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Top 10 Study Tips to Study Like a Harvard Student

Adjusting to a demanding college workload might be a challenge, but these 10 study tips can help you stay prepared and focused.

Lian Parsons

The introduction to a new college curriculum can seem overwhelming, but optimizing your study habits can boost your confidence and success both in and out of the classroom. 

Transitioning from high school to the rigor of college studies can be overwhelming for many students, and finding the best way to study with a new course load can seem like a daunting process. 

Effective study methods work because they engage multiple ways of learning. As Jessie Schwab, psychologist and preceptor at the Harvard College Writing Program, points out, we tend to misjudge our own learning. Being able to recite memorized information is not the same as actually retaining it. 

“One thing we know from decades of cognitive science research is that learners are often bad judges of their own learning,” says Schwab. “Memorization seems like learning, but in reality, we probably haven’t deeply processed that information enough for us to remember it days—or even hours—later.”

Planning ahead and finding support along the way are essential to your success in college. This blog will offer study tips and strategies to help you survive (and thrive!) in your first college class. 

1. Don’t Cram! 

It might be tempting to leave all your studying for that big exam up until the last minute, but research suggests that cramming does not improve longer term learning. 

Students may perform well on a test for which they’ve crammed, but that doesn’t mean they’ve truly learned the material, says an article from the American Psychological Association . Instead of cramming, studies have shown that studying with the goal of long-term retention is best for learning overall.   

2. Plan Ahead—and Stick To It! 

Having a study plan with set goals can help you feel more prepared and can give you a roadmap to follow. Schwab said procrastination is one mistake that students often make when transitioning to a university-level course load. 

“Oftentimes, students are used to less intensive workloads in high school, so one of my biggest pieces of advice is don’t cram,” says Schwab. “Set yourself a study schedule ahead of time and stick to it.”

3. Ask for Help

You don’t have to struggle through difficult material on your own. Many students are not used to seeking help while in high school, but seeking extra support is common in college.

As our guide to pursuing a biology major explains, “Be proactive about identifying areas where you need assistance and seek out that assistance immediately. The longer you wait, the more difficult it becomes to catch up.”

There are multiple resources to help you, including your professors, tutors, and fellow classmates. Harvard’s Academic Resource Center offers academic coaching, workshops, peer tutoring, and accountability hours for students to keep you on track.  

4. Use the Buddy System 

Your fellow students are likely going through the same struggles that you are. Reach out to classmates and form a study group to go over material together, brainstorm, and to support each other through challenges.

Having other people to study with means you can explain the material to one another, quiz each other, and build a network you can rely on throughout the rest of the class—and beyond. 

5. Find Your Learning Style

It might take a bit of time (and trial and error!) to figure out what study methods work best for you. There are a variety of ways to test your knowledge beyond simply reviewing your notes or flashcards. 

Schwab recommends trying different strategies through the process of metacognition. Metacognition involves thinking about your own cognitive processes and can help you figure out what study methods are most effective for you. 

Schwab suggests practicing the following steps:

  • Before you start to read a new chapter or watch a lecture, review what you already know about the topic and what you’re expecting to learn.
  • As you read or listen, take additional notes about new information, such as related topics the material reminds you of or potential connections to other courses. Also note down questions you have.
  • Afterward, try to summarize what you’ve learned and seek out answers to your remaining questions. 

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6. Take Breaks

The brain can only absorb so much information at a time. According to the National Institutes of Health , research has shown that taking breaks in between study sessions boosts retention. 

Studies have shown that wakeful rest plays just as important a role as practice in learning a new skill. Rest allows our brains to compress and consolidate memories of what we just practiced. 

Make sure that you are allowing enough time, relaxation, and sleep between study sessions so your brain will be refreshed and ready to accept new information.

7. Cultivate a Productive Space

Where you study can be just as important as how you study. 

Find a space that is free of distractions and has all the materials and supplies you need on hand. Eat a snack and have a water bottle close by so you’re properly fueled for your study session. 

8. Reward Yourself

Studying can be mentally and emotionally exhausting and keeping your stamina up can be challenging.

Studies have shown that giving yourself a reward during your work can increase the enjoyment and interest in a given task.

According to an article for Science Daily , studies have shown small rewards throughout the process can help keep up motivation, rather than saving it all until the end. 

Next time you finish a particularly challenging study session, treat yourself to an ice cream or  an episode of your favorite show.

9. Review, Review, Review

Practicing the information you’ve learned is the best way to retain information. 

Researchers Elizabeth and Robert Bjork have argued that “desirable difficulties” can enhance learning. For example, testing yourself with flashcards is a more difficult process than simply reading a textbook, but will lead to better long-term learning. 

“One common analogy is weightlifting—you have to actually “exercise those muscles” in order to ultimately strengthen your memories,” adds Schwab.

10. Set Specific Goals

Setting specific goals along the way of your studying journey can show how much progress you’ve made. Psychology Today recommends using the SMART method:

  • Specific: Set specific goals with an actionable plan, such as “I will study every day between 2 and 4 p.m. at the library.”  
  • Measurable: Plan to study a certain number of hours or raise your exam score by a certain percent to give you a measurable benchmark.
  • Realistic: It’s important that your goals be realistic so you don’t get discouraged. For example, if you currently study two hours per week, increase the time you spend to three or four hours rather than 10.
  • Time-specific: Keep your goals consistent with your academic calendar and your other responsibilities.

Using a handful of these study tips can ensure that you’re getting the most out of the material in your classes and help set you up for success for the rest of your academic career and beyond. 

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About the Author

Lian Parsons is a Boston-based writer and journalist. She is currently a digital content producer at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. Her bylines can be found at the Harvard Gazette, Boston Art Review, Radcliffe Magazine, Experience Magazine, and iPondr.

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Develop Good Habits

13 Effective Study Habit Examples: Improve Your Study Routine

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Are you a student looking to build effective study habits? Is your study routine not as effective as it could be?

Maybe it’s time to follow a new study schedule that will help you better retain material, manage your time, help you retain information and even help you improve your concentration and focus.

Here are 13 good study habit examples you can use to enhance your learning style, develop a quality study routine and start achieving your educational goals . ​

Let’s get to it.

Table of Contents

#1 – Keep Track of Important Dates

Carrying different dates around in your head is a surefire way to forget or start muddling up important dates. Getting a planner or calendar is an easy way to store this vital information.

A calendar or planner allows you to keep track of due dates, examinations, and various tasks to complete for different projects – having this on paper eases your mental load.

A good planner allows you to keep track of everything you need to know and also allows you to organize your own time easily. This leads to more effective studying and less wasted time.

To get started, here are our recommended study planners .

#2 – Know Your Dominant Learning Style

It’s important to know that there are many different styles of learning and each person will retain information better in different ways.

  • As you can see, visual learners learn best when pictures, images, and spatial understanding is used. (Check out our collection of vision board ideas for students .)
  • Auditory learners prefer using music, sounds or both.
  • Kinesthetic learners prefer a more physical style of learning through using the body, sense of touch and hands.
  • Logical learners desire to use reasoning, logic and systems. (And like answering logic questions !)
  • Verbal learners will prefer using words in writing and speech.
  • Social learners will prefer to learn with other people or in groups.
  • Solitary learners are able to learn best alone.

This infographic provides a good overview of the seven learning styles. You can use it as a quick reference guide.

Once you have figured out which style of learning works best for you, it will help you determine how to study, where to study, when to study, what distracts you and what study aids you should use.

Consistency gets results!

Make your study habit part of your morning routine so that it becomes an effortless part of your day. Get excited about learning instead of dreading your study schedule.

To learn more about the different learning styles, read our article on the Learning Retention Pyramid .

#3 – Create and Write Down Realistic Study Goals

If your goal is too big to achieve, then you might be setting yourself up for failure and this will also not help motivate you to study and accomplish your SMART student goals , or if you're in college, your SMART college student goals .

Once you know your learning style, do a self-assessment of your current study habits and your current grades.

Here are some questions to ask yourself that will help you create realistic goals and come up with a plan for good study habits.

  • When do you usually study and for how long?
  • Do you find that it is effective?
  • Are you happy with your grades?
  • What subjects do you need to focus on or are having difficulty with?
  • What grades do you need to have in order to pass?
  • What are your personal commitments and priorities?

Here's our roundup of the best (and free) study plan templates to help make sure you stay on top of your academic goals.

After answering and reflecting on these questions, you’ll be able to see areas where you need to focus.

Maybe you are not spending enough time doing the right amount of work necessary each day or perhaps you choose to study late at night when you’re not as alert and energetic.

If you have noticed your grades are slipping in certain courses then perhaps you need to hire a tutor to help you with those subjects.

Social commitments or spending time on social media can eat away the hours. While it’s fun to socialize, pruning back some time spent here to study can pay off hugely in the long run.

Use the SMART method when setting up goals: set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals.

Check out this guide to learn the 13 steps to write and set SMART goals .

#4 – Make Study Time a Part of Your Daily Routine

If cramming all of your study time into a few long days isn’t working for you then it’s time to try something new (and way less stressful). Make time for studying every single day, with or without exams coming up. 

Remember that consistency is key and once you start getting into good study habits, it will become a routine and that you will be able to maintain throughout the school year. Self-discipline is key.

Check your schedule for the week or month, and see where you have free time or what you can discard:

  • Establish your priorities – whether that’s chores, must-attend activities, or appointments. By looking at your calendar, and setting up your priorities, you will be able to schedule your study sessions for the month.
  • Choose blocks of time when you feel you’re at your best.
  • Try to stay committed to your new study schedule.

Some people work best in the mornings, and others, at night. If you’re unsure when you work best, try studying at different times of the day to see which suits you and your body clock best.

READ: The Study Plan Schedule Strategy (That Actually Works!)

can good study habits be learned

Once you have found which blocks of time work best, you can always add in additional time to study by waking up an hour early to review your notes, or an hour later if you study better at night.

Make sure you build flexibility into your schedule. Your calendar and schedule will change because of unforeseen events. Be ready to plan around some things that come your way and still make time to study.

#5 – How to Structure Your Daily Study Routine

The following are some great ideas to structure your study routine. These work best when you are using a mixture of learning styles as mentioned above.

Start with watching or attending your lectures, and then doing an additional one to three hours of personal study (with breaks) to review your notes on those lectures.

This way, you are using both auditory and visual learning styles as well as repetition, which will help fix what you’re learning into memory.

Start with the difficult topics and subjects first, so that you are not going to put them off until a later date. Shorter study sessions are more effective for subjects you find difficult.

To get started, we recommend you time block your study session so it looks like this:

  • Schedule study sessions in two, 30-minute to one hour blocks
  • Take short 5- to 10-minute breaks in between.
  • When you take breaks, you allow your mind to rest, revitalize and be ready for more learning.

If you want to see what this looks like then here are 17 free study plan templates .

#6 – Establish a Study Zone

Establish a study zone, especially if you're engaged in virtual learning . Some people like quiet places, others will need a little bit of background noise.

Which one do you prefer?

If there is too much going on at your house then maybe it’s time to think about going to the library or a coffee bar and using headphones.

Make sure you have the necessary items with you when you study. You’ll need a desk that’s big enough to spread your books, laptop, paper, and supplies.

Using the best study lighting is also important for everyone when studying. If you want to preserve your eyesight and maximize your time and energy, then choose lighting that will not cause eyestrain or fatigue so you can keep your study session effective at any time of the day.

Don’t be afraid to establish boundaries in your study zone. Let anyone living with you know when your door is closed, it means you do not want to be disturbed. Try not to be distracted by  phone calls or texts, as this breaks your focus.

Girl reading in a study zone

It’s best to find not just one place to study, but at least two or three additional options . This way, you will have a backup plan in case your main study area can’t be used.

A change of environment is said to improve concentration and creativity so even if you don’t need to change places, it wouldn’t be a bad idea.

While you establish rules for others, you also need to establish rules for yourself:

  • Get rid of all distractions.
  • Don’t choose a place where you will be tempted to watch TV, check in with your smartphone, or study in a high-traffic area where people will be coming and going.
  • Choose to study offline as much as possible. There are way too many distractions that are only a click away.
  • If you need to check something, write it down and check it after your study session is over.

Also, here are a few helpful study tips to get the most out of your study session:

  • Avoid eating a heavy meal before studying. A heavy meal can make you sleepy which will make it more difficult for you to study. Choose to eat small and frequent meals instead.
  • Move or take a short walk before sitting down to study. Stretching, walking or even dancing will help prepare your body and mind to be more receptive to learning.
  • Prioritize your assignment dates: write down every assignment or task when you first hear about it instead of just “remembering” it. We live in such a fast paced world that’s full of distractions and it’s easy and normal to forget things.
  • Include important details such as page numbers, due dates, test dates, pointers, or anything else that might be helpful when writing assignments down.

One way to make prioritizing your tasks simple is to organize your study notes by using colors or labels. Whether you use an online notebook or a binder, developing your own color-coding system will help you (and your thoughts) get organized.

You can use colors to color-code your subjects, projects and even teachers. You can also use different colored pens, highlighters, sticky notes, folders and labels.

Colors and labels will also help you later when you when you need to review your notes, the colorful sections will help those notes stand out and be unique and memorable.

If you struggle to understand complex study material, using the Feynman technique can help you learn faster and more efficiently.

#7 – Take Great Notes

Do you find yourself struggling with taking good notes?

Develop your note-taking skills to aid what you’re in the process of learning. When you review your notes, they should help you study and remember the most essential information.

You don’t need to take notes of everything ! If the teacher keeps repeating something or has written down any important terms – you should make note of this.

Your note-taking style might also depend on your learning style like we mentioned above. Perhaps you might need to draw little diagrams in your notes if you are more of a visual learner.

It is important to take notes to study at peak efficiency

An auditory learner will learn better if you record the class discussions and lectures, or you can listen to informational and educational podcasts related to the subject. Your notes do not need to be handwritten if your learning style is auditory.

A good study routine plays to the strengths of your learning style.

Another fun way to remember things is to use mnemonics for better memory recall . For any type of list, steps, stages or parts you can use mnemonic devices to help you retain information. Mnemonic types include: music, name, expression, rhyme, spelling and more.

(If you're looking for another way to improve your memory, check out these memory games .)

#8 – Review Your Notes

Before and after your study sessions, you should always skim your notes from the recent lesson or topic you studied before starting on a new one. Reviewing your notes once before going to bed will also help to cement new knowledge into your brain.

You can get the most out of your notes by breaking up the topic you’re learning into shorter tasks. Spending over an hour reviewing your notes is counter-productive but shorter review blocks are a powerful learning strategy.

Finally, if you have piles of notes and are struggling to find the ones you need – you can digitize your notes! This resource tells you how to digitize your notes in 3 easy steps .

#9 – Use Technology Wisely During Class

If you are using a laptop for note-taking in class, then make sure you are still able to focus and pay attention. Laptops and phones can bring down your grade . Don’t believe us? This Michigan State University article shows why surfing the web in class is a bad idea.

You don’t want to get into the habit of surfing the web, checking social media, or using your smartphone in class. if you’re frequently checking the internet or your smartphone when studying, then you’re likely to sabotage your own learning efforts in the classroom.

#10 – Consider Joining a Study Group

Social learners should consider forming a study group. Study groups help you to remember and learn more effectively because you can ask questions to clarify difficult points. You also get the added advantage of discovering how others learned a subject or solved a problem.

One of the best benefits of joining a study group is that you will be able to ask, discuss, debate , and quiz each other on the topics at hand. You could even keep your study group online if traveling to one spot won’t work well for everyone.

In order to find study groups that will work for your needs; find people as dedicated as you are. You don’t want to study with a group that isn’t devoted and willing to work hard.

The study group's numbers shouldn’t be too big, or else it becomes more of a party. Having around 6 people in a group allows you all to benefit without it becoming distracting and counter-productive.

Study groups of college students

Exchange contact details or establish a means of communicating and decide on a location to host your study group. You will have to organize the group to fit everyone’s schedule to get the most benefit.

The most important thing is creating the logistics of the group – you meet up at the same place and have a reliable schedule. You should also determine how you’re going to communicate (you could use Slack, Whatsapp, etc) this keeps everyone in the loop and makes it easier to meet up.

The best study groups are not a competition. Some members of the group might pick up things faster than others, but this is an opportunity to demonstrate your own learning and fill in any gaps in your knowledge.

#11 – Ask for Help

There are plenty of resources available for anyone who might be stuck. It’s never a bad idea to ask for help and assistance and make the most out of the resources that are there to provide it.

