Tips to Start Studying

Studying. The dread of most students. Ugh, I know. I hate studying myself. I have never been someone with good grades, and over the years, I have come to know my habits and came up with ways to help myself to study without procrastination. With these steps, I managed to go from a 'D' grade to an 'A' grade! I hope that these tips will help you.

1. Make a timetable/plan.

Yes, I know this is so cliche but I found that this helped me the most. It is important to have your goals written down so you know what needs to be done. Note down the dates of your tests and exams on a piece of paper.

Then, bring your textbooks/notes out and find out how many chapters there are. Write down the chapters you want to finish on a certain day. For example, if you would like to study Chapter 1 on a certain day, write in this format:

19th March 2020 - Chapter 1
20th March 2020 - Chapter 2
21st March 2020 - Chapter 3

Of course, everyone has their own pace in studying and if you think you cannot finish that one chapter or that it is too little, you adjust according to what you think you can.

But don't underestimate or overestimate. Start small, based on what you can do. Remember to form your schedule such that you manage to finish studying early and leave a few days before your actual test for revision.

2. Put away your distractions.

If you're like me, someone who cannot keep their hands off your electronic devices such as handphones, tablets or laptops, put them far away from you.

You could put them somewhere far and hard for you to reach. Somewhere high, somewhere not easily found, somewhere that makes you think 'screw it, I don't want to go so far just to get it'.

Or leave it with a family member or friend if you don't trust yourself not to reach for it. Oh, and silent your devices, make it airplane mode or turn it off if you have to.

3. Make the environment suitable for you.

If you need your surroundings to be quiet while you study, go to the library or make sure that your siblings aren't watching a drama and laughing loudly beside you.

If you think studying in your bedroom always makes you want to lie on your bed and sleep, go to the living room, study room, balcony, anywhere but that place that prevents you from studying.

If you're the type to munch on something while you study, have some snacks nearby. Get some chocolates, nuts, or something small that you can eat without stopping your studying.

4. Determine your study style.

Knowing your study style will help you prepare for how you should study. Take this quiz first! There are 3 types of learning styles; Auditory, Visual and Tactile. Find out how you can get more out of your studies from the quiz's results!

5. Start studying.

Get out your pens, pencils, highlighters, whatever stationery you need for your studying, sit at your desk and have your textbooks in front of you before you start. There's nothing more tiring than forgetting to take something and getting up to go and get it while you're halfway through your studies. You may even get distracted by something on the way to get your forgotten item.

6. Take breaks.

It is important to take breaks once in a while so that your brain is able to absorb more and is less exhausted when you get back to your studies. Every half an hour or an hour depending on your attention span, you can take a 5 to 15 minutes break.

Go to the toilet, stretch, drink some water, use your phone, do whatever you want and make sure you get back to your desk once the break ends.

If you exceed your break, make up for it by studying for a longer time until your next break. But no matter what you do, I do not recommend exceeding 15 minutes for your break as it'll make you want to extend more.

7. Tick what you have finished.

Once you have finished a chapter, go back to the timetable you have made and put a tick beside the chapter you have finished. Why I ask you to do this is because seeing something ticked off a list gives a sense of achievement and makes you feel 'ah, one step closer to my goal'. This will give you the encouragement to continue on!

8. Reward Yourself.

Once your exam is over, give yourself a reward. Go out with your friends, treat yourself, go shopping, do something that you couldn't do during your studies! Reward yourself for overcoming your studies and exams! You deserve it.

I hope these tips have helped you in studying! All the best! :)