Whether you’re at college or uni, or you’re a mature student trying to manage your deadlines and your family life, one thing is certain – studying is difficult; let’s find out how to boost your study skills!
With so many distractions, so much to learn, time running out and the stress of everyday life constantly creeping in, it’s a miracle that any of us actually pick up anything at all!
Most universities recommend an additional 2-3 hours of additional study each week, to keep the information fresh and to help your ability to recall and understand it.
So, if you’re finding your studies to be a bit of a slog, check out how you can boost your study skills below.
How to Boost Your Study Skills
Prioritize
When you’re struggling to retain certain information, having the additional worry of proofreading and citations is only going to make matters worse.
If you prioritize your studies and get a little help from online editing tools such as this APA citation tool from Scribbr, then you’re more likely to be able to focus on your studies and improve your retention.
Get to know your study style
We all learn in different ways. There are four ways that people learn and retain the information they are:
Visual learning – someone who responds well to video/images
Kinesthetics learning – someone who learns best with action or by “doing” this could be making diagrams, creating flashcards or doing a repetitive action or even role play
Reading and writing learning – reading study materials and writing them down
Audio learning – The use of music, sounds, and even rhymes
Once you know what kind of learning works for you, you can tailor your studies to your way of learning.
That way, your studies will be more effective and efficient!
Create the right environment
It’s no good trying to study when you’re in a busy room of the house, the kids are arguing, or the dog keeps barking.
Somewhere quiet and out of the way is probably ideal. Set up a study area where you can have access to everything you need.
Textbooks, notepads, stationery, your printer, etc. Ensure you have lots of light and a good chair to support your back (Apartment Therapy).
The more comfortable you are, the longer you can study.
Say goodbye to distractions
Creating the perfect study environment goes hand in hand with removing distractions.
Your phone, the TV, social media and, in some cases, even music (depending on your study type) can have a detrimental effect on your studies.
Even just a quick click on a YouTube video could result in you being distracted for an hour.
Say goodbye to your distractions and watch your productivity increase, says Personal Excellence.
Move your body
When you’ve been stuck at your desk for hours and you’re convinced you’re no longer taking in any information, don’t worry.
Simply get up from your desk and go for a walk, head to the gym for a little while or try a simple workout at home.
Moving your body and getting your heart pumping is a great way to refresh and reset your mind.
So, when you head back to your books you’ll have more energy and focus.