Professors are usually more than willing to help any student who is struggling with a topic ( as it shows an honest effort to learn what they’re teaching). They can also help to explain a subject in a different light if your notes aren’t making sense.

You can also leverage the help of a tutor if you’re struggling with a specific topic. A tutor can help you in a one-to-one setting – which is especially valuable as they can cater the topic you’re struggling with to your learning style.

#12 – Get Enough Sleep and Rest

Studying when you’re sleepy is ineffective. If your body is telling you that you’re tired, then have a nap or go to bed early.

A good night’s sleep will help you understand and remember information better. It is also much less stressful to take an exam or attend a class when you feel well rested and alert.

If you’re finding that you are getting stressed out or tired, reflect back on your study schedule and priorities.

student sleeping in class | importance of good nights sleep to study and learning

Make sure that you have dedicated time for rest and de-stressing. You can’t be a study machine 24/7 and taking some time away from learning is a great way to relax your mind.

Good study habits require you to be fresh and sharp. A good night's sleep is far more effective than a night cramming for a test could ever be.

If you want some handy tips this guide will cover 17 healthy ways to fall asleep earlier .

#13 – Create a Daily Study Timetable

Make sure you track your grades along with your study hours and lesson notes to see if your new studying techniques are helping.

If you find that it is not helpful, then it’s time to re-prioritize your schedule to fit in more time for studying and re-examine your goals for success:

  • Remember that throughout school, work and life, you will always need to be learning something.
  • When you have set up the proper studying techniques and note-taking skills, you are giving yourself one of the greatest gifts possible, the ability to learn.
  • Don’t burn yourself out studying too hard all of the time. It’s important to find a little time to relax, as being too stressed can negatively impact your learning.
  • Don’t forget to play to your strengths, and explore different methods of learning if one thing isn’t working for you. The most important thing is to never give up.

Final Thoughts on Good Study Habits

You can use your morning routine to set yourself up for success in your learning efforts. When you start applying and practicing your study habits you will see a big difference in the quality of your learning.

Take a look at this study plan schedule strategy if you want to beat procrastination and make any learning project much easier.

Looking for more ways to improve your learning ability? Here's our post on how to learn anything fast!

Finally, if you want a PROVEN method to mastering your next test, then take this short masterclass on how to study for exams and getting excellent grades .

A good study routine can help you learn how to study effectively and build good 11 Good Study Habits for Students

25 thoughts on “13 Effective Study Habit Examples: Improve Your Study Routine”

Reading this post I noticed some underlying principles, useful in developing good habits in any area: -know thyself -break your goals into disciplines -focus -take a proper care of your body -track your results and tune your methods

Hi SJ – good stuff, as usual. thanks for the post.

I am a big fan of having a good study routine. Personally, it was one of those little things that have made a big difference, not only to my grades when I was a student, but also later in my life.

In my opinion, the key to success is also to keep the motivation up and focus on intrinsic rewards (rather than extrinsic): the road to mastery, your purpose/mission and achieving the milestones toward your big goal. Tracking your progress is a great way of keeping the focus on your intrinsic motivation.

I just wanted to add one more thing to the section on creating a study routine: make it enjoyable. How? set it up the way you can look forward to it. For instance, I do it in the morning, before my family gets up: and it’s my best time of the day (peak productivity), my ‘me time’, my favorite cup of coffee, and I really enjoy it. I still get up at 5.15am, even though I’m not at the uni anymore. I always find something to learn – I’ve done many MOOCs, and other courses. I don’t HAVE to, but I do it for the joy of learning.

SJ, love your books. Could I get the contact info for your designer (I’ve heard you’re willing to share that.). Also, I do a podcast for traders with about 20,000 listeners and would love to interview you about “waking up happy” and morning routines sometime.

My contact info is rob at robbooker.com

First of all, I would love to do your podcast. It is an honor. Shoot me an email at stevescottsite AT gmail DOT com and we will set up a time that is good for both of us.

Re: Cover Designer: The person I use is Kyle. He charges around $150 for a cover design. If you’d like to use a certain graphic, then you’d need to purchase it off a website (I use iStockPhoto.com for this.) What Kyle provides is the basic, “Kindle-Ready” cover. That means if you need the design converted to a paperback version, that’s something he charges extra for.

This is a great post SJ!

Habit 1 resonated with me so much and because it is very true that each of us have his or her own comfortable learning style. I remember back in high school and college, I used to study for major exams just after midnight. I will eat early and make sure to be in bed by 6 or 7PM. I will sleep until 12AM to 1AM and then get up and study with a cup of coffee right by my side. I love the tranquility of those hours. Place is quiet, except for the sound of barking dogs so I was able to focus.

Thanks for sharing!

That is an interesting way of studying. I also love that quite time when no one is awake. It really is a good time to get things done!

What’s the name of your editor? Can you provide a link? I assume he or she is on elance

I am writing these comments a few dozen times, Idk why but the commenst plugin doesnt approve my website? About the goal topic, I want to add that there is a book titled Goal suck and James Altucher says goals will fail you when themes will help you succeed.

Sorry, comment was sitting in my “approve” queue. Once and a while it wordpress drops people in there, even though they have had approved comments before. I will shoot you an email with editor info shortly.

Goals suck. That is a Matt Stone book. I know that guy. I agree, mostly. Goals are essential and vital, IMO. But spending too much time focused on goals and not enough on doing is a recipe for failure. Like many other things moderation is the key to using them with success.

This is nice and effective post SJ. Thanks a lot.I love to learn and again thanks for the precious 11 study habits.Thanks!!!

I am really very thankful to you for such 11tips for studies.

What are some of the benefits of having a good study timetable and a good time schedule?

Yes, I agree. I’m studying for a public tender in my country. Ihaven’t girlfriend, for I need time. Will be do I doing the right thing? I need help you all. It’s not nice to live without a partner, but i’m trying the impossible. Am I toward the right way? This is my doubt.

See you!!!!!!!

I think it is best to always work on yourself first. The women will come in time, and it is a lot easier to get/keep them with a good job.

I really liked this article, it was really refreshing! You did a great job writing it, and I can tell you did your research. All of these tips have the potential to help you utilize your study time better. However, it is a good idea to try various things until you hit on the exact combination of factors that allow you to develop good study habits and ultimate success in your future.

Good information. I’ve written an article about effective study habits. The techniques of an effective way of studying the lessons are based on cognitive science studies. Maybe the article can add to the information you have here. If you want you can visit http://psychlens.com/effective-study-habits/ . Thanks a lot for sharing this wonderful piece of information.

-Some info that I found helpful, was to not eat a big meal before studying, because it will cause you not to focus. -Something that I will do this year, is use study habits that work for me/I like. For ex: I like visual studying/videos. -a tip of my own, is to use flash cards.

wow this is amazing, things i took for granted or less important are things that are helpful, it changed my mentality toward reading, this is great, thanks for the tips.

I am not good at study and you written a long essay , if I good at study why should i searched for good such kind of tips looking such tips which change my life towards study , please give some good and interactive tips which really helps .

Regards, AJ

Very well written and useful. I like how you distinguish different ways for people because we all are very different.

‘As you can see, visual learners learn best when pictures, images, and spatial understanding is used. Auditory learners prefer using music, sounds or both. Kinesthetic learners prefer a more physical style of learning through using the body, sense of touch and hands. Logical learners desire to use reasoning, logic and systems. Verbal learners will prefer using words in writing and speech. Social learners will prefer to learn with other people or in groups. Solitary learners are able to learn best alone.’ That’s thoughtful.

Thanks for explaining these 7 types of learning to us. Each student will have different statistics. of learning. But the only thing depends is how you learn and effectively implement the same in your learning. One must isolate yourself from all your distractions. One must not waste time too much. And also one must find the best time to study. You gave nice tips.

Wonderful post. These habits are ones that all of us should use but we sometimes forget in the rush of every day work. A great list to keep nearby and remind yourself to slow down and pay attention. Thanks.

Wow! Really great post. The 4th one is really important. When I was a kid, I used to study continuously but after sometimes this is quite difficult for me to remember anything. That’s why I love Pomodoro technique. Study for a while and take 5-10 minute rest.

You also discussed study zone and style of learning. This really important because a learning environment can help us to learn quickly as well as effectively.

Thanks for Sharing!

SJ, I genuinely liked this one. very interesting and of course knowledgeable too.. thank you so much as i am a bit (not a bit ,very very much) lazy . it was good though

keep motivating!!!!!!!!!!!

It’s actually very difficult in this active life to listen news on Television, thus I just use internet for that reason, and get the most recent information.

Comments are closed.

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Experts Reveal the Keys to Successful Study Habits

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can good study habits be learned

The best way to approach learning is to realize it’s an active process. You need to ask questions, make personal connections to the material, and review information. Complete your assigned readings before class so you have an idea of what to expect. When you take notes, focus on the main points. You can always go back to the professor for more details. Form study groups and meet regularly to discuss the information. Talk about how the concepts relate to your life, a character in a movie, a song on the radio, an assignment from another class. The more connections you can make, the better. You’re creating multiple pathways in your brain so that when it comes time to use that material, you’ll have no problem remembering it!

Michael Theisen

I think most importantly it is important to be a critical learner. What I mean by this is that when you read course material or are involved in any part of the learning process in the course, that you reflect on the material from your own perspective and experience in life. As I noted in question two, we all can learn from one another, and what this means for me is that we take all academic information in with a respectful and critical eye.

Jenny Yip

When you're learning, it's important to be productive and focused. Students can accomplish this by scheduling daily tasks in a to-do list. Break down work into 15 minute time slots. Each time you've accomplished an item, you'll feel rewarded, which will boost your motivation forward.

Jessi Lail

Never sit in the back of class thinking that you can passively learn. Though a lot of major universities have enormous class sizes, create study groups where you can debate course topics. When someone challenges your opinion or what you held to be true, you have to have the knowledge to defend that. A lot of that knowledge stems from research that you do and that ends up being your strength and helps to cement that information in your mind. If you can't do that, taking good notes and practicing what you learned helps. When I learned about operant conditioning in undergrad, I spent the next week performing conditioning experiments on my family!

Emma Mansour

Given the amount of information one has to learn, memorization is inevitable. However, memorization is easier if the student can find a way to apply or relate the information to their own lives or to people they know. Elaborating on and relating to the information will make the information much more relatable and easier to understand.

Misha Granado

When I am in a learning environment I totally immerse myself into the new space, attempting to learn as much as I can and utilize various resources in order to receive various perspectives. I also ask questions for clarity, and finally, I take the concept and apply it to my world, this always makes the concept and/or new information come alive and real for me.

Lori Woodring

In a learning environment, the best learning habits for students are to be good listeners. There is much to be learned from professors and peers, and students need to develop the skill of asking challenging questions to both professors and peers. A well-read and prepared student is paramount.

Leslie Davenport

Self care. It's easy to get focused on memorizing the material and completing papers, which is important. But unless you eat and sleep well, and have some time for enjoyment and stepping away, it will be difficult to endure the academic and clinical journey.

Ultimately, your study habits will reflect your personal capabilities and past experiences. The point is to never stop looking for superior ways to do something. If it works don’t fix it; but if it’s merely adequate, consider replacing it. You’ve got what it takes to be more than a mediocre student; you can be an excellent one.

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Temma Ehrenfeld

14 Great Study Habits for a Lifetime

These tips can help at all ages, from high-school students to job-changers..

Posted May 10, 2023 | Reviewed by Davia Sills

  • Discipline and focus are skills that can develop over time with incremental practice.
  • Avoid multitasking whenever possible. People tend to think they're better at multitasking than they are.
  • Getting creative with memory devices can enhance recall and productivity.

Photo by Windows on Unsplash

Whether you’re a retiree learning for fun, adapting to meet challenges at a job, or boning up as part of a career switch, study habits can come in handy.

Here are 14 ways to improve how you learn. They may be especially helpful if you have ADHD or a low mood that limits your energy.

1. Take a little time to get into the right frame of mind.

Take a little time, not so much that you’ve used up all of your available time. For example, dance to an upbeat song for 10 minutes. If you’re distracted by chores that need doing, list them, then put the list away for later. If you’re completely obsessed with a distraction, be honest with yourself. But don’t just procrastinate . Decide exactly when you’ll do your studying and commit to being in the right frame of mind.

Be positive. Instead of thinking, “I don’t have enough time,” think, “I’m starting now.” Remember that discipline and focus are skills that you can build over time in small steps.

2. Find a quiet spot without distractions and return to it next time.

Think, “Where did I do well?” Look for the ideal situation, not just “good enough.” It might be as simple as choosing to sit up on a living room chair rather than lie down on the sofa to read. The bed probably isn’t the best place.

3. Bring what you need, but only what you need.

If you need a book, don’t forget it. But if you can leave your smartphone well out of reach, do so. Do you truly learn best while listening to music? If so, have your music and earphones, but otherwise, don’t have them handy.

4. Don’t multitask.

You may think you’re an expert at watching a video with the information you need and scrolling through Instagram . However, evidence suggests that common sense applies: You have only so much working memory , and you’re taking some of it up on Instagram. Your multitasking means you won’t absorb and retain as much of the video.

5. Outline your notes. Make lists and fill them in.

Make outlines that work for you, even if they might be confusing to someone else. Use words that make sense to you, translating the words in material you may be reading. “Chunk” together the groups of words or facts or ideas that you feel belong in a group. The goal is to produce an outline that will help you—not someone else—remember the material.

Writing may work better than keyboarding into a laptop. There’s some evidence that that helps us think. Read aloud an important sentence if you’re alone or mouth the words if you’re in a library. You may think it’s babyish to mouth or read aloud. Actually, poetry was the first way that human beings remembered stories, and we haven’t changed that much.

6. If you like memory devices, use them and get creative.

Make up a catchy rhyme to associate ideas and repeat it out loud. Make up a sentence. For example, “Never Ever Seem Worried,” is a way to remember “North, East, South, West.” “Every Good Boy Deserves Fun” helps music students remember the five notes of the treble clef, “E, G, B, D, F.”

If you don’t know if you like memory devices, try one out and see if it sticks. Then the next time you’re studying, you can try another one.

If you tend to be visual, take your time looking at the illustrations or photos in the book you’re reading to associate them with the information.

7. Practice.

If you’re taking a class and will be writing the answer to a surprise question on a test, make up a likely question and do the exercise of writing an answer with a timer on. Do it again.

Actually try to solve the sample problems in the materials you’re using; don’t just read the answers. Make up similar problems, try to solve them, and later on, at the end of a study period, find sources that can tell you whether your answers were correct. If you’re learning a new language, you might write out some questions and answers and show them to a native speaker at your next opportunity. Research suggests that an activity in which you generate a product or test yourself is more powerful than time spent consuming information—for example, reviewing notes.

can good study habits be learned

8. Find buddies.

Some people like to work with a group of four or five other people who are at about their level. Quiz each other. Try to do as well as the person you most admire. Turn envy into a source of motivation rather than resentment.

9. Make a schedule you can stick to.

If you have any flexibility, notice the times of day when you’re sharpest and dedicate them to learning. If you’re studying at home on a weekend or work at home, take a warm morning shower to gear up for analytical work, advises biologist and body-clock expert Steve Kay. Get your studying or work done before lunch, especially if you’re an early riser. You’re likely to be most distractible from noon to 4 p.m.

Sticking to a schedule may seem like a burden, but you’ll appreciate the investment if you can avoid last-minute cramming. How many minutes you spend each time is less important than regularity.

9. Space it out.

Most work goes better if you divide it into realistic chunks. Try not to cram for an exam in one burst. The evidence against cramming is mixed, but the common-sense advice to plan ahead and proceed in a consistent way, spacing out your study time, does seem to be right.

10. Take breaks.

If you’re falling asleep while reading, you may have picked the wrong time of day to study. Consider a nap if you’re sleep-deprived and then get back to work.

If you’re losing focus, but not short of sleep, move. It’ll help you more than extra coffee and stoking yourself with sugar is a mistake. Stretch and walk to the other end of the library at least once an hour. Even better, go for a short jog.

Bouts of movement—typically 15 to 20 minutes at moderate intensity—can measurably boost your mood and cognitive performance. Even 10 minutes can make a difference. Take time to look out the window, especially if you have a view of trees or other greenery. Nature is a good stress -reliever , even if you can’t climb the Himalayas today. If you succeed at a significant goal—maybe reading an entire chapter—treat yourself by a break flying over the Himalayas on Google’s satellite map.

