completed the task – reward yourself. It can be a delicious dessert, an extra 30 minutes of a computer game, or a new episode of your favorite TV series. In general, you need a small, but real encouragement for your efforts. Not only will this increase your immediate motivation to learn, but it will also help to reinforce the habits you’re implementing.

H9 Take breaks

Human attention and the ability to concentrate is a very unstable thing. Studies have shown that its performance drops already after 20-25 minutes of work. These are the intervals you should allocate for active study of the material. Then take a break for no more than 5 minutes. During this time, the brain will not only rest, but also consolidate the information and translate it into long-term memory. It is best to take a short walk, allowing thoughts to flow freely. Don’t be distracted by checking social media or talking – it will only distract you.

H10 Maintain Balance and Take Care of Your Health

Spending all your time studying is just as foolish as concentrating entirely on having fun. Something will inevitably fall behind as a result – and you’ll feel dissatisfied. Maintain a healthy balance in all areas of life – this will make every component of it more successful. Be sure to make time for friends, family, hobbies and other interests.

Another factor that greatly affects your success is your health. Eating right and exercising regularly affects your cognitive abilities. For example, even a single workout increases the synthesis of the protein BDNF, which is involved in memory function. The brain needs enough energy – so starvation is not for it.

You don’t have to go on any elaborate diets or spend hours in the gym. Just eat a regular, varied diet and exercise at least twice a week.

BIO

Amanda Lancaster is a PR manager who works with 1resumewritingservice. She is also known as a content creator. Amanda has been providing resume writing services since 2014.

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