Schooling is the base of a child’s education. However, it is a common observation that as the syllabus increases, children find it difficult to grasp and their studying habits get deteriorated. This damage is not a short-term loss, it can last long if proper guidance and environment are not created around the child.
Today you can visit any corner of India and take the context of any school. Be it a school in Baroda or in Kolkata, a school in Delhi, or in Bangalore, you will find students with unhealthy studying habits.
An environment needs to be created where children do not think of studying as a compelling activity but something that is completely natural. If you are a student who faces the same issue, then this article is for you. The first step is that you need to set a goal for yourself beyond normal studying without any materialistic rewards. To begin with, you commit to studying an hour a day for 365 days and prove to yourself that you can clench a habit. However, this is not the only way which can make your journey to make “studying” easy.
The next portion of this blog throws light on 17 important tips that can really make studying an interesting activity for you and hopefully next time you fill a slambook, studying enters the list of your hobbies.
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Have a designated study space:
Staying focused when you’re at home is not always easy. Distractions are in plenty. They challenge your focus, especially if you’re in a noisy surrounding like a room with a television turned on or people who are talking. Find a place where you are free from all disturbances. Try options like the:
- Library
- Coffee Shop
- Park
- Backyard of the house
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Space out your learning:
An expanding schedule is always better than a contracting schedule. In its simplest sense, the spacing effect just means that a restudy will be more effective after a delay. Over longer timescales, repetition helps learners to remind themselves of their earlier learning experiences. This activates relevant episodic memories, making them easier to access in the future.
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JOT everything down:
An effective student always writes everything down. This includes completed homework, test and exam dates, project deadlines, dates of competition, school and family events, etc. Assuming that you will remember everything is a big myth. Writing down everything helps you stay organised. This may sound harsh but trust me, successful people always keep a daily diary with them to note down everyday details.
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Focus on mastering the art of learning:
It is an endless journey. This forever journey to develop your talent doesn’t have to be nerve-racking or unpleasant. If you think that study skills are just about how to do well in school, it is not true. A solid base of study skills is even more useful after you leave school when you continue learning from experiences. Try to grasp the material as thoroughly as possible. Be on the lookout for experiences to learn new topics, even if they seem tough.
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Build your capability and gain confidence:
Believing in your ability helps you learn something new. Your confidence may inflate if you often hear how smart you are. But that confidence is unstable. Try to use that confidence for betterment without becoming overconfident.
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Get rid of distractions:
To be frank, willpower doesn’t help much when it comes to overcoming distractions while studying. Only a few of us have the willpower necessary to fight the distractions that surround us in the digital era. Try the following:
- Turn off all notifications on the phone for sometime
- Delete all the applications from which you feel distracted
- Put your phone in another room before you start studying
- Set a really long password to unlock your phone/tablet
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Sleep well to learn well:
Researchers have shown that a good night sleep makes you feel fresh and attentive the next day. Scientists carried out an experiment in which they have recorded the brain activity patterns first while an animal learns a task, and then when the animal sleeps. Remarkably, the patterns in sleep are similar to what is seen when the animal learns.
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Quiz yourself:
Test yourself whenever possible. Testing will help you find your weak spots and then you can work to strengthen them. Create your own practice test, or ask your teacher to create one. Consider buying books that contain sample question papers. Also, challenge yourself and solve extra questions that require deep thinking. Search for online resources as this may result in teaching something new to you. Be a bookworm and learn information that’s outside the syllabus.
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Make self-made clues. Follow them to recover lost memories:
You knew it. It was on the tip of your tongue, but you couldn’t recall. There’s a simple trick that can help to find that volatile memory. Think of what else you know about that topic. Or visualise yourself on the study table when you were studying the topic. Follow these related memories as clues to track your answer.
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Find ways to help others and contribute to be motivated:
There is no doubt that we are living in a competitive world. But students often lose motivation when they focus too much on achievements and too little on contribution. The basic aim of education is to become equipped with skills and knowledge so that you can help others and contribute to the society. Find small ways to contribute to your capacity e.g. volunteering, fundraising, solving problems in your school as well as the neighbourhood, and serving the underprivileged.
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Seek for answers:
If there are questions in your mind about something you have been studying lately, this doesn’t mean that you are dumb. Instead, it means you are curious enough to have thorough information about the topic. Ask your friends and teachers about it. This is a great way to get engaged. Even if you feel the question is silly, ask it. Besides, if you will pay attention in class, your questions will be logical and insightful.
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Eat healthy:
You’ll be more alert and motivated if your stomach is full! Researches show that the better nutrition you intake, the better your brain functions. And the better your brain functions, the better you will perform in school. Here are some tips to eat healthy:
- Eat vegetables and fruits
- Eat meat and fish
- Eat eggs
- Eat nuts
- Avoid processed food
- Avoid sugar in the diet
- Trans fats are not good. Avoid them
- Avoid artificial sweeteners as much as you can
- Drink water in plenty
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Start studying for tests at least one to two weeks in advance:
Avoid cramming for tests. Start preparing for tests two or three weeks in advance. Besides if you follow the above tips, the idea of cramming won’t even enter your mind. Set a reminder on your phone or a planner one to two weeks before every test, so that you start preparing for the test.
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Analyse the mistakes you make in tests:
Encourage yourself to go through every mistake you make in tests and exams. Analyse why you made the mistake. Ask yourself questions like:
- Was the mistake due to carelessness?
- Did I forget something important?
- Did I have a poor understanding of a certain topic?
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Work with a friend:
We learn a lot when we converse with others. Explain the topic to a struggling classmate who needs help. Find a group to chat about the topic, or help each other through homework together. Make up questions and quiz each other.
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Don’t multitask while studying:
Our brains are devised to focus on one thing at a time, and bombarding them with data only slows them down. When you multitask, you’re switching between tasks. This actually reduces your studying performance. So, avoid multitasking when you’re studying or doing your homework. Instead, focus on one task at a time to get more done in less time.
- Create a productive study environment:
- Keep your desk tidy
- Ensure that all the stationery, notebooks, etc. that you need is present
- Ensure that the lights in the room are not painful to the eyes
- Use earplugs to block the unnecessary noise, if needed
- Put some motivational quotes in your study space
- Get a comfortable chair and avoid studying lying on the bed
A teacher shows you the path. But, it is your responsibility to stand up and walk by yourself. Find tough topics, understand them and take them down.
All the above points will make you ready to learn whatever you want. Even when it seems daunting.
Nalanda International School, one of the best schools in Baroda, possesses a world-class infrastructure. Talk to us now to know what makes us the top school in Vadodara.