10. Reward yourself.

It’s healthy to set goals and then reward yourself in ways you decide in advance—not French fries, but something you won’t regret later. Facebook is an OK break if you haven’t let it become a substitute for what you meant to do.

11. Students need to learn about finding balance.

This means getting enough sleep, eating regularly and well, exercising, and not becoming too distracted or obsessed by personal problems. As adults, we, too, need to keep that kind of balance.

12. Don’t depend on drugs to make you more focused and productive.

Also don’t indulge in partying in ways that will interfere with the next day.

13. If you’re taking a course, talk to the instructor early on, or an assistant, to know what to expect.

You may be aiming high, so plan on working harder or be realistic about your grade. Suss out what’s most important to the instructor. Establish a connection so you can talk to the instructor if you find yourself falling behind or do badly on a project. Pay attention in class.

14. Recall your original goals and motivations.

Sometimes we lose track of our original impetus once we're midway through an endeavor. Why did you want to master this material? If you're resenting the time, money, or difficulty, talk to someone you trust to reorient yourself.

Temma Ehrenfeld

Temma Ehrenfeld is a New York-based science writer, and former assistant editor at Newsweek .

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3 Practices for Developing Good Study Habits

If you dread studying and consistently feel unprepared, you’re not alone. Effective study habits aren’t intuitive for everyone, but good study habits can be learned and developed . Start with these three practices and see how your study habits can change for the better.

Change Your Mindset

Your mindset is a powerful force and how you view studying can have a major impact on your studying habits.

Get into the habit of giving yourself positive affirmations when you study like reminding yourself of how skilled you are on a particular topic. Avoid catastrophic thinking and convincing yourself ahead of time that you’re going to do poorly on a test. You’re more likely to succeed if you think positively and enjoy yourself.

Create positive associations with studying so you’re more likely to continue doing it. Reward yourself when you have maintained your study schedule or reached a goal. Celebrate with a night out with friends, your favorite meal, going for a walk, or whatever else motivates you to stay clear and focused.

It’s also ok to avoid studying when you aren’t in the right mindset. There’s only so much you can force your mind to do and if you’re preoccupied with other things going on in your life then you’re not likely to retain much. Give yourself a break so you can optimize the time you do study when you are feeling good and focused.

Schedule Study Time

One of the best practices is to carve out a scheduled study time and stick to it. Imagine time blocks just like you have classes scheduled. By scheduling this particular time regularly, you can start studying weeks in advance and always rely on having that time available to you. You’ll learn more of the material and it will stick with you longer.

But for this to work, your study time must be uncompromising! Don’t cancel a study session because you’d rather be doing something else, even if you feel like there isn’t anything to study. Aim to get yourself in the habit of studying in 30 or 60-minute blocks each day. Ultimately, the amount you study matters less than the habit of studying regularly.

If it helps you maintain the schedule, try spending 15 minutes before each class reviewing material. It’s really up to you and whatever works for you. Schedule this time when you’re least likely to find a distraction or something else to do. If you study better at night, then plan your study time then or vice versa if you’re a morning person. You’ll surprise yourself at how prepared you are for a test without that 10-hour study marathon the day before.

If you have a hard time sticking to your schedule, try a study group where you have others to keep you accountable and a set time every day or week to crack open those books between classes.

Find Your Spot

Your environment has a big impact on how well you study, so it’s best to find a place early on that is conducive to focus and concentration. The best spot will vary from person-to-person, but it’s best to avoid any place that has distractions. Look for a quiet place where you can concentrate like a nearby coffee shop, the library, or a quiet hallway.

Wherever it is for you, once you find that spot, stick with it and study there regularly. It’s helpful to study in the same place every time because it creates a routine and trains your brain to focus when you’re in that location.

Yes, the “study struggle” is real but you can evaluate your study habits and incorporate these three strategies  to make the best out of your study habits.

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How to build strong study habits

Here's your chance to become a master of studying! Benefit from our complete guide to building strong study habits that will last a lifetime.

How to build strong study habits

If your habits don't line up with your dream, then you need to either change your habits or change your dream ― John C. Maxwell

Like college students in the midst of their first bad hangover, we swear we’ll never, ever wait to cram at the last moment again. It's the perennial complaint of students everywhere: “...if only I’d started studying sooner, then I wouldn’t be in this mess!”

Well, I have good news for you. Studying effectively doesn't have to be hard!

The secret is building strong study habits .

Habits are grooves carved into your brain’s neural network that eventually become hard-wired, like tracks for a train to run on. Once studying becomes a habit, instead of your brain trudging along muddy hillocky paths, pushing aside thorny bushes and stepping in cowpats, you glide along smooth rails, getting your study done easily so you can go out and play.

In fact, studies have shown that once an action becomes habitual it takes far less effort for your brain to accomplish it. (Which would FINALLY help you keep your New Year's resolutions! )

A train in the country side

Sounds great, right?

Well, it is great. Once you’ve made studying daily a rock-solid habit, you’ll reap the rewards. Daily practice plays to your memory’s strengths, so you’ll be able to get knowledge solidly into your brain with less effort.

However, there are a series of enemies blocking your path: (1) social expectations, aka FOMO ; (2) the desire to save brainpower ; (3) procrastination ; and (4) instant gratification .

If you want to become a study master and cruise smoothly through each study session, you will need to disarm these enemies and use their weapons against them.

We've given you 11 tips on how to do that:

  • Anchor new habits to old ones
  • Start one micro-habit at a time
  • Keep the chain going
  • Bribe yourself to study
  • Discover your best time to study
  • Use peer pressure to study better
  • Combat the forces of FOMO
  • Be unapologetic about studying
  • Give yourself consequences
  • Sort out your study environment
  • The hidden benefits of daily study habits

Are you ready to enter the dojo and build strong daily study habits? Then welcome, young padawan. It’s time to learn the ways of the study master.

Psst. Improve your mental and physical well-being with these small life-changing habits that take ZERO time ! Also, did you know you can use the Brainscape app to achieve your personal growth goals —like improving your health, wealth, mindset, emotional intelligence, etc.?

Two warriors

1. The enemies of good study habits

The secret to improving study motivation and building good study habits is to realize it’s a game of two halves—you must play both offense and defense. This means you need to both defend against distractions and set your mind to do the work.

Think of your brain as a sort of council. There is more than one politician in Congress, and not all of them have your long-term interests at heart. Sometimes the long-term planner (the frontal cortex) wins the vote, and you go and do things that are hard but will give you rewards later.

Many other times, however, the more ancient, less evolved parts of your brain win the day. This is when the lizard brain or limbic system takes over. These areas respond well to crises—but when there’s no emergency, they seek pleasure.

This is the part that’s in control when, instead of studying, you do whatever is easy and gives you a reward straight away. Think watching Netflix, playing beer pong, napping, surfing the net, shopping, or eating ice-cream.

The issue is that for most people, their frontal cortex has a minority government; It doesn’t have all that much pull. And both inside and outside the brain, the forces arrayed against it are multitudinous.

Girl that is bouldering

So now, you’re about to learn which obstacles are in the way of building your study habits and how to defeat them . Let’s get started ...

1.1. Social expectations, aka FOMO

This one is huge, especially if you’re engaged in campus life. The pull to skip studying and do fun things with your friends can be really strong.

Continually resisting temptation puts a heavy load on your willpower.

Many of the best-laid study plans are derailed by some random invitation that spirals into a whole day of distraction. Socializing is important. But there’s a way to prioritize your study so it gets done, and you can still have guilt-free outings with your friends.

1.2. The desire to save brainpower

The brain is an energy hungry organ . It’s only 2% of your body weight, but even when you’re resting, it demands 20% of your energy.

Thinking, studying, learning—all of these take up brain space. Normally, we prefer to conserve this energy, so it’s a natural thing for us to avoid tasks that are going to exhaust us mentally.

This is why you need systems to get you through the hardest part: actually sitting down to do study. Because this avoidance of spending brain energy leads to ...

1.3. Procrastination

A test that’s weeks or months away doesn’t feel urgent. As the test looms closer, however, it’s amazing how many people end up with spotlessly clean kitchens, perfectly ordered sock drawers, and crisply cut lawns.

This is a wonderful tactic to feel productive by getting everything else done… except for studying.

What’s at work here is a phenomenon called delay discounting . Researchers have found that humans prefer a small reward delivered in the near future over a larger reward they have to wait for. It’s a variation on avoiding delayed gratification.

The ancient parts of your brain HATE spending valuable brain energy on things that are not either a clear and present danger or a pleasurable escape. Back in the days when we were part of the food chain, humans needed their brains to stay focused on urgent problems, like staying alive.

Precious brain juice wasn’t spent on contemplating why apples fell off trees or other non-urgent problems. This urge to prioritize only urgent tasks is still very much alive in us all.

Our brains are very skilled at bringing up seemingly urgent tasks to do instead of hard mental work. Hence the emergence of the spotless fridge and ironed boxer shorts during study week.

1.4. Instant gratification

As mentioned before the ancient, emotion-driven limbic system in our brains craves instant rewards.

In the 1960s, a Stanford professor named Walter Mischel conducted a series of experiments designed to test four-year-old children to their furthest limits.

Mischel put a marshmallow on a table in front of a kid and said they could eat the marshmallow now. Or they could eat two marshmallows if they didn’t eat the marshmallow while he left the room.

Mischel then left the room, leaving a marshmallow sitting in front of a deeply conflicted four-year-old.

This now-famous test became known as the Marshmallow Experiment . While tormenting children for science was entertaining (some children had to scoot their chairs over to the corner, face the wall, and sit on their hands to avoid eating the marshmallow) what was most interesting was the aftermath.

For the next forty years, Mischel followed his participants’ lives. He and other researchers found that the kids who passed the Marshmallow Experiment and could delay gratification had higher SAT scores , better health , and happier relationships .

It turns out that the ability to delay gratification is a key part of living a good life . Those who will do something hard in order to experience rewards not now, but in the future, succeed in their endeavors.

The issue here is that you’re not a four-year-old child who has to wait five minutes for two marshmallows. (Although to be fair, when you’re four years old, five minutes is a lifetime.)

Navigating life when you’re a student or working means constant pressure from conflicting obligations. You’ll have to make myriad decisions throughout each day. You’ll be resisting temptations, juggling priorities, and managing your energy.

Each time you put off something easy in order to do something hard, you’re using your willpower. It turns out that willpower is a limited resource and gets exhausted the more you use it.

That’s why if you try to do study daily on an ad hoc basis, it’s much more likely to not get done. Then you end up like everyone else: only studying when a test is looming closer, under the tyranny of an impending deadline.

Cramming is an ineffective way to study, which is why (as you’ll find out soon) distraction is an enemy you will need to vanquish to build strong study habits.

2. Strong study habit tips to defeat your enemies

Knight lying down in defeat

As you may have figured out by now, the phrase "strong study habits" is basically synonymous with "developing the willpower to do a little bit of work every day because the alternative -- cramming -- is less effective and even more time-consuming in the long run."

The importance of this realization cannot be underestimated. You can even think of habit formation in terms of this popular mathematical equation:

Math equation that shows strong study habits pay off

In other words, doing just a little bit of extra effort every day (no exceptions!) for an entire year will exponentially increase your performance, while slacking off every day will erode your performance or knowledge toward nearly zero, such that you have to start again from scratch (e.g. "cramming") at the last minute.

The good news is that you can fundamentally hack your brain to develop these consistent daily study habits to the point that they become almost effortless.

Below is our list of various forms of mental jiu-jitsu that can help you turn study foes’ weapons against them.

[Try this hack: ' How the benefits of cold showers can change your life ']

Tip 1. Anchor new habits to old ones

Rope tied in a knot

As we mentioned above, our brains don’t like to expend lots of energy on hard mental work. But when something becomes a habit, it doesn’t take energy or willpower; you do the thing on autopilot.

The easiest way to make a new habit is to tie it into an existing habit that is already established (otherwise known as an anchor habit.)

For example, if you study better in the morning, then bring out your notes and do your study session while you have your first coffee of the day. The first coffee is your anchor habit, and study is the new habit you’re attaching to it. Quite quickly, you’ll see that studying also becomes automatic.

If evenings are your chosen study time, then build your habit on something you do every evening. For example, you could spend an hour studying every night after dinner, or you could work through your notes before you go to bed each night. Or you could use the Feynman Technique while you’re out walking, exercising, or commuting.

When you tie your new habit with an existing habit, you’re taking advantage of neural pathways that have been already laid down. With consistent practice, your new study habit should start to feel effortless in a couple of weeks.

Tip 2. Start one micro-habit at a time

Workers building a wall

One of the best ways to guarantee that your new habit won't stick is to take on too big of a challenge at once. So let's nip that one in the bud before we continue.

If your goal is to study every day instead of waiting until the last minute, don't start by promising yourself that you'll study for two hours a day or re-read 5 textbook chapters at a time. That can feel so daunting that you'll end up quitting the first time a major wave of inertia hits you.

Instead, maybe just commit to studying one 10-flashcard round in Brainscape every day, or to making digital flashcards for just one small textbook lesson every day. As long as you have broken up your studying into bite-sized milestones, it will be much easier to develop these habits and stay motivated to study .

Admittedly, tiny daily study sessions might not initially be enough to totally prevent your needing to cram more at the last minute. But at least you're establishing real habits, and you can always add to your goals once your small starter goals have begun to stick.

Tip 3. Keep the chain going

Strong chain to develop strong study habits

Another hack for building strong study habits comes from comedian Jerry Seinfeld. For years, Seinfeld would write a joke every day, no matter what was going on in his life. After many days, this chain of daily practice became its own incentive.

The threat of breaking the chain contributed to his motivation: Seinfeld didn’t want to break the chain, so he continued writing a joke every day. The habit stuck.

You can use apps like Don’t Break the Chain or Done to create a chain for your daily study habit OR you can very simply set study reminders in Brainscape! Go into the menu in the mobile app, select 'Notifications', and then toggle on 'Streak Reminders'. Those will show up as push notifications on your phone’s home screen, reminding you to stop what you’re doing and put in a quick study round with Brainscape. You can also customize the time of day you’d prefer to receive your reminders!

Tip 4. Bribe yourself to study

A handshake

You now know there are deep and powerful parts of your brain that crave instant gratification. They are not moved by distant lofty goals. They want something yummy now.

So, use this to your advantage. The idea is to train your brain like it’s one of Pavlov’s dogs.

In his foundational experiment, Pavlov was able to connect two stimuli in a dog’s brain : the ringing of a bell, and a bowl of delicious dog food.

By the end of Pavlov’s experiment, the connection between the sound of the bell and a meal was so strong, his dogs would start to salivate when they heard the bell.

You need to make a connection between sitting down to study, and something your brain really likes.

It’s time to train your brain with gratification.

Every time you sit down do study, give yourself a treat. Whatever floats your particular boat: whether it’s chocolate, gummy bears, or your favorite TV show. Naked and Afraid anyone? Once you've studied at least 10-15 minutes (of Brainscape flashcards :), give yourself the treat.

Pretty soon, your brain will start to look forward to your study sessions, because you’ll have connected the positive experience (the treat) with studying.

Congratulations! You have created a neural connection in your brain to tie studying together with gummy bears. Science has been achieved.

Tip 5. Discover your best time to study

Many black and white clocks

To build strong habits, it’s very important to study at the same time each day whenever possible. We’re cyclical creatures, and keeping your study schedule regular will cement the habit much more strongly than shifting it around each day.

So when should you study? Are you a morning lark or a night owl ?

Do you feel sharp at 11 am or 7 pm? Do you fade after lunch? Perk up after dinner? Maybe you’re one of those rare birds who wake up at 6 am bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, ready to go...

Everyone has a circadian cycle of sleep and wakefulness. Paying attention to this cycle means you can go to study at times when your energy is optimal. To discover your cycle, spend a week observing yourself ( or read this article ). Look for the times of day or night when you are at your best and able to tackle difficult mental tasks.

Take note of how the time you go to bed affects how you feel in the morning. This is important. Your circadian rhythm means you can get the same eight hours of sleep, but how rested you feel depends a lot on when during the night you took your rest.

Some people can go to bed at midnight and feel great the next day. Others need to go to bed before 10 pm to get a really good night’s sleep. Once you’ve worked out when you function best, note down those times. Use this knowledge to decide when is the best time for you to study .

Tip 6. Use peer pressure to study better

Peer pressure is a powerful force. It makes people do strange things, like wear clothes with brand logos on them or buy $30 drinks at bars.

A variant of this force is one of Professor Robert Cialdini’s six powerful elements of human persuasion . It’s called consistency, and you can use it to persuade yourself into good habits.

