Having a tough time studying? It’s something everybody struggles with. But its even more difficult for nontraditional students who are balancing the demands of home, work and family.
So let’s see if we can help. Here are five study habits of highly effective students that may help you get more bang out of your book work. And hopefully, it will also give you time to breathe deeply, spend time with your children and simply relax.
Set a specific study time. Time is often the biggest challenge for parents who are juggling the demands of school and family. But experts say you should schedule a specific time each day to hit the books – and then stick to the plan. Consistency is key. By keeping the sessions daily sessions short, you will be able to avoid burnout. By the same token, you will also ensure that you are devoting enough time to the effort. Moreover, invite your kids to study at the same time. Not only will it help them develop good habits early, but it will likely free you from potential distractions during study time.
Consider a study buddy. If you like having study buddies, invite a few classmates to join you. Two heads are typically better than one. Working in groups allows students to easily reach out for help if they are struggling. That said, those who help a struggling peer also have an opportunity to better internalize the subject matter. It’s truly a win–win.
Don’t put off the hard stuff until the end. When you begin your study time, tackle the hardest material first. Your most difficult assignment/topic will suck up the most mental energy. Once the tough stuff is out of the way, it will be much easier to complete the rest of your tasks. According to experts, developing a habit of getting the most challenging work finished first not only improves the effectiveness of your study time, but also boosts academic performance.
Set a goal and accomplish it. Having a specific goal each time you study will also increase the impact of your time spent. Decide exactly what you need to accomplish during each study session and set a goal. That way your study sessions will yield a daily dose of a sense of accomplishment. And that can do a world of good.
Avoid distractions. The best study time intentions can always be thrown off by distractions. So the key here is to make sure there are none. Aside from sticking to your daily study plan, curb potential distractions that could disrupt your focus. It’s all about location, location, location. Make sure you choose a place to study where there will be minimal, if any, disruptions.
Does that help? We hope so. More than anything, we want to make you successful as you balance home, work and education to create a brighter future.