Study Skills

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

Benjamin Franklin

There are habits that will help you study more effectively and do well in your exams.

1.     Make a plan

It is essential that you plan ahead and bring everything you need. Study should be a fun activity. In order to get most out of it you need to ensure that you study when you are able to fully focus on the task. It is best to take breaks or even address other issues that might be distracting you before you embark on your study.

2.     Clean and organise your study space

You should have a designated area at home where you study. This area should be clean and organised without any distractions to help you study more effectively. If you study in the library ensure you are in the quiet area where you can fully concentrate.

3.     Have sufficient sleep

Sleep is very important as it will help you not only to stay focused but also to improve your memory and learning experience. You will also be able to deal with the challenges that may have been causing your stress more effectively.

4.     Stay nourished and hydrated

You need to stay hydrated throughout your study session. This will help you feel alert and able to concentrate on task at hand. It is important that you eat nourishing foods that will give you enough energy to comprehend and take it all in.

5.     Take regular breaks

It is important to study regularly for shorter periods where you are able to take regular breaks to recharge and come back to your study session later. You can plan different activities during these breaks that can be something engaging and interesting that you are able to do anytime anywhere.

6.     Exercise

Exercise has a very important benefits on our mental and physical health. However, it is also a very important for your study. This is something you can do in one of you study breaks and can be anything that works for you. You will be able to come back to your study session feeling energized and able to think clearly and focus on task at hand.

7.     Find out the system that work best for you

There are different study methods that you can implement. One very effective method is to rewrite your notes and fill in any gaps that will inevitably occur from time to time. You can fill in these gaps by reading books, doing your research on the Internet or talking to you teachers/lecturers and peers. You can then read your notes aloud few time until you are able to understand the concepts.

8.     Concentrate in class

It is important to be fully present whilst in the class and ask questions along the way so that you can get clarification and be able to better understand what is being taught.

9.     Take notes

Taking your own notes is very important. You do not need to take notes of everything being discussed. However, it is important to take notes of the key concepts that you can review after the class and compare it with the definition from the books.

10.                        Reward yourself

Study takes time and effort. It is important to reward yourself after you complete you study session. It can be anything that you wanted to do.

Studying can be hard work. But it is incredibly rewarding and can be a very uplifting exercise if we devise the system that works best for us.

You can do it.