Here’s how consistency works. As human beings, we like to appear to be consistent to our fellow humans. So if we tell everyone “I’m a party animal, and the only time I ever study is on the night before a test,” a precedent has been set.

To appear consistent with your peers, you can’t be found going over your lecture notes on a mid-term Wednesday evening.

However, if you tell all your friends about the wonders of studying every day, then you have a different kind of reputation to uphold.

Most people will expend far more effort to avoid embarrassment than they will to achieve a distant goal. So use this knowledge to create social pressure in support of the habits that will make you succeed in life.

Embrace your inner nerd , and ‘own’ the fact that you geek out at a set time each day. Anyone who makes fun of you will find the tables turned during finals week, when they’re frantically trying to cram, and you’re relaxed and confident with plenty of time for leisure.

Spaced repetition vs cramming

After a few months of daily studying, you’ll find your habits become a part of your identity. Once you see yourself as someone who studies every day, you’ve truly won the battle and created strong study habits.

Tip 7. Combat the forces of FOMO

Two broken phones

Always turn your phone and social media notifications OFF when you start your study time. Apps like Freedom and StayFocusd can do this for you on a laptop. Ignorance is the best cure for FOMO—if you don’t know about the other things you could be doing, you can’t be distracted by them.

Tip 8. Be unapologetic about studying

Another way to avoid social pressure is to be unapologetic about how you spend your time. Don’t give an explanation, and people won’t press you.

For example, if someone asks you to hang out during your study time, just say "Nope, I have to study." They don't have to know that your test isn't for another 6 weeks.

Tip 9. Give yourself consequences

Statue of a dog in the grass

Last, if you have someone who wants to join your daily study regime, use the power of aversion to cement your study habit.

This is because while rewards are good, bad consequences are an even more powerful way to create habits. Studies show people will go further to avoid pain than gain pleasure .

With your study partner, create awful consequences if you don’t follow through on your daily study. Keep each other accountable, and be ready to enforce the payout if they don’t keep up their side of the bargain. (And be ready to suffer the consequences if you don’t.)

Using a service like Stickk , people have been forced to donate money to their least favorite charity when they don’t complete their goals. Other sites will publish photos of the person naked if they don’t stick to their weight loss goals (whatever gets the job done, right?). You’d better believe that with stakes like that in the game, participants stick to their goals, and so will you.

Tip 10. Sort out your study environment

Organized workspace for the best study habits

The last key to creating a rock-solid study habit is controlling your environment. Set reminders for you to start your daily study session. Create a special area dedicated to study, with all the things you’ll need to do the work close at hand.

Put up a calendar so you can see how each day brings you closer to your exam. Use this same calendar to keep track of your chain of daily study sessions.

Make it "convenient" to study often. Keep your books and notes in a place where you can easily and frequently access them. Have your flashcard app on your phone's home screen and in your web browser's "Favorites" bar, so you don’t have to think about what to do first in your study session.

Building a strong study habit is very similar to getting fit. As your brain gets into the habit of working each day at a set time, it gets fitter, and study sessions become more enjoyable.

Tip 11. The hidden benefits of daily study habits

When you defy the enemies of study and build your strong study habit, you’re also doing something else. Something very important. You’re building character.

'Character' has been defined as the ability to complete a task long after the mood in which the decision to do it has left you.

When you keep your promises to yourself, you’re sending yourself an important message about who you are, and what you’re capable of. In doing this, you’re laying the foundation for future success and happiness.

3. Build your study system

can good study habits be learned

We’ve now gone through the two parts of building a strong study habit: defense and offense. It’s time to put it all together.

Here are the habits that go into building a study system that will work for you.

  • Choose an existing activity you habitually do at these times and tie it to your new study habit.
  • Keep the chain going—maintain a record of your daily sessions, and create an unbroken chain of them.
  • Decide on your study treat and bribe yourself with it at the start and end of your session.
  • Note the times of day when your brain is sharpest. Choose these as your designated study times.
  • Start celebrating your inner nerd. Spread the gospel of daily study to your friends to create a consistent character you have to live up to.
  • Push back against FOMO by turning off your phone and staying ignorant of what your friends are doing.
  • Be unapologetic when ducking out of social events in order to keep your study habit.
  • Choose your accountability partner, and decide on some (very unpleasant) consequences if you don’t follow through on your study plan.
  • Set up a special study space with everything you need.
  • Prep your study materials and Brainscape flashcards so the first few minutes of study can be done on autopilot
  • Study daily to build character

Building strong study habits is ultimately about respecting your long term goals. And if you need help breaking out of a fixed mindset and learning how to stick to the long road, roll with the punches, be a little more patient, and embrace the learning curve, definitely read: ' How to unlock a growth mindset '.

Remind yourself that studying is actually a way of honoring yourself and keeping your promises. Every time you keep your commitments, you’re building your willpower muscle, and this will help you throughout your entire life.

Ayduk, O., Mendoza-Denton, R., Mischel, W., Downey, G., Peake, P. K., & Rodriguez, M. (2000). Regulating the interpersonal self: Strategic self-regulation for coping with rejection sensitivity . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79 (5), 776–792. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.79.5.776

Cialdini, R. (2016). Pre-suasion: A revolutionary way to influence and persuade. Simon & Schuster.

Doyle, J. R. (2013). Survey of time preference, delay discounting models . Judgment and Decision Making , 8 (2), 116-135.

Gardner, B., & Rebar, A. L. (2019). Habit formation and behavior change . In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology .

Gailliot, M. T., Baumeister, R. F., DeWall, C. N., Maner, J. K., Plant, E. A., Tice, D. M., Brewer, L. E., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2007). Self-control relies on glucose as a limited energy source: Willpower is more than a metaphor . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92 (2), 325–336. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.2.325

Jarius, S., & Wildemann, B. (2015). And Pavlov still rings a bell: Summarising the evidence for the use of a bell in Pavlov’s iconic experiments on classical conditioning. Journal of neurology , 262 (9), 2177-2178. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-015-7858-5

Mischel, W., Ayduk, O., Berman, M. G., Casey, B. J., Gotlib, I. H., Jonides, J., ... & Shoda, Y. (2011). ‘Willpower’ over the life span: Decomposing self-regulation. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience , 6 (2), 252-256.

Seeyave, D. M., Coleman, S., Appugliese, D., Corwyn, R. F., Bradley, R. H., Davidson, N. S., ... & Lumeng, J. C. (2009). Ability to delay gratification at age 4 years and risk of overweight at age 11 years. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine , 163 (4), 303-308.

Flashcards for serious learners .

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Developing Good Study Habits for Academic Success: The Power of Habits

Developing good study habits is crucial for academic success, as well as for personal and professional growth. Good study habits not only help you retain information more effectively, but they also enhance critical thinking skills, boost memory, and improve overall productivity. Whether you’re a student in high school, college, or a working professional pursuing a new skill, the benefits of good study habits are undeniable.

By establishing good study habits, you can optimize your learning experience and achieve better results. This includes setting up a conducive study environment, utilizing active reading strategies, employing effective study techniques, managing your time well, and mastering test-taking strategies. These habits may take time and effort to develop, but the rewards are worth it.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the various aspects of good study habits and provide actionable tips and techniques to help you achieve success.

How to Develop Good Study Habits

Table of Contents

Have a close look at how to develop good study habits.

Setting Up Your Study Environment

The study environment plays a crucial role in your ability to focus and retain information. Here are some tips to create a conducive study environment:

Choosing a comfortable and quiet place to study

Find a location where you can sit comfortably for an extended period. This may be a desk in a quiet room, a local library, or a coffee shop with a relaxed ambiance.

Eliminating distractions

Distractions can make it difficult to concentrate and stay focused. Turn off your phone or set it to airplane mode to avoid notifications. Avoid studying in a busy area or near loud noises. Consider using noise-cancelling headphones to block out any distracting sounds.

Creating a study schedule and sticking to it

Establishing a consistent study schedule can help you stay organized and focused. Identify your most productive hours of the day and allocate specific blocks of time for studying. Use a planner or a scheduling app to help you stay on track.

Ensuring proper lighting

Adequate lighting can help reduce eye strain and improve focus. Make sure your study area is well-lit with natural or artificial light. Avoid studying in dimly lit areas that can cause eye fatigue.

Keeping the study area organized

A clean and organized study space can help you stay focused and reduce stress levels. Keep your study materials and supplies organized and tidy. Use storage containers or shelves to store books, notes, and other materials.

Choosing the right temperature

The temperature of your study environment can affect your focus and productivity. Choose a temperature that’s comfortable for you and helps you concentrate. Avoid extreme temperatures that can cause discomfort or distract you.

Adjusting your posture

Poor posture can cause physical discomfort and reduce your ability to focus. Ensure that your chair and desk are ergonomically designed and properly adjusted to support your back and reduce strain on your neck and shoulders.

By following these additional tips, you can create an ideal study environment that maximizes your concentration and learning potential.

Active Reading Strategies

Active reading is an essential skill that can help you retain information, identify key concepts, and analyze complex ideas. Here are some effective active reading strategies:

Previewing the material before reading

Before you start reading, take a few minutes to scan through the text. Look at the headings, subheadings, and any bolded or italicized text to get an idea of what the passage is about.

Highlighting key points

Highlighting can help you identify and remember important information. Use a highlighter to mark key concepts, definitions, and examples. Avoid highlighting too much, as it can reduce the effectiveness of the technique.

Taking effective notes

Taking notes while reading can help you retain information and organize your thoughts. Use abbreviations, bullet points, and other symbols to make note-taking more efficient. Consider using a separate notebook or binder to keep your notes organized.

Summarizing main ideas

Summarizing can help you remember key concepts and ensure that you understand the material. After reading a section, try to summarize the main points in your own words. This will help you remember the material better and identify any areas where you need further clarification.

Asking questions

Asking questions while you read can help you better understand the material and identify any areas of confusion. Try to ask questions about the main idea, key concepts, and any examples or illustrations in the text.

Making connections

Making connections between the material you’re reading and your own experiences or other readings can help you remember and understand the material better. Look for similarities or differences between the current text and other texts you’ve read, or connect the material to real-life situations.

Visualizing

Visualizing can help you create mental images of the material, making it easier to remember and understand. Try to create visual images in your mind of the concepts, ideas, or examples in the text.

Engaging with the text

Engaging with the text can help you stay focused and interested in the material. Ask yourself questions, make predictions, and reflect on your own experiences as you read. This can help you stay engaged with the material and increase your overall understanding.

By utilizing these active reading strategies, you can enhance your comprehension and retention of the material. These strategies also encourage critical thinking and help you engage more deeply with the text.

Effective Study Techniques

Effective study techniques are important for retaining information and achieving academic success. Here are some additional techniques that can help improve your study habits:

Creating outlines

Creating an outline of the material you need to study can help you organize your thoughts and break down complex information into manageable sections. Use headings and subheadings to categorize information and create a clear structure for your study material.

Using visual aids

Visual aids such as diagrams, charts, and graphs can help you understand complex information more easily. Use these aids to supplement your notes and highlight key concepts or relationships.

Testing yourself

Testing yourself is an effective way to reinforce your learning and identify areas where you need to focus your study efforts. Use flashcards, quizzes, or practice exams to test your knowledge and help you recall information more easily.

Taking breaks

Taking regular breaks can help you stay focused and prevent burnout. Take short breaks every hour or so, and use the time to rest, exercise, or do something you enjoy.

Using technology

Technology can be a useful tool for studying, with a variety of apps and online resources available to help you learn more efficiently. Use online flashcards or study apps to help you stay organized and reinforce your learning.

Teaching others

Teaching others is a great way to reinforce your own learning and identify areas where you need to improve your understanding. Try explaining the material to a friend or family member, or join a study group where you can take turns teaching each other.

Setting goals

Setting clear goals for your study session can help you stay motivated and focused. Set specific, achievable goals for each study session, such as reading a certain number of pages or mastering a particular concept.

Practicing self-care

Practicing self-care is essential for maintaining good study habits. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and taking care of your mental health. This can help you stay focused and alert while you study.

Varying your study techniques

Varying your study techniques can help prevent boredom and improve your retention of information. Try using different techniques for different types of material, or switch up your study environment to keep things fresh.

Seeking help when needed

Don’t be afraid to seek help when you’re struggling with a particular concept or assignment. Talk to your teacher, a tutor, or a study partner for assistance, or seek out online resources or instructional videos to supplement your learning.

By incorporating these additional techniques into your study habits, you can improve your efficiency, motivation, and overall academic performance. Remember to tailor your study habits to your individual needs and preferences, and be willing to experiment with different techniques until you find the ones that work best for you.

Time Management Strategies

Effective time management is crucial for achieving your goals and avoiding stress and burnout. Here are some additional time management strategies that can help you make the most of your time:

Setting realistic goals

Setting realistic goals can help you stay motivated and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, and set realistic deadlines for each step.

Using a planner or calendar

Using a planner or calendar can help you keep track of deadlines, appointments, and other important tasks. Use your planner to schedule study sessions, meetings, and other activities, and make sure to block out time for self-care and relaxation.

Minimizing distractions

Minimizing distractions can help you stay focused and productive. Turn off notifications on your phone, close unnecessary tabs on your computer, and find a quiet, distraction-free environment to work in.

Delegating tasks

Delegating tasks can help you free up time for more important activities. If you have a group project or other collaborative assignment, delegate tasks to other group members based on their strengths and interests.

Using the Pomodoro technique

The Pomodoro technique is a time management strategy that involves working for a set amount of time (usually 25 minutes) and then taking a short break (usually 5 minutes). Repeat this cycle several times, and then take a longer break (usually 15-30 minutes). This can help you stay focused and productive while avoiding burnout.

Practicing self-care is essential for maintaining good time management habits. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, exercise, and social interaction, and take time to do activities you enjoy.

Using time-blocking

Time-blocking involves scheduling specific blocks of time for certain tasks or activities. This can help you stay focused and avoid getting sidetracked by other tasks or distractions. For example, you might schedule a block of time for studying, a block of time for exercising, and a block of time for running errands.

Eliminating time-wasting activities

Identify any activities that are not essential or that are not helping you reach your goals, and eliminate them from your routine. For example, if you spend a lot of time scrolling through social media, consider limiting your social media use or deleting the apps from your phone altogether.

Breaking up large task

Breaking up large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and make it easier to stay motivated. Try breaking up a large project into smaller milestones, and celebrate your progress along the way.

Prioritizing self-reflection

Taking time to reflect on your goals and priorities can help you stay focused and motivated. Schedule regular check-ins with yourself to evaluate your progress, identify areas for improvement, and adjust your goals or strategies as needed.

Remember that effective time management is a skill that takes time and practice to develop. Be patient with yourself as you experiment with different strategies, and don’t be afraid to seek out additional resources or support if you need it. With a little effort and dedication, you can develop the time management skills you need to achieve your goals and thrive in all areas of your life.

Test-Taking Strategies

Test-taking can be a stressful experience, but with the right strategies, you can improve your performance and reduce your stress levels. Here are some additional test-taking strategies to help you succeed:

Reviewing your notes

One of the best ways to prepare for tests is to review your notes regularly. This can help you retain the material and identify areas where you need more practice.

Using practice tests

Practice tests can help you familiarize yourself with the format and content of the test, as well as identify areas where you need more practice.

Understanding the instructions

Make sure you understand the instructions for the test and each question before you begin. This can help you avoid making mistakes and wasting time.

Managing your time

Use your time wisely during the test. Start with the questions you know and move on to the more challenging questions later. If you get stuck on a question, move on and come back to it later.

Answering questions strategically

Use strategic guessing to maximize your chances of getting the right answer on multiple-choice questions. Eliminate obviously wrong answers, and make an educated guess based on the remaining options.

Managing test anxiety

Test anxiety can interfere with your performance, so it’s important to manage your stress levels. Practice deep breathing or other relaxation techniques, and use positive self-talk to boost your confidence.

Checking your work

Take the time to review your answers before submitting your test. Double-check your calculations, spelling, and grammar to avoid careless mistakes.

Understanding the scoring system

Understanding how the test is scored can help you focus your efforts on the questions that are worth the most points, and avoid wasting time on questions that are less important.

Practicing time management

Practice answering questions quickly and efficiently to manage your time effectively during the test. Use a timer to simulate test conditions and practice pacing yourself.

Reading the question carefully

Make sure you read each question carefully and understand what it is asking before you begin answering. Pay attention to key words, phrases , and instructions that can guide your answer.

