Studying is different for everyone, and how you choose to do so is completely up to you. While there are no definite rules to follow, we can all agree on some basic guidelines in an attempt to avoid mistakes and optimize the benefits.
It’s All About Mindset
For most of us, studying isn’t a fun activity we enjoy doing, but it is done to learn the necessary content, review, and ingrain it in our brains. Therefore, it’s normal to dread the seemingly boring hours of studying. However, half of the game is psychological, so if you go into your session with a negative outlook rather than focusing on the positive results you’ll reap, you’re hindering your own progress. As a successful scholar, consciously choose to dedicate yourself to improving your knowledge and skills, and embrace these hours of studying for what they are: a chance to grow in intellect.
Avoid Passive Learning
Passive learning is defined as “the learner [receiving] no feedback from the instructor.” In our case of self-studying, you are both the learner and instructor. Now, apply this model of passive learning. Some examples can include reading the same text over and over, or taking notes to “help you remember”.
Contrast this with active learning. In active learning, you might occasionally pause in the middle of a reading and attempt to summarize the most important points, or come up with questions about anything uncertain as you write your notes. The difference is that one model requires you to be actively engaged the entire time, while the other is completely possible to do with only a fraction of your attention. Not only does active learning help you learn and remember more, but you’ll also save time in the long run.
Avoid Loud Environments
I love studying in cafes, bakeries, really anywhere outside of the library and my room. However, even I admit that aesthetic pleasure is not worth the loud environments that often come hand in hand. Of course, this doesn’t mean to avoid studying in outdoor places or that you have to be completely alone. It just means to be smart about where you choose to get this important task done.
Always go for the quietest option possible. It’s better to listen to your soft music with earbuds in a quiet place than try to block out the loud noises with even louder music. Your earbuds will thank you, and you’ll be able to focus much better.
Identify Distractions
Everyone knows this, but only a handful of people take this seriously. Identify any possible distractions (going on your phone, talking to friends, looking outside the windows, etc.) and actively remove yourself from them before starting. Don’t wait for these distractions to catch you in the middle of your study session and slow you down immensely. You’ll end up with a decreased quality of work to compromise for the lack of time left when it could’ve been done better in the first place.
There’s No Rush
Finally, take your time. When studying, one of your main goals is for your brain to take in the material it didn’t previously have, or to develop skills that weren’t there before. All of this takes time, practice, and patience. Rather than rushing through and ending up with only half of the content, thoughtfully plan out your schedule to include frequent reviews and keep the information fresh. You know what they say, “if you don’t use it, you lose it.”
We hope you enjoyed this article. For more content on how to find your academic success, check out some of our articles here on StarryScholar. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to leave them in our “Community Discussion” tab, or email us at @[email protected]! Remember, you got this ☆
For most of us, studying isn’t a fun activity we enjoy doing, but it is done to learn the necessary content, review, and ingrain it in our brains. Therefore, it’s normal to dread the seemingly boring hours of studying. However, half of the game is psychological, so if you go into your session with a negative outlook rather than focusing on the positive results you’ll reap, you’re hindering your own progress. As a successful scholar, consciously choose to dedicate yourself to improving your knowledge and skills, and embrace these hours of studying for what they are: a chance to grow in intellect.
Avoid Passive Learning
Passive learning is defined as “the learner [receiving] no feedback from the instructor.” In our case of self-studying, you are both the learner and instructor. Now, apply this model of passive learning. Some examples can include reading the same text over and over, or taking notes to “help you remember”.
Contrast this with active learning. In active learning, you might occasionally pause in the middle of a reading and attempt to summarize the most important points, or come up with questions about anything uncertain as you write your notes. The difference is that one model requires you to be actively engaged the entire time, while the other is completely possible to do with only a fraction of your attention. Not only does active learning help you learn and remember more, but you’ll also save time in the long run.
Avoid Loud Environments
I love studying in cafes, bakeries, really anywhere outside of the library and my room. However, even I admit that aesthetic pleasure is not worth the loud environments that often come hand in hand. Of course, this doesn’t mean to avoid studying in outdoor places or that you have to be completely alone. It just means to be smart about where you choose to get this important task done.
Always go for the quietest option possible. It’s better to listen to your soft music with earbuds in a quiet place than try to block out the loud noises with even louder music. Your earbuds will thank you, and you’ll be able to focus much better.
Identify Distractions
Everyone knows this, but only a handful of people take this seriously. Identify any possible distractions (going on your phone, talking to friends, looking outside the windows, etc.) and actively remove yourself from them before starting. Don’t wait for these distractions to catch you in the middle of your study session and slow you down immensely. You’ll end up with a decreased quality of work to compromise for the lack of time left when it could’ve been done better in the first place.
There’s No Rush
Finally, take your time. When studying, one of your main goals is for your brain to take in the material it didn’t previously have, or to develop skills that weren’t there before. All of this takes time, practice, and patience. Rather than rushing through and ending up with only half of the content, thoughtfully plan out your schedule to include frequent reviews and keep the information fresh. You know what they say, “if you don’t use it, you lose it.”
We hope you enjoyed this article. For more content on how to find your academic success, check out some of our articles here on StarryScholar. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to leave them in our “Community Discussion” tab, or email us at @[email protected]! Remember, you got this ☆