- Set tasks and stick to them
Make a study plan and stay on task!
Set out a clear and achievable study plan and try to stick to it. Stay organised and set a certain number of hours per day or week for studying.
Yep, we understand that sometimes life happens but keep your goals in mind! Remind yourself why you are making that effort and what you want to achieve.
- Your study hours are your job
Keep the boundaries and it will be easier to stay on track. Whenever you find yourself procrastinating in social media, imagine a grumpy boss telling you off!
During work time we work.
- Learn how to manage your time
Why add additional stress to your routine? Why not make it easier for yourself?
If you have plenty of time to finish assignments, don’t leave them until the very last minute! Estimate the time you will need to study or finish a certain task and try to do it even ahead of the deadline. This will feel like a great achievement!
- Pick a quiet space to study where there are no distractions
Create a peaceful, free from distractions space. You can add elements to it that make it more appealing. Why not add candles, some flowers or a plant? Make it your space!
Try to disconnect from distractions like social media, the phone or even the internet. We know how hard it is to study when you have ten ads shouting at you. Remember to stay focused!
- Be mentally engaged
It is really easy to watch an online course as a passive viewer. Eventually, you will realise you can’t really remember half of it!
Quiz yourself on the subject you are studying, go over the same lesson a couple of times if you didn’t understand the first. You will gain confidence in your knowledge towards the exam and the lessons will stick better!
- Make your own notes
Even if your teachers provided you with some notes, it is extremely helpful to make your own! You can choose to make them schematic but make sure you actually comprehend what you are writing.
Write down points that you consider it’s important to help remember them in the future.
- Make it enjoyable
Light some candles, play nice calm music, make yourself a cold/hot brew (depending on the time of the year and your location!). Treat yourself to some rewards. Studying doesn’t have to be a punishment!
- Take breaks and exercise regularly
Studies show that taking study breaks will help you retain information. Not only that but having some free time in between lessons will improve your productivity, attention and focus.
Breaks serve as creative fuel. Once every hour give yourself a short break from 5 to 15 minutes. Obviously, this will depend on the activity and how focused you are in it!
- Ask, ask, ask!
One of the most common mistakes, when people are studying, is to keep a huge number of doubts to themselves. We tend to think our answers will come along as we keep going forward. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t.
It’s important if you are struggling with a topic that you seek for help. Many online courses have a lot of teachers waiting to assist you. If they don’t, try to find your answers online, in the library, discussion groups, colleagues or friends, ask!
This will not just solve your doubts; it will help you retain that information and understand future lessons.
- Reward Yourself
Yes, hard work is really important, but if you don’t treat yourself to some free time you will end up burned out. To do this, you need to be responsible with the deadlines and tasks that you set.
If you waste time during your study hours, you will have to work during your free time. This will eventually negatively affect your motivation to study. So be responsible with your tasks!
When you finish an assignment, remember that you have a life too! Don’t make the mistake of sitting on a chair in front of a computer 24/7. Your brain needs different types of stimuli! Go out with your friends, stretch your legs with a nice walk, cook a recipe or watch that TV show that you are hooked on.