By incorporating these additional test-taking strategies into your routine, you can reduce your stress levels, improve your performance, and achieve better results on your tests. Remember to stay calm, focused, and confident, and trust in your preparation and abilities.

In conclusion, good study habits are essential for academic success and personal growth. By setting up a comfortable study environment, using active reading strategies, practicing effective study techniques, managing your time wisely, and using strategic test-taking strategies, you can improve your learning outcomes and reduce stress levels.

It’s important to remember that developing good study habits takes time and practice, but the benefits are well worth the effort. By committing to these habits, you can increase your confidence, improve your grades, and achieve your academic goals.

So, let’s continue to practice good study habits, stay focused, and work towards our academic success. With dedication and persistence, we can all achieve our goals and reach our full potential.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good study habits.

Good study habits are practices and techniques that promote effective learning and help students achieve their academic goals. These habits include setting up a comfortable study environment, using active reading strategies, practicing effective study techniques, managing time wisely, and using strategic test-taking strategies.

Why are good study habits important?

Good study habits are important because they help students learn more effectively, improve their grades, reduce stress levels, and increase their confidence. By practicing good study habits, students can also develop important life skills such as time management, organization, and critical thinking.

How can I develop good study habits?

Developing good study habits takes time and practice. Start by setting up a comfortable and distraction-free study environment, creating a study schedule, and breaking down material into manageable chunks. Use active reading strategies such as highlighting and note-taking, and practice effective study techniques such as using mnemonic devices and practicing active recall. Finally, use time management strategies to stay organized and manage your time effectively.

How can I stick to my study schedule?

Sticking to a study schedule requires discipline and commitment. One way to stay on track is to make your schedule realistic and achievable, and to break down tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks. Use a planner or calendar to keep track of your schedule, and try to study at the same time each day to establish a routine.

How can I manage test anxiety?

Test anxiety can be managed by using relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and visualization, staying organized and prepared, getting enough rest, and taking care of your physical and emotional health. Practice positive self-talk and focus on your strengths and abilities, rather than your fears and doubts. And remember, it’s okay to ask for help or support from a teacher, counselor, or friend.

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Science News Explores

Top 10 tips on how to study smarter, not longer.

Good study skills matter now more than ever, and science points to ones that really work

teen reading on a tablet lying in bed

Many students study by reading their notes and textbooks over and over again. Research studies show there are more effective ways to use your valuable study time.

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By Kathiann Kowalski

September 9, 2020 at 6:30 am

As a teen, Faria Sana often highlighted books with markers. “The colors were supposed to tell me different things.” Later, she recalls, “I had no idea what those highlighted texts were supposed to mean.”

She also took lots of notes as she read. But often she was “just copying words or changing the words around.” That work didn’t help much either, she says now. In effect, “it was just to practice my handwriting skills.”

“No one ever taught me how to study,” Sana says. College got harder, so she worked to find better study skills. She’s now a psychologist at Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada. There she studies how students can learn better.

Having good study skills is always helpful. But it’s even more important now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many students worry about family or friends who may get sick, Sana notes. Others feel more general stress . Beyond that, students in many countries are facing different formats for learning. Some schools are holding in-person classes again, with rules for spacing and masks . Others schools have staggered classes, with students at school part-time. Still others have all online classes , at least for a while.

These conditions can distract from your lessons. Plus, students are likely to have to do more without a teacher or parent looking over their shoulders. They will have to manage their time and study more on their own. Yet many students never learned those skills. To them, Sana says, it may be like telling students to learn to swim by “just swimming.”

The good news: Science can help.

For more than 100 years, psychologists have done research on which study habits work best. Some tips help for almost every subject. For example, don’t just cram! And test yourself, instead of just rereading the material. Other tactics work best for certain types of classes. This includes things like using graphs or mixing up what you study. Here are 10 tips to tweak your study habits.

1. Space out your studying

Nate Kornell “definitely did cram” before big tests when he was a student. He’s a psychologist at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. He still thinks it’s a good idea to study the day before a big test. But research shows it’s a bad idea to cram all your studying into that day. Instead, space out those study sessions.

a kid sitting at a table studying and looking really stressed out

In one 2009 experiment, college students studied vocabulary words with flash cards. Some students studied all the words in spaced-apart sessions throughout four days. Others studied smaller batches of the words in crammed, or massed, sessions, each over a single day. Both groups spent the same amount of time overall. But testing showed that the first group learned the words better .

Kornell compares our memory to water in a bucket that has a small leak. Try to refill the bucket while it’s still full, and you can’t add much more water. Allow time between study sessions, and some of the material may drip out of your memory. But then you’ll be able to relearn it and learn more in your next study session. And you’ll remember it better, next time, he notes.

2. Practice, practice, practice!

Musicians practice their instruments. Athletes practice sports skills. The same should go for learning.

“If you want to be able to remember information, the best thing you can do is practice,” says Katherine Rawson. She’s a psychologist at Kent State University in Ohio. In one 2013 study, students took practice tests over several weeks. On the final test, they scored more than a full letter grade better , on average, than did students who studied the way they normally had.

In a study done a few years earlier, college students read material and then took recall tests. Some took just one test. Others took several tests with short breaks of several minutes in between. The second group recalled the material better a week later .

3. Don’t just reread books and notes

As a teen, Cynthia Nebel studied by reading her textbooks, worksheets and notebooks. “Over and over and over again,” recalls this psychologist at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. Now, she adds, “we know that’s one of the most common bad study skills that students have.”

In one 2009 study, some college students read a text twice. Others read a text just once. Both groups took a test right after the reading. Test results differed little between these groups , Aimee Callender and Mark McDaniel found. She is now at Wheaton College in Illinois. He works at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

Too often, when students reread material, it’s superficial, says McDaniel, who also co-wrote the 2014 book, Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning . Rereading is like looking at the answer to a puzzle, rather than doing it yourself, he says. It looks like it makes sense. But until you try it yourself, you don’t really know if you understand it.

One of McDaniel’s coauthors of Make it Stick is Henry Roediger. He, too, works at Washington University. In one 2010 study, Roediger and two other colleagues compared test results of students who reread material to two other groups. One group wrote questions about the material. The other group answered questions from someone else. Those who answered the questions did best . Those who just reread the material did worst.

4. Test yourself

That 2010 study backs up one of Nebel’s preferred study habits. Before big tests, her mom quizzed her on the material. “Now I know that was retrieval practice,” she says. “It’s one of the best ways you can study.” As Nebel got older, she quizzed herself. For example, she might cover up the definitions in her notebook. Then she tried to recall what each term meant.

a girl explaining something to her mom

Such retrieval practice can help nearly everyone, Rawson and others showed in an August 2020 study in Learning and Instruction. This research included college students with an attention problem known as ADHD. It stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Overall, retrieval helped students with ADHD and those without the disorder equally well . 

“Create a deck of flash cards every time you learn new information,” Sana suggests. “Put questions on one side and the answers on the other side.” Friends can even quiz each other on the phone, she says.

“Try to quiz yourself the way the teacher asks questions,” Nebel adds.

But really grill yourself and your friends, she says. And here’s why. She was part of a team that asked students to write one quiz question for each class period. Students would then answer a question from another classmate. Preliminary data show that students did worse on tests afterward than when the daily quiz questions came from the teacher. Nebel’s team is still analyzing the data. She suspects the students’ questions may have been too simple.

Teachers often dig deeper, she notes. They don’t just ask for definitions. Often, teachers ask students to compare and contrast ideas. That takes some critical thinking.

5. Mistakes are okay — as long as you learn from them

It’s crucial to test your memory. But it doesn’t really matter how many seconds you spend on each try . That finding comes from a 2016 study by Kornell and others. But it’s important to go the next step, Kornell adds: Check to see if you were right. Then focus on what you got wrong .

“If you don’t find out what the answer is, you’re kind of wasting your time,” he says. On the flip side, checking the answers can make your study time more efficient. You can then focus on where you need the most help.

In fact, making mistakes can be a good thing, argues Stuart Firestein. A Columbia University biologist in New York City, he actually wrote the book on it. It’s called Failure: Why Science is So Successful . Mistakes, he argues, are actually a primary key to learning.

6. Mix it up

In many cases, it helps to mix up your self-testing. Don’t just focus on one thing. Drill yourself on different concepts. Psychologists call this interleaving.

a photo of a young asian man studying his notes while lying in bed

Actually, your tests usually will have questions mixed up, too. More importantly, interleaving can help you learn better. If you practice one concept over and over “your attention decreases because you know what’s coming up next,” Sana explains. Mix up your practice, and you now space the concepts apart. You can also see how concepts differ, form trends or fit together in some other way.

Suppose, for instance, you’re learning about the volume of different shapes in math. You could do lots of problems on the volume of a wedge. Then you could answer more batches of questions, with each set dealing with just one shape. Or, you could figure out the volume of a cone, followed by a wedge. Next you might find the volume for a half-cone or a spheroid. Then you can mix them up some more. You might even mix in some practice on addition or division.

Rawson and others had groups of college students try each of those approaches. Those who interleaved their practice questions did better than the group that did single-batch practice, the researchers reported last year in Memory & Cognition .

A year earlier, Sana and others showed that interleaving can help students with both strong and weak working memory . Working memory lets you remember where you are in an activity, such as following a recipe.

7. Use pictures

Pay attention to diagrams and graphs in your class materials, says Nebel. “Those pictures can really boost your memory of this material. And if there aren’t pictures, creating them can be really, really useful.”

 a diagram of a neuron

“I think these visual representations help you create more complete mental models,” McDaniel says. He and Dung Bui, then also at Washington University, had students listen to a lecture on car brakes and pumps. One group got diagrams and was told to add notes as needed to the diagrams. Another group got an outline for writing notes. The third group just took notes. The outlines helped students if they were otherwise good at building mental models of what they were reading. But in these tests, they found, visual aids helped students across the board .

Even goofy pictures might help. Nikol Rummel is a psychologist at Ruhr University Bochum in Germany. In one study back in 2003, she and others gave cartoon drawings to college students along with information about five scientists who studied intelligence. For example, the text about Alfred Binet came with a drawing of a race car driver. The driver wore a bonnet to protect his brain. Students who saw the drawings did better on a test than did those who got only the text information.

8. Find examples

Abstract concepts can be hard to understand. It tends to be far easier to form a mental image if you have a concrete example of something, Nebel says.

For instance, sour foods usually taste that way because they contain an acid . On its own, that concept might be hard to remember. But if you think about a lemon or vinegar, it’s easier to understand and remember that acids and sour go together. And the examples might help you to identify other foods’ taste as being due to acids.

Indeed, it helps to have at least two examples if you want to apply information to new situations. Nebel and others reviewed studies on this in July 2019. Their Journal of Food Science Education report describes how students can improve their study skills .

9. Dig deeper

It’s hard to remember a string of facts and figures if you don’t push further. Ask why things are a certain way. How did they come about? Why do they matter? Psychologists call this elaboration. It’s taking class material and “asking a lot of how and why questions about it,” Nebel says. In other words, don’t just accept facts at face value.

Elaboration helps you combine new information with other things you know. And it creates a bigger network in your brain of things that relate to one another, she says. That larger network makes it easier to learn and remember things.

an illustration of a man driving a blue car

Suppose you’re asked to remember a string of facts about different men, says McDaniel. For example, “The hungry man got into the car. The strong man helped the woman. The brave man ran into the house.” And so on. In one of his studies back in the ‘80s, college students had trouble remembering the bare statements. They did better when researchers gave them explanations for each man’s action. And the students remembered a whole lot better when they had to answer questions about why each man did something .

“Good understanding produces really good memory,” McDaniel says. “And that’s key for a lot of students.” If information just seems sort of random, ask more questions. Make sure you can explain the material. Better yet, he says, see if you can explain it to someone else. Some of his college students do this by calling home to explain what they’re learning to their parents.

10. Make a plan — and stick to it

Many students know they should space out study periods, quiz themselves and practice other good skills. Yet many don’t actually do those things. Often, they fail to plan ahead.

Back when Rawson was a student, she used a paper calendar for her planning. She wrote in the date for each exam. “And then for four or five other days,” she recalls, “I wrote in time to study.”

a photo of a person running away from the viewer on a leafy path, zoomed in on the feet and lower legs

Try to stick to a routine, too. Have a set time and place where you do schoolwork and studying. It may seem odd at first. But, Kornell assures you, “by the time week two rolls around, it becomes a normal thing.” And put your phone somewhere else while you work, adds Nebel. Allow yourself short breaks. Set a timer for 25 minutes or so, suggests Sana. Study during that time, with no distractions . When the timer goes off, take a five or 10 minute break. Exercise. Check your phone. Maybe drink some water — whatever. Afterward, set the timer again.

“If you have a study plan, stick to it!” adds McDaniel. Recently, he and psychologist Gilles Einstein at Furman University in Greenville, S.C., looked at why students don’t use good study skills . Many students know what those skills are, they report. But often they don’t plan when they intend to put them in action. Even when students do make plans, something more enticing may come up. Studying has to become a priority, they say. The team published its report in Perspectives on Psychological Science on July 23.

Bonus: Be kind to yourself

Try to stick to a regular routine. And get enough sleep — not just the night before the test but for weeks or months on end . “Those things are really, really important for learning,” Nebel says. Exercise helps as well, she says.

Don’t stress out if all of this seems like a lot, she adds. If a lot seems new, try adding just one new study skill each week or two. Or at least space out your study sessions and practice retrieval for the first few months. As you get more practice, you can add more skills. And if you need help, ask.

Finally, if you struggle to follow the advice above (such as you can’t keep track of time or find it very hard to just sit and focus on your work), you may have an undiagnosed condition, such as ADHD . To find out, check with your doctor. The good news: It may be treatable.

Doing schoolwork during a pandemic is a tough situation at best. But remember your teachers and classmates also face challenges. Like you, they have fears, concerns and questions. Be willing to cut them some slack. And be kind to yourself as well. After all, Kornell says, “we’re all in this together.”

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27 Good Study Habits of Straight-A Students

good study habits, explained below

Study habits refer to the consistent practice and approach to study, on a regular basis, to enhance academic performance.

The good thing about a habit is that once you do it on a regular basis, it becomes easy. So, your job is to get into this habit early. Once you’re into the habit, university becomes easy (well, easier ).

Good study habits that I recommend include getting into the routine of heading to the library (or a similar study space) to study without distractions, chunking your studies by subject, and using spaced repetition for things that require rote memorization .

I also recommend studying with friends – such as by testing one another – whenever possible.

The integration of efficient study habits enhances academic performance and motivation to study . By developing effective study strategies adjusted to your personal learning style, you improve concentration and retention of information – and concentration, more than time spent studying, is found to be a key factor for success (Nonis & Hudson, 2010).

Good Study Habits

1. Time Management Time management refers to being able to efficiently allocate your time so you don’t run out of time, and so you have enough time to allocate to all important tasks. As a basis, you could initiate a dedicated study schedule, specifying the time slots for each subject. For instance, you might want to allot your mornings for theory-heavy subjects like Anatomy, and save the afternoons for practice-oriented subjects like Clinical Skills. Don’t forget to also block time for regular study breaks and social events. This is crucial to prevent burnout and maintain longevity – university is a marathon, not a sprint.

Read Also: 7 Things to do in your First Week of University

2. Using Active Reading Strategies This is the process of engaging with the material by asking questions and drawing connections. Instead of passively reading your texts, you can participate more actively by summarizing the information in your own words, teaching it to someone else, quizzing yourself, or creating visual aids like diagrams and mind maps. As Issa et al. (2012) found, reading relevant information daily is an effective study habit for improving grades.

3. Setting Realistic Goals This strategy involves laying out achievable objectives for each study session or topic. Setting goals not only keeps you focused, but also helps gauge your progress. For example, instead of aiming to read an entire biology textbook in two days, you might target mastering one chapter per day. I recommend setting both short-term study goals and long-term study goals using the SMART Goals method .

4. Prioritization Successful students often prioritize tasks based on their deadlines and degree of importance. You might follow the Eisenhower Box method: divide your tasks into four categories, namely, important and urgent, important but not urgent, not important but urgent, and not important and not urgent. For instance, an upcoming exam translates into an important and urgent task, hence it would be first on your list.

5. Spaced Repetition This strategy involves studying information over incremental intervals instead of cramming it in one sitting. You might review your notes on the day you learn something, then again in a couple of days, then after a week, and so forth. There are even apps like the Anki flashcards app that have a built-in spaced repetition algorithm that can space how often ideas are presented to you.

