A crucial part of being an effective student is the development of effective study habits.
These can range from the slightly philosophical (e.g. you can only be an effective student if you have a positive attitude to your studies); to the intensely practical (e.g. where and when you study is extremely important). Let us briefly look at some of the most important study habits that you should seek to develop:
- Develop a positive mindset. The success of your studies will depend to a large extent on the way that you approach it. You can develop a positive attitude by constantly reminding yourself of your own particular strengths and skills. You should also try not to allow self-defeating thoughts (e.g. I’m never going to be able to finish this!) to discourage you.
- Choose a place that is optimally conducive to study. It is amazing to see where some people try to study! It may work for some, but choosing a busy cafeteria or any place where the television is going at full blast will probably not aid your studies to a great extent. Make sure that you choose a study place where there is peace and quiet and that is as free from distractions as possible.
- Develop a ‘birds’ eye view’ of what is needed before starting. Do not just dive straight into studying. First review your class notes and all prescribed material. This will most probably give you the ‘big picture’ of what you will have to focus on as you study.
- Use memory techniques. If you are studying for an exam it is quite likely that you will have to remember a great deal of information. Use memorisation techniques to help you do so. These can include simple association techniques, memory games or more complex mnemonic devices. Find out what works best for you and then apply it consistently.
- Consider working in a group. Your whole study experienced can be profoundly enriched by sharing it with fellow learners. Consider the possibility of setting up group study sessions where you work independently and then discuss what you have learned. If you are learning a very practical skill, getting together to practice can also be very beneficial. It goes without saying that great care should be taken to ensure that group study sessions do not degenerate into mere social gatherings!
- Develop a schedule and keep to it. You need to proactively plan the times when you will be studying by putting it into your diary or calendar. You should also make sure that you include sufficient longer and shorter breaks in this schedule.