6. Creating a Suitable Environment Each individual’s ideal study environment may differ based on personal preferences . Some people need complete silence, while others work better with some background noise. If you like silence, the quite section of a library is a good place to start – I recommend making it a habit to go to the library at your university as often as possible. Conversely, if you feel background noise helps you to concentrate, consider studying at a cafe. But the key is to ensure your environment is right for you. As Ogbodo (2010, p. 229) argues: “Where to study is as important as what to study and how to go about studying.”

7. Taking Breaks Integrating regular short breaks into your study pattern can boost your productivity and mental agility because it decreases distractions during focused study time. And this is important. As Walck-Shannon, Rowell and Frey (2021) found, “students reported being distracted about 20% of their study time, and distraction while studying negatively predicted exam performance.” So, let’s avoid that – by splitting our time between strong focus, then rest. Typically, the Pomodoro technique is a popular method for this, where you study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After four such cycles, you take a longer break of 15-20 minutes. During your breaks, you can engage in some light activity such as stretching or walking to invigorate yourself.

8. Maintaining Physical Health Eating well, getting regular exercise, and ensuring enough sleep are often overlooked aspects of efficient studying. Research shows that a balanced diet, physical activity, and proper sleep improve cognitive functions , including memory and concentration. You may want to establish a regular sleep schedule, incorporate a balanced diet, and schedule regular exercise sessions each week into your routine.

9. Using Technology Wisely Technology offers a range of tools that can streamline your study process. For instance, you can use apps for time management (e.g., Rescue Time), note-taking (e.g., Evernote), or spaced repetition (e.g., Anki). While these apps can be beneficial, remember to keep checks on screens’ disruptive nature and the habit of digital distraction. As practice, try turning off your phone’s notifications when you study, or set ‘Do Not Disturb’ intervals.

10. Review and Revise Sessions Regular review of study materials aids in long-term retention of information. You can allocate specific time slots each week to revisit old notes, attempt self-test papers or engage in group discussions. For instance, you might dedicate your Sunday mornings to revising everything you’ve covered during the preceding week.

11. Active Writing Transcribing information demands active engagement, thereby reinforcing your understanding and memory of the subject. You might opt to rewrite complex concepts in your own words or diagrammatically represent intricate processes. For example, instead of merely reading about the human circulatory system, consider drawing it out with brief annotations.

12. Seeking Help When Needed Understanding when to seek help is an underrated study habit. If you find yourself struggling with a subject, don’t hesitate to approach your professors, peers, or study groups for clarification. You might also seek online resources such as academic forums or educational websites. Remember, it’s better to clarify doubts initially than to have misconceptions hamper your overall learning.

13. Mindfulness and Focus Mindfulness, or present-moment awareness, can help enhance your comprehension and retention during studying. You could practice mindfulness by removing distractions, concentrating on the task at hand, and making a conscious effort to absorb the material.

14. Integrating Study with Real-Life Scenarios Applying the theoretical knowledge learned during study sessions to real-life instances can facilitate a deeper understanding. You might relate basic principles of economics to household budgeting or chemistry to cooking. This practice can help convert abstract concepts into tangible examples.

15. Regular Self-Assessment Implementing regular exams or quizzes to assess your understanding and memory can be a direct way to monitor progress. You can either use ready-made quizzes available online or design a short assessment yourself. As you answer, mark out the areas you struggled with for further review. This method will help you know where you stand in your preparation and what areas need extra effort.

16. Employing Mnemonics This involves using techniques to retain and retrieve information. The method could be as simple as creating an acronym or conjuring up a relevant mental image. For example, in recalling the taxonomical rank in biology – Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species – you might use the well-known mnemonic phrase: “King Phillip Came Over For Good Soup.” Examples of additional mnemonic techniques include the method of loci and memory linking .

17. Incorporating Understandable Examples Since abstract concepts can be confusing, associating them with relateable analogies can help you grasp the idea. This technique depends heavily on your creativity and could be as simple as linking a literary theme to a popular movie plot. Ensuring your examples make sense to you is vital.

18. Varying Study Methods It is beneficial to avoid monotony and experiment with multiple learning techniques. This can include oscillating between solitary studying and group study sessions, or alternating between text-based learning and audio-visual aids. For instance, following a hefty reading session, you might want to watch a related documentary or podcast on the topic. Switching up strategies not only prevents burnout but also caters to different facets of your learning style.

19. Note-Taking Strategy Effective note-taking is a skill that helps in better understanding and remembrance of knowledge. You should decide a note-taking strategy which could be outlining, mind mapping, or the Cornell method, and stick to it. For example, you might use the Cornell Method, which divides the paper into notes, cues, and a summary section for enhancing retention and review.

20. Regularity and Consistency Consistency is the cornerstone of strong study habits. Establishing a regular routine that allocates specific periods for study each day leads to better academic performance. For instance, studying for two hours per day consistently is more effective than cramming for fourteen hours once a week.

21. Engage All Senses Engaging multiple senses aids in strengthening your memory of the subject matter. This could involve reading aloud, rewriting notes, creating visual aids, or even using software to convert text to speech. The goal is to consume the information through as many sensory channels as possible to maximize retention. For example, if you’re studying foreign vocabulary, you could listen to the pronunciation, read the definition, write the word several times, and visualize an image related to it.

22. Reflective Learning Reflective learning involves regularly taking a few moments to contemplate what you’ve learned. This process ensures you understand the main concepts and helps you evaluate how effectively the learning material has been understood. For instance, after reading a section on World History, take a moment to think about what questions have been answered and what new questions have arisen in your mind about the topic.

23. Preparing for the Next Class Reviewing the material that will be covered in the next class helps make the class more productive and understandable. By having prior knowledge of the topic, you can better participate in class discussions and raise insightful queries. For example, if tomorrow’s Physics class covers Electromagnetic Waves, you might want to read the corresponding chapter tonight.

24. Constructive Procrastination While complete avoidance of procrastination is the goal, sometimes it’s unavoidable. Constructive procrastination involves doing another task that also needs to be done when you feel like procrastinating. If you find yourself unable to study Civil Law, consider switching to another pending task, such as completing your Mathematics assignment. This way, you remain productive while giving in to the urge to procrastinate.

25. Visualization Techniques Visualization involves picturing the information in your mind, which can significantly improve memory and recall. For instance, when studying Anatomy, envisioning the body parts, systems, and processes can enhance your understanding. If you’d like to explore this strategy more, read my article on the visual peg-word system for memorization .

26. Listen to Music Without Lyrics Listening to music while studying is a controversial topic. Some people think it helps them to achieve a flow state, while most research suggests that “ media multitasking ” is a distraction whether we realize it or not (Xu, Wang, & Woods, 2019). Generally, I recommend that if you do like that background nose, try to listen to music without lyrics, like lo-fi playlists from YouTube, which act as background noise and could potentially prevent your mind from wandering.

27. Study with Friends Thalluri (2016) found that “study buddy support groups” significantly support studying. Friends can keep each other accountable and help motivate one another. And, according to social learning theory , working in groups helps us to reinforce knowledge. For example, if you’re talking about the course content with friends, you’ll hear their unique perspectives, which you can critically compare to your own, which augments, supports, positively alters, and strengthens your own perspectives.

Study habits act as the building blocks of your academic journey. Efficient study habits not only ensure better academic performance but also help in gaining lifelong skills like time management, goal-setting, and self-discipline. By adopting effective study habits, you modulate your academic journey to a more favorable and fruitful path.

If you want to dive deeper into getting good study habits, I’d recommend James Clear’s Atomic Habits book – it’s an amazing book for learning to get more productive and optimize your time as a student.

Issa, A.O., Aliyu, M.B., Akangbe, R.B., and Adedeji, A.F. (2012). Reading interest and habits of the federal polytechnic students. International Journal of Learning & Development, 2 (1): 470-486.

Nonis, S. A., & Hudson, G. I. (2010). Performance of college students: Impact of study time and study habits.  Journal of education for Business ,  85 (4), 229-238.

Ogbodo, R. O. (2010). Effective Study Habits in Educational Sector: Counselling Implications.  Edo Journal of Counselling ,  3 (2), 230-242.

Thalluri, J. (2016). Who benefits most from peer support group?–First year student success for Pathology students.  Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences ,  228 , 39-44.

Walck-Shannon, E. M., Rowell, S. F., & Frey, R. F. (2021). To what extent do study habits relate to performance?.  CBE—Life Sciences Education ,  20 (1). doi: https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.20-05-0091

Xu, S., Wang, Z., & Woods, K. (2019). Multitasking and dual motivational systems: A dynamic longitudinal study.  Human Communication Research ,  45 (4), 371-394. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqz009

Chris

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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Best Methods for Developing Effective Study Habits

  • Muhammad Asif
  • December 24, 2023

how to Develop Effective Study Habits

You can  develop effective study  habits with the help of understanding the power of rewards, the tranquility of a beautiful study environment, and the importance of self-awareness.

From setting goals that ignite your passion for learning to understanding the importance of discipline and mentorship, you need practical tips beyond the ordinary. 

I adopted some of the best methods for  building successful study habits . Here! I share a comprehensive guide on  developing good study habits  in this enlightening journey. 

What is effective study?

Effective study involves learning more in less time. It means more output for less input, which involves multiple ways of learning. Effective study aims for brilliant work focusing on the learning process. It is a purposeful and systematic approach to more productivity.

What are effective study habits?

With effective study habits, you will achieve and adopt productive and systematic behaviors or routines to increase personal, academic, and learning performance.

Reasons: Why are good study habits important?

Here are several reasons why developing effective study habits are important:

  • Developing good study habits is essential for academic success and personal growth.
  • It is essential to  build healthy study habits  because we sometimes get distracted as humans. We become victims of negative thoughts about our progress. Building and adapting to study habits are vital to avoid such a situation.
  • Efficient study methods optimize learning time, improving information retention and understanding.
  • Study habits foster discipline and responsibility, reduce stress, and increase productivity.
  • Moreover, good study habits prepare you for future challenges, equipping you with transferable skills like critical thinking and time management. These are crucial in both education and the workforce.
  • Forming effective study habits  is a key to time management and saving. It also makes you mentally relaxed.
  • Ultimately, good study habits establish a foundation for long-term success, encouraging a lifelong commitment to personal development and the pursuit of knowledge.

11 Best Methods for Developing Effective Study Habits

There can be different ways and methods for developing effective study habits. Some of the practical tips are given as follows:

Best Methods for Developing Effective Study Habits

1.      Set Goals

Setting goals is one of the most essential tips for making successful study habits . Goals are your plans that keep you on the right path. They motivate and convince you to do great things. Goal setting is the best remedy for creating interest in studies.

If you find it challenging to study regularly, then set a goal.

For example, you can tell yourself you will learn two chapters today. Then, make levels for this one chapter. Level 1 may include reading two paragraphs. Level 2 may consist of reading four sections and so on.

When you set such goals, you are convincing yourself to build a study habit.

2.      Reward yourself

When you achieve the specified goals, like reading one chapter, feel free to reward yourself. There are several ways to treat yourself. You can watch a movie, a celebrity, a recent sports game you missed, talk to your favorite person, etc.

Know how to reward yourself for good habits .

Rewards are like food for humans. You can have one or two whenever you perform your studies. Don’t be ashamed and hesitate to get too many tips from yourself.

3.      Study in a beautiful place

Beauty is something that gives pleasure. It makes you feel good and fresh. You will like to read there when you have a neat and clean library, room, table, and other necessary study items. It is because your mind will feel relaxed, and your heart will find solace.

When you get command of your heart and mind through beauty, it is where you become addicted to a healthy study habit.

4.      Set a proper time

Most people find studies hard because they need to follow a proper schedule. You are at risk if you don’t decide a time of the day for reading. Make a time and table. Mention what time you want to study and for how long.

Remain consistent with your set time. Study only at that specific time and Follow the hours. After you form an effective study habit, you can study anytime.

5.      Know the requirements

Your first task for making successful study habits is to know the format and requirements of your studies. Many of you cannot learn because you must see the course expectations.

For example, our fiction teacher assigned us an assignment. She asked me to write a one-page review of the article based on our course novel. She also said we should present the same work. We didn’t write and study the report because we needed clarification as we were confused. We prepared well when asked and got clear instructions about the requirements and format.

So, it is essential to get a clear picture of what you are studying, how you should prepare for it, and so on.

6.      Practice and solve previous or model papers

Model papers are the best tools to engage your-self in healthy reading . When you successfully solve them, you get some motivation, which paves the way for building a reading routine. This strategy is helpful for exam preparation.

Practice makes a man perfect, so if you fail to develop a study routine effectively, you are safe because you know the pattern and type of questions you can expect.

7.      Learn some of the best study plans and methods

I improved my study skills after reading the book STUDY SKILLS by Stella Cottrell.

It was helpful and strategic. You can save time and energy when you start studying with a strategy. For example, SQ3R is one of the critical methods for making a healthy study schedule. Explore what SQ3R is.

You can also make your plan. Your method will be very workable and motivate you. For example, if you struggle to form an effective study habit, you can name your body organs with the chapters in your course. When you move any organ, it will directly remind you something about the system.

8.      Write your achievements

One of the tips for rewarding yourself is to write what you have completed. Note down how much you have read. For example, pick a pen and diary before sleeping and write if you have read one chapter or two or more.

Writing your achievements will give you happiness and satisfaction. Besides, it is also a way to record how much you study on a specific day.

9.      Bring variety and novelty

Don’t limit yourself to one method. Always search for new strategies. Discuss your way of reading with your colleagues and find other ways. Also, try to read different subjects on different days.

Make your reading creative and intelligent. Don’t cram, but be a competent reader.

10. Group study

While finding your strength, know if you like group study. Some people can read better when they discuss a topic in group form. If you want group discussions, request and make a group of your fellows and learn through discussions.

11. Include pleasure reading in your schedule

If you still need to improve your studies, give yourself time for pleasure reading. This is one of the best strategies to develop effective study habits . As a student, you lose interest in scientific or course reading because you must memorize it by hook or crook. But pleasure reading does not involve any such action.

Read a short story, a novel, or a poem that will make you happy. So through pleasure reading you can make successful study habits. 

How do you study effectively in college?

College is the first step in all our plans. If you become successful here, you have better chances to succeed. As you know, every type of success requires study in one way or another, and so is college. For a beneficial journey and lifelong plans to be executed, you should actively study in college.

There are many ways to perform well in college. Some of them are

Stay disciplined

Discipline is the most crucial part of successful people. Start following discipline if you want to form good study habits and make your time valuable. It will be the door to your success at college and life ahead.

Manage your time

Time management is a crucial skill. Every college student should master time management to develop an effective study schedule . You must manage time to perform any activity effectively.

Make mentors

Mentors are people who guide you towards the best. Finding a mentor in college is such a bliss that your life will be in the right direction. You can save time and energy. They can shape your future. I feel blessed as I found my mentor in my first days of college.

Select best friends

Friend selection is also significant for college students. If you want to study effectively in college , select hardworking students as your friends. They also help you form study habits that can change your life.

Mastering effective study habits is a transformative expedition that empowers you with the tools to navigate the challenges of learning and academia. From setting purposeful goals to creating a harmonious study environment, each step is a building block toward a more productive and fulfilling academic experience. As you embrace the art of self-awareness, discipline, and strategic planning, you unlock the door to success in your current educational endeavors and the broader landscape of life.

Time management is crucial for a successful study routine. Setting a specific time for studying, remaining consistent, and following a schedule contribute to forming effective study habits , allowing for better productivity.

Discipline is essential for success. Following a schedule and dedicating specific hours to study daily helps maintain consistency. Over time, as effective study habits develop, flexibility in study times becomes achievable.

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Study Habits That Can Improve Grades and Performance

  • M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
  • B.A., History, Armstrong State University

It is never too late to develop great study habits . If you're starting a new school year, or you just want to improve your grades and school performance, take a look at this list of good habits and start making some changes in your routine. You'll find that it does not take that long to form a new habit .

Write Down Every Assignment

The most logical place to write down your assignments in a ​ planner , but you might prefer to keep a to-do list in a simple notebook or in your smartphone notepad. It doesn't really matter what tool you use, but it is essential to your success that you write down every single assignment, due date, test date, and task.

Remember to Bring Your Homework to School

It sounds simple enough, but many F's come from students forgetting to bring a perfectly good paper to school. To avoid forgetting your homework, establish a strong homework routine with a special homework station where you work each night. Get in the habit of putting your homework where it belongs right after you finish it, whether this is in a special folder on your desk or in your backpack. Prepare every night before bed.

Communicate With Your Teacher

Every successful relationship is built upon clear communication. A student-teacher relationship is no different. Miscommunication is another one of those factors that can cause bad grades, despite good efforts on your part. At the end of the day, make sure you understand every assignment that's expected of you. Imagine getting a bad grade on a five-page paper because you didn't understand the difference between an expository essay and a personal essay .

Be sure to ask questions and find out what format you should use when you write a paper or what type of questions might appear on your history exam. The more questions you ask, the more prepared you'll be.

Organize With Color

Devise your own color-coding system to keep your assignments and your thoughts organized. Select a single color for each class (like science or history) and use that color for your folder, highlighters, sticky notes, and pens. Color-coding is also a tool to use when conducting research. For example, always keep several colors of sticky flags on hand when you're reading a book for school. Assign a specific color for every topic of interest. Place a flag on a page containing information that you will need to study or to cite.

Establish a Home Study Zone

Create a specified study place. After all, if you can’t concentrate, you certainly can’t expect to learn very well. Students are different: Some need a completely quiet room free from interruptions when they study, but others actually study better when listening to quiet music in the background or taking several breaks.

Find a place to study that fits your specific personality and learning style . Then stock your study space with school supplies that will help you avoid last-minute interruptions to go find needed materials.

Prepare Yourself for Test Days

You know that it's important to study for tests, but there are other things you should consider in addition to the actual material that the exam will cover. For example, you might show up for the test and find the room is freezing cold. For many students, this would cause enough of a distraction to interrupt concentration. That leads to bad choices and incorrect answers. Plan ahead for heat or cold by layering your clothing.

Or you might be the kind of test-taker who spends so much time on one essay question that you don't have enough time to finish the exam. Prevent this problem by bringing a watch and being mindful of time management.

Know Your Learning Style

Many students struggle in a subject without understanding why. Sometimes this is because they don't understand how to study in a way that matches their brain style. Auditory learners , for example, are those who learn best through hearing things. Visual learners , by contrast, retain more information when they use visual aids, and tactile learners benefit by doing hands-on projects.

Examine and evaluate your learning style and decide how you can improve your study habits by tapping into your personal strengths.

Take Fabulous Notes

There are a few tricks to taking fabulous notes that really help when it comes to studying. If you are a visual person, make as many doodles on your paper as you can—useful doodles, that is. As soon as you realize that one topic relates to another, comes before another, is the opposite of another, or has any kind of connection to another, draw a picture that makes sense to you. Sometimes the information will not sink in until and unless you see it in an image.

There are also certain code words to look for in a lecture that can indicate that your teacher is giving you the relevance or the context of an event. Learn to recognize keywords and phrases that your teacher deems important.

Conquer Procrastination

When you procrastinate, you're gambling that nothing will go wrong at the last minute—but in the real world, things do go wrong. Imagine it's the night before a final exam and you have a flat tire, an allergy attack, a lost book, or a family emergency that keeps you from studying. At some point, you will pay a big price for putting things off.

Battle procrastination by recognizing the feisty little voice that lives inside of you. It tells you that it would be more fun to play a game, eat, or watch TV when you know better. Don’t listen to that voice. Instead, conquer the task at hand without delay.

Take Care of Yourself

Some of your personal habits might be affecting your grades. Are you feeling tired, achy, or bored when it comes to homework time? You can change your grades by practicing a few healthy homework habits. Change the way you feel by taking better care of your mind and your body.

For example, between text messaging, playing video games, surfing the internet, and using social media, students are using their hand muscles in new ways, and they're growing increasingly susceptible to the hazards of repetitive stress injury. Find out how to avoid pain in your hands and neck by learning about ergonomics and changing the way you sit at your computer.

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College Info Geek

How to Build Good Study Habits: 5 Areas to Focus On

can good study habits be learned

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can good study habits be learned

Growing up, I learned the importance of good study habits early.

I was responsible for writing down my homework assignments each day, checking I had all the right books the night before school, and making flashcards to study spelling or vocab words. If I didn’t stay diligent in these study habits, then I was bound to hear about it from my mom.

Establishing good study habits at an early age paid off. In high school and college, I was able to focus on learning the material instead of learning how to study. I never got bad grades because I forgot to turn in homework, and if I ever did poorly on a test I had no one to blame but myself.

However, I recognize that not everyone has the benefit of learning good study habits early in life. For many people, college is the first time you even have to think about how to study and manage a schedule all on your own.

To bridge the gap, I’ve put together the following guide to good study habits. First, we’ll look at what good study habits are and why they matter. Then, we’ll give some practical examples of good study habits in action (and how they can solve some common academic issues).

What Is a Good Study Habit?

Before we go any further, we need to define what a good study habit is. To start, we should define “habit”.

A habit is an action (or series of actions) that you perform automatically in response to a particular cue. For instance, the sound of your alarm going off might cue the habit of getting out of bed and walking into the kitchen to make coffee (or, for some of us, hitting the snooze button).

But what makes a habit “good”? Generally, we define a good habit as one that helps you achieve your goals and live in line with your values . A bad habit, meanwhile, is detrimental to your goals and values in the long-term (even if it relieves pain or provides pleasure in the short-term).

A good study habit, then, is a habit that helps you achieve your academic objectives while still supporting your broader goals and values.

3 Reasons Good Study Habits Matter

Good study habits matter for three main reasons: focus, grades, and mental health.

Starting with focus, having the right study habits in place frees up your mind to concentrate on the material you’re learning.

Instead of having to think about how to create flashcards, for example, you can focus on using flashcards to learn a new language .

If your study techniques aren’t automatic, meanwhile, they can distract you from the larger work you’re trying to do.

While good study habits won’t automatically raise your GPA , they’ll certainly improve your chances.

As an example, you’re likely to perform better on an exam if you’re in the habit of studying for it over several days (or weeks) instead of the night before.

Mental Health

Most important of all, however, is the benefit good study habits have for your mental health.

No matter how much “raw intelligence” you might have, poor study habits will make college stressful and anxious.

If you aren’t in the habit of starting research papers well in advance, for instance, then you’ll be in for some sleepless, caffeine-fueled nights. But if you habitually start your research papers early, then you can avoid the unnecessary stress that comes from procrastination.

5 Types of Good Study Habits (and How to Build Them)

Originally, this section was going to contain a long list of good study habits. But since we already have an extensive list of study tips , many of which are specific study habits, I decided to do something different.

Instead of listing yet more study tips, I’m going to examine some common college academic struggles that good study habits can help eliminate or avoid. This way, you can get some practical tips for building good study habits and putting them into action.

This section focuses on how to build good study habits, specifically. For a more general overview of how to build good habits, read this .

Study Habits for Doing Better on Exams

Are your exam grades lower than you’d like? If so, your study habits could be the culprit.

When it comes to studying for exams effectively, here are some habits to keep in mind:

Go to Review Sessions

Usually, your professor and/or TA will hold a review session before each exam. This review will only be helpful, however, if you attend it. Therefore, make a habit of going to any scheduled exam review sessions, especially in classes you find difficult.

How to build the habit: This is one of the easier habits on this list to build. All you have to do is put the review session on your calendar and then be sure you go to it. To make this easier, pay attention in class for any announcements of review sessions.

Make and Study Flashcards

If you’re studying for an exam that requires you to memorize lots of information, then flashcards are your friend. In particular, building a habit of daily flashcard review leading up to an exam can help your performance greatly.

How to build the habit: First, be sure you understand the best ways to make and study flashcards .

From there, we recommend using a flashcard app that reminds you to study the cards each day (and focuses your efforts on the cards you struggle with). This is a case where notifications on your phone can be a study aid instead of a distraction.

Study Habits for Writing Better Papers

No matter your major, you’ll have to write a paper at some point in college. And having the right study habits will make the process much easier and less stressful. Here are some study habits that will help you write better papers:

Don’t Procrastinate on Writing

I won’t deny it: I pulled my share of all-nighters in college. And usually, I was staying up late to finish a paper I’d procrastinated on.

While you can certainly write a paper in one night, it’s unlikely to be your best work. Instead, make it a habit to work on your paper a little bit each day in the week before the due date.

How to build the habit: If you’re struggling with procrastination, then read into the science behind why we do it .

From there, consider the stress and pain that will come from writing a paper in one night. Use that as motivation to work on your paper a little bit at a time.

Once you’ve done this for one paper and seen how much better it makes your life, you’ll be more inclined to do it with future papers.

Visit the Writing Center

While procrastination is a common issue with writing papers, you may also struggle with the writing itself. Depending on where you went to high school, in fact, you might never have learned how to write the kind of papers college requires.

If this is the case, get in the habit of visiting your college’s writing center when you’re working on a paper. The staff there would be more than happy to help you improve your writing.

How to build the habit: Going to the writing center is a fairly easy habit to build if you schedule your writing center appointments in advance.

This should be possible at most colleges, and it’s often required during high-demand times such as finals season. Making an appointment in advance adds some external accountability, so you’re more likely to show up.

For more paper writing tips, read this .

Study Habits for Completing Homework Faster

Homework is important for practicing and solidifying the concepts your professor discusses in lectures, but that doesn’t mean you should spend all your time outside of class doing it.

Here are some study habits to help you complete your homework faster, without sacrificing quality:

Schedule Your Homework Time

If you can fit all of your homework into a defined block each day, it will be much easier to get started on it. Plus, knowing that you only have to spend a defined amount of time working will reduce the dread that generally accompanies homework.

How to build the habit: First, find a time each day that’s free of obligations. Evenings will work well for some, while mornings are better for others; it depends on your schedule.

Then, put that block of time on your calendar with the title “Homework Time.” If you like, you can also break that block down into smaller chunks for each of the courses you’re taking.

Next, decide on a study space where you’ll do your homework: dorm room, library, student center, etc. Note that location on your calendar as well.

Finally, treat this block of study time like any other class, meeting, or appointment. If someone tries to schedule something during that time, tell them you already have an obligation.

Focus Completely On Your Work

You’ll get your homework done much faster if you only focus on the assignment at hand. But if you’re checking social media and your phone as your work, the process will take longer overall.

To avoid this issue, make a habit of distraction-free homework. When you’re working on homework, let nothing else fragment your attention.

How to build the habit: First, turn off your phone and put it away. If you can’t do that, then at least take some steps to make it less distracting .

Next, try to work without an internet connection whenever possible. If that isn’t practical, then use an app like Freedom to block distracting sites and apps.

If that still isn’t enough, then you can also try the Pomodoro technique .

Study Habits for Being Less Stressed

As I mentioned earlier, one of the main advantages of good study habits is reduced levels of stress.

Some study habits, in particular, are great at making the studying process less stressful. Here are a couple to try:

Use the Fudge Ratio

Due to something called the planning fallacy , humans are terrible at estimating how long things will take. The fudge ratio is a solution to this problem. It helps you create more accurate time estimates for tasks, using a simple formula that we’ll explain below.

Applying the fudge ratio to your studies will help you be less stressed since you’ll be in the habit of planning more time than you need to do assignments. If you get done early, then you’ll get a great sense of accomplishment. But if something takes the full time you “fudged,” then you won’t be caught off guard.

How to build the habit: To work the fudge ratio into your planning, you’ll need to keep track of how long you think tasks take vs. how long they truly take. Record these numbers somewhere you can review them regularly. For an accurate measure of how long tasks actually take, you can use time-tracking software .

Once you’ve done this for a bit, you can then compare your estimated times to your actual completion times. This will allow you to calculate a literal ratio that you can use to make future time estimates.

To calculate the fudge ratio for a task, use this formula:

Estimated completion time / Actual completion time = Fudge ratio

For instance, if you think it will take you 30 minutes to finish your Intro to Sociology reading but it actually takes you 45, then your fudge ratio for these reading assignments is 45/30 = 1.5. Now, you know that whenever you’re estimating how long reading will take for this class, you should multiply your estimate by 1.5.

Doing this for each class and assignment can be time-consuming. But with time, using the fudge ratio will help you get into the habit of making better time estimates overall. Eventually, you won’t need to do the tracking and math described here.

Not all classes are created equal. Sure, each instructor thinks their class is the most important on your schedule, but we all know that isn’t true. Some classes require more time and effort than others, and how you study should reflect that.

Specifically, you’ll be much less stressed if you prioritize studying the subjects that take the most work.

How to build the habit: During the first couple weeks of the semester, pay attention to how much work each class on your schedule will require. From there, you can decide where to prioritize your attention.

Then, spend most of your study time on the most difficult classes. Of course, you’ll still need to spend some time on your easier classes, but not nearly as much. Doing this will give you more free time and reduce your general stress levels.

Study Habits for the Forgetful

For our final area of habits, we turn to the pernicious problem of forgetting. Whether you’re having trouble remembering homework assignments or even showing up for class, these habits will help.

Keep a List of Your Assignments

If you’re having trouble remembering your assignments, then build the habit of keeping them on a list. This is a classic piece of advice. But if you put it into practice, it can change your life.

How to build the habit: First, decide where you’ll write down your assignments. We’re a big fan of to-do list apps for this purpose. But you could also go analog and use a paper planner. Just make sure it’s something you can easily carry with you to class.

Then, write down assignments as the professor gives them. In many cases, of course, the professor will expect you to refer to the syllabus for homework assignments. So be sure to review your syllabus each week (and bring a copy to class so you can note any changes).

Finally, review your list of assignments at the start of each homework session. As you complete an assignment, cross or check it off the list. With this habit in place, you’ll be much less likely to forget assignments.

Put Your Classes on Your Calendar

Unlike in high school, where your schedule is regimented and closely supervised, college offers more independence. While this can be exciting, it also means greater responsibility. And one of the first responsibilities you’ll face as a college student is showing up for class at the right time.

While simple in theory, it can be challenging to remember the time and location of all of your classes. Especially during the first couple weeks of class. To ensure you don’t forget when and where your classes are, put them on your calendar.

How to build the habit: Leading up to the first week of school, go online and consult the syllabus for each of your classes.

Note the class times and locations, and put that information on your calendar in recurring events. Make sure your calendar is set up to send you event notifications on your phone, and you should be able to remember each class no problem.

With time, of course, you’re likely to memorize you schedule and won’t need to consult the calendar. But having your classes on your calendar will still be helpful for planning, ensuring you don’t schedule a meeting or other event during a class.

If you’ve never set up a digital calendar, check out this guide to using your calendar efficiently in college .

Good Study Habits Aren’t Built in a Day

I hope this article has shown you the importance of good study habits, as well as how to start making them a part of your academic life.

As with any new habit, forming good study habits takes time and focus. For greater odds of success, work on forming one or two of these habits at a time. When they’re a solid part of your routine, you can add new ones.

Habit formation is such a vast topic, there was no way we could cover all the details in one article. For a deep dive into building habits that last, check out our habit-building course:

Building habits isn’t just about discipline; there are real-world steps you can take to set yourself up for success! In this course, you'll learn how to set realistic goals, handle failure without giving up, and get going on the habits you want in your life.

Take My Free Class on Mastering Habits

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FNU Advising 11 Techniques to Improve Your Study Habits

11 Techniques to Improve Your Study Habits

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When it comes to developing good study habits, there is a method to all of the madness. The type of study habits that you’ve come to practice in high school may not work so well in college. However, you can certainly build on those practices to make your study habits more disciplined—because you’ll need to! In college, you’ll have more responsibility, but you’ll also have more independence. For first-time college students, this could be a challenge to balance. That’s why Florida National University (FNU) wants to help prepare all of our students for how they can improve their study habits with these 11 helpful techniques.

Study Habit #1. Find a good studying spot.

This is important. You need to be in an environment with little to no distractions—an environment that will aid in keeping you focused on your assignments. The library has always been a reliable place to get some real academic work done, but if you prefer someplace else, just make sure that you’re set up for success. Your university may have other places on campus that will provide you with a nice little studying spot. While cafeterias may be quite busy, there are some university campus cafeterias that tend to have just enough silence for students to study while they grab a bite to eat.

You might get campus fever and decide to venture outside of your university to get some work done. Many students find little coffee shops with Wi-Fi that will let them sit there all day long for a buying customer. Outdoor parks and recreational centers, even the public library might be a nice change of scenery.

Even study lighting is also important. If you want to preserve your eyesight and maximize your time and energy, then choose lighting that will not cause eye strain or fatigue so you can keep your study session effective at any time of the day.

Establish rules when you’re in your study zone. Let people living with you know that when your door is closed, it means you do not want to be disturbed. Try not to respond to phone calls or texts, this will break your concentration and you will lose focus.

Let’s not forget about your home. No matter the size of your apartment or house, we recommend dedicating a little office space just for studying—away from any distractions.

Study Habit #2. Avoid social media.

Speaking of distractions, nothing can sap away your time for a good 20-30 minutes like good old social media! Emails used to be the necessary evil in order to keep life going, but now people are communicating through social media platforms more than email or even talking on the phone! As a result, it’s pretty common to have a browser tab open just for social media. The problem with this is the alerts! As much as you may try to ignore it, you won’t be satisfied until you follow through with the alert—an alert that will most likely require a reply! In all likelihood, it will end up being a conversation that could’ve waited an hour—and now you’ve just added another 20-30 minutes to your study time! Congratulations!

Study Habit #3. Stay Away From Your Phone.

Distractions also include avoiding your phone. The best thing you can do is either put your phone on silent, turn off the alerts and flip it over so that you can’t even SEE them, or just turn the thing off! If it helps, place the phone out of sight so that you’re not even tempted to check your messages. The world can wait. Your education is a priority and anyone who’s in your circle of friends should understand this. If you are absolutely adamant about keeping your phone nearby in case of an emergency, then allow yourself some study breaks so that you can dedicate a certain amount of time just for checking your alerts and messages.

Study Habit #4. No Willpower? Enlist the Help of an App.

Apps like Focus Booster and AntiSocial have your back!

AntiSocial blocks your access to a selection of websites with a timer that you select.

Focus Booster is a mobile phone app that relies on the Pomodoro Technique, where you work intensively for 25 minutes and then you break for five minutes. The app also includes productivity reports and revenue charts.

Study Habit #5. Take a break and take care of yourself.

Talking a little more about taking breaks, this really shouldn’t be an option. College is hard work, and just like any other kind of job, you deserve a break. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Working until the wee hours of the morning to complete an assignment might be great for that class, but it’s not for you or other academic courses. You MUST take care of yourself in order to give your academic career the attention it deserves. You’re paying to get an education—to learn. Running yourself into the ground without allowing time for your body and mind to rest is unacceptable.

  • Ophthalmologists will warn you that you need to remember to blink when working on a computer screen to save your sight. Give your eyes a rest by gazing into the horizon, preferably out of a window with natural light. Did you know that your eyes need exercise, too? Especially in today’s world where we are reading everything at such close distances. Keep your head in a neutral position and with just your eyeballs, look at the ceiling or a tree and try to focus. Go from corner to corner, focusing up, then do the same for the floor. Roll your eyes.
  • Your hands also need a break: learn to use the mouse with your other hand, put the keyboard in the most comfortable position, which is actually on your lap. Take a moment to stretch your wrists and fingers.
  • Blueberries

And don’t forget to sleep and reboot!

Study Habit #6. Organize lectures notes.

For some students, the best way to organize notes is to ask if you can record your professors’ lectures for a better understanding of the lesson. The best way to do this is to transcribe the recorded lecture notes. This way, you can rewind what you didn’t understand. It also behooves you to revisit those notes—while the material is fresh in your mind and rewrite them in a style that’s more legible and review-friendly. On the day of the exam, you’ll be glad you did.

Fact: it has been proven that information retention is higher when you go over your notes and repeat the lesson after the class is over. Rewriting your lecture notes is going to be one of the most brilliant study techniques to practice. Rewriting will help you remember the context better and reorganizing them in nice outline forces you to comprehend the lesson.

Study Habit #7. Join or create a study group.

Finding fellow students who are struggling to understand the coursework can be comforting. However, joining or creating a study group can be helpful in many ways.  Guaranteed someone in your study group can help you through a certain assignment you’re struggling with and you’ll be able to do the same. It’s all about helping each other succeed!

Study Habit #8. Aromatherapy, plants and music.

Science is always tinkering with nature, but in this case, in a simple way, only studying the effects of essential oils and plants on concentration, focus, and memory.

Some studies have shown that lavender has a good effect on memory, however, others have shown that its effect is negligible and in fact, lavender oil and teas are used to relax the body in preparation for sleep. So lavender may calm and center yourself, but for focus, sandalwood and frankincense (also known as Boswellia) have shown much more promising results in most studies.

Plants, in general, have a natural, comforting effect and in their presence, humans tend to have a higher pain tolerance and faster recoveries from hospitalizations. Music, also improves brain function, can help you focus and also eases the pain. Learn more about the benefits of studying with music.

Study Habit #9. Leave time for the last-minute review.

Here are where well-organized lecture notes come into play. Always, always leave time for the last-minute review. Here, we’re exercising the tried and true memory game. This is a technique that most students apply as one study habit. That’s just impossible for the amount of college work you’ll be taking on, but it can work quite well as a last-minute review—only if you have good notes!

Better still, ff you can pair reviewing your notes with a good night’s sleep, then you will significantly improve your ability to retain more information. Just know that studying when you’re sleepy is ineffective. If your body is telling you that you’re tired, then have a nap or go to bed early. A good night’s sleep is another technique to use that will help you understand and remember information better.

If you’re finding that you are getting stressed out or tired, reflect back on your study schedule and priorities. Make sure that you have dedicated time for rest and de-stressing activities as well.

Study Habit #10. Understand Your Best Learning Style

It’s important to know that there are many different styles of learning and each person will retain information better in different ways.

  • Visual learners who learn best when pictures, images, and spatial understanding is used.
  • Auditory learners who prefer using music, sounds or both.
  • Kinesthetic learners actually use a more physical style of learning through using the body, sense of touch and hands.
  • Logical learners need to use reasoning, logic, and systems.
  • Verbal learners will prefer using words in writing and speech.
  • Social learners will thrive in learning with other people or in groups.
  • Solitary learners are able to learn best when alone.

Think about which style of learning works best for you, and it will help you determine how to study, where to study when to study and other important factors like what study aids you should use and be aware of, and knowing what things may distract you while you are trying to study.

Study Habit #11. Make Study Time a Part of Your Daily Routine

If cramming all of your study time into a few long days isn’t working for you then it’s time to try something new and less stressful. What you do every day is more important than what you do occasionally, so make time for studying every single day, with or without exams coming up.

Consistency is key and once you start getting into good study habits, so make it a routine that you will be able to maintain throughout the school year.

When it becomes part of your schedule, you don’t need to find the time, you’ve made time for your study sessions each month. Don’t forget to also check your schedule for the week or month, and consider your personal commitments: chores, must-attend activities, and appointments. All you need to do now is to stay committed to your new study schedule.

Make studying your priority and place these sessions when you’re at your peak performance times to make them extra effective. Some people work best in the mornings, and others, at night. Experiment with this and don’t assume that because you wake early you should study early, but instead try morning, noon, and night to see which is best.

FNU Want You To Succeed!

Try to learn and not just memorize and remember, keep it simple. Don’t try to get fancy with your study notes. They are for your eyes only and won’t be graded. The goal is to help you get a high-scoring grade. We hope this quick checklist will alleviate some anxiety you might have for managing college work. If you have questions about this or any of our degree programs, contact an FNU advisor at any of our campus locations today!

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How to Create Good Study Habits for Exams

Master's Degree, Education, University of California Los Angeles

Last Updated: February 11, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Ted Dorsey, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . Ted Dorsey is a Test Prep Tutor, author, and founder of Tutor Ted, an SAT and ACT tutoring service based in Southern California. Ted earned a perfect score on the SAT (1600) and PSAT (240) in high school. Since then, he has earned perfect scores on the ACT (36), SAT Subject Test in Literature (800), and SAT Subject Test in Math Level 2 (800). He has a BA in English from Princeton University and a MA in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles. There are 25 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,465,746 times.

With good study habits, you'll be able to reduce your stress and take tests and exams with confidence. While building lasting study habits might seem hard at first, soon your new good habits will be part of your routine. You can create good study habits for exams by first setting up a study routine and learning your course material. To better your study habits, you can employ good studying strategies to stay on track and use your learning style to study better.

Setting Your Routine

Step 1 Designate a daily study time.

  • Daily study sessions are needed to keep the material fresh in your mind and to give yourself time to make connections between concepts.
  • If you have other homework, you may decide to do it during your designated study time since it will help you better grasp the material.

Ted Coopersmith, MBA

  • Avoid sitting in front of the television or around a busy part of your home.
  • Some people like to study in the library or coffee shop, but this may not work for you if you're easily distracted by movement or noises.

Step 3 Gather your materials before you get started.

  • Keep your cell phone away from you, as it will distract you. Only check your emails or messages after studying, during break time.
  • Charge your cell phone while you're studying. Your cell phone will need the extra boost, and you'll be happy that your phone is away from you.

Step 5 Use a notebook or planner to track your assignments.

  • You can also use a wall planner and to-do lists to keep track of assignments and what you plan to study each day. [7] X Research source

Step 6 Create a study plan.

  • It's okay for your plan to be a general outline. Don't let your planning waste the time you plan to use for studying.

Learning the Material

Step 1 Read the course materials and texts.

  • If you can, highlight the important parts of the texts.
  • Try to recollect if your teacher has mentioned any important part of the text would be coming for the exam. Also try to remember any tricks or mnemonics taught by teacher to remember any important formulas or text.
  • Research anything you don't understand and look up confusing vocabulary. Make yourself a flashcard on the spot so that you'll have it for later.

Step 2 Take...

  • It's crucial that you review the information in the weeks and days leading up to the exam. The more you revisit the information, the more it will become internalized and easier to remember. [14] X Research source

Step 3 Record your class lectures on a digital recorder or your phone.

  • Check with your teacher or professor to make sure that it's okay to record the lecture.
  • Don't use this as an excuse to not take notes during class. You should still take notes to help yourself learn the material.

Step 4 Make yourself flash...

  • Try using index cards to make your flashcards or cut up a piece of paper.
  • Additionally, you could use an online tool like quizlet or Kahoot to create flashcards and practice quizzes.

Step 5 Make mind maps...

  • For a multiple-choice exam, make lists and tables, know the differences between concepts and words, and know-how topics are related to each other.
  • For a fill-in-the-blank exam, focus on your notes because most teachers take their questions from the notes they provide. You should expect your teacher to remove an important word or words from a sentence, such as a term, date, phrase, or historical figure. [17] X Research source
  • For an essay or short answer exam, pay attention to what your instructor emphasized in class. Write out what you know about this topic and do additional research if necessary. Use the syllabus, study guide, and textbook summary of the material to make a list of possible questions. Create a study list for each possible essay question.

Helping Yourself Study Better

Step 1 Take a break about halfway through your study sessions.

  • Some people benefit from shorter, more frequent breaks.
  • You should also take a break when you're feeling frustrated.
  • If you were studying using a computer or other electronic device, don't use devices during your breaks. Your eyes will thank you! [19] X Research source

Step 2 Seek tutoring if you're struggling with the material.

  • Many schools offer free tutoring from teachers or peers.

Step 3 Join a study...

  • Look for a study group at your school.
  • Visit the local or school library to find postings about study groups on the bulletin board.
  • Ask your friends to form a study group with you.

Step 4 Teach the material to someone else.

  • When you're getting started, attach your reward to your behavior, such as studying each day, rather than the outcome, which would be your grade.
  • Ask your parents or roommate to help you with the rewards. They may be able to give you an allowance for meeting your study goals, or they could hold onto the candy and give you a piece when you earn it.

Step 6 Manage your stress leading up to the exam.

Using Your Learning Style to Study Better

Step 1 Incorporate images if you're a visual learner.

  • Other great options are to color code your notes, use a highlighter, draw diagrams, or sketch out what you're learning. [25] X Research source

Step 2 Listen to music or an audiobook if you're an auditory learner.

  • You can also try reading your notes out loud or explaining what you're learning aloud to someone else. [28] X Research source
  • Other great options include role-playing, making a model, or creating a representation of what you're learning. [30] X Research source

How Can I Cope With Test-Taking Anxiety?

Sample Study Schedules

can good study habits be learned

Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

1 - Study For Exams

Expert Q&A

Ted Coopersmith, MBA

  • Don't wait until the last minute to start studying because you won't be able to learn all of the material in time. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • Allow yourself a few minutes to settle into a zone of intense concentration when approaching your reading or writing academic assignments. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • Always highlight the main points in your book so you can know what is important in the whole chapter. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

can good study habits be learned

  • Remember that it's just one test and you're getting prepared, so don't stress yourself out too much. Thanks Helpful 32 Not Helpful 0

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  • ↑ https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/study-and-training/help-with-study/how-to-study-better/top-10-study-tips
  • ↑ Ted Coopersmith, MBA. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
  • ↑ https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/learning-at-home/homework-study-skills/how-to-help-your-teen-develop-good-study-habits
  • ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/decreasing-digital-distractions/
  • ↑ https://www.stetson.edu/administration/academic-success/media/STUDY%20SCHEDULE.pdf
  • ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/school-help-teens.html
  • ↑ Ted Dorsey, MA. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 11 December 2019.
  • ↑ https://lsc.cornell.edu/how-to-study/studying-for-and-taking-exams/guidelines-for-creating-a-study-schedule/
  • ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/reading-textbooks-effectively/
  • ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/effective-note-taking-in-class/
  • ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/studying-101-study-smarter-not-harder/
  • ↑ https://usm.maine.edu/agile/using-flashcards
  • ↑ https://www.edutopia.org/article/5-research-backed-studying-techniques
  • ↑ https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=3448
  • ↑ https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/health-and-support/exam-preparation-ten-study-tips
  • ↑ https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2020/apr/is-extra-screen-time-causing-your-headaches/
  • ↑ https://www.oxfordlearning.com/benefits-of-tutoring/
  • ↑ https://www.fnu.edu/10-reasons-form-study-group/
  • ↑ https://medicine.llu.edu/academics/resources/brain-based-techniques-retention-information
  • ↑ https://www.washington.edu/doit/e-community-activity-developing-study-habits
  • ↑ https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1112894.pdf
  • ↑ https://www.llcc.edu/center-academic-success/helpful-resources/characteristics-learning-styles
  • ↑ https://ace.fsu.edu/sites/g/files/upcbnu296/files/Study_Strategies_by_Learning_Styles.pdf
  • ↑ https://www.wgu.edu/blog/what-tactile-learning2008.html
  • ↑ https://education.alberta.ca/media/482311/is.pdf

About This Article

Ted Dorsey, MA

To create good study habits, set aside some time every day to study, which will help you learn the material better than if you were to cram the night before your test. When you sit down to study, put away your phone and make sure there aren't any distractions so you can focus on the material. Use flash cards, your notes from class, and practice tests to help you memorize the information. Also, give yourself a 5-minute break halfway through your study sessions so you don't get overwhelmed. For more studying tips, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Academic Skills Center Blog

5 Ways to Enjoy your Academic Journey

Author: Mahrosh Gealani

Though it can be a bit tough at times, academic life can actually be quite a fun and fulfilling adventure if you tackle it with the right attitude. As the final exams approach us, here are five friendly tips to make your academic journey even more enjoyable:

  • Set Clear Goals : Do you plan to complete the entire assignment for that one class today, or is today dedicated to research? Keep in mind that an assignment can have multiple parts, so the goal is to complete what you can today. Try to break the tasks apart and tackle the first small chunk today.
  • Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance : Remember, it's important to maintain a lifestyle that balances out academic stresses. Have you taken a walk or called a friend today? A structured routine outside of academia can help keep you grounded. Have you tried the  ASC’s Take a Break Bingo ?
  • Embrace Challenges : Overcoming challenges boosts our confidence. It's beneficial to embrace difficulties, whether they stem from situations, assignments, or just challenging days. Try to make it through such days with a healthy lunch, a chat with friends, or a long walk can bring a sense of accomplishment.
  • Find a Supportive Community : Surround yourself with people who radiate positive energy and attitude. We all have challenging days and nobody can maintain positivity 100 percent of the time. It's crucial to find a community that understands we may face difficulties, but also encourages perseverance. Call or text a loved one, join workshops that help with navigating academic stress, like our MoTEAvational Monday workshops, or go on a coffee date with friends after a day of studying.
  • Celebrate Your Achievements : Setting small goals can motivate you to focus on the larger objective and make it more manageable. If you're having trouble with your goals, consider breaking them into smaller parts. Have you tried the ASC’s “4 Steps to Task Initiation” worksheet?

Remember, the process of academic journey is not always perfect or linear. Learn to embrace the small steps. If you would like someone to walk you through your academic journey, visit one of our wonderful Academic Coaches!

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