This is the third post in my Back to School series! Make sure you check out the first and second posts too!
A week or two ago I got a question on Tumblr requesting a post with study and organization tips (Organization will be the topic of my next post!!). That question inspired my whole back to school series, and really got me to take a look at my own study habits. I realized that at the beginning of each semester, it always takes a little bit of time for me to get back into the swing of things. Especially after a long summer, it's challenging to get back into a routine, especially a routine that includes studying. Ew. Here are some study habits that I've found to work for me. I hope this helps y'all!
Make a schedule. I know we all have our planners with things like meetings, clubs, parties, practices, and football games written in right next to homework and to do lists. That's only the beginning of your schedule. Make sure you also block out specific time for studying, dinner, and study breaks, as well as putting all of your other obligations there. A table or spreadsheet works great for this. If you're getting really specific, you can block out your time to study for specific classes in order of importance, or you can leave it more general and just give yourself study hours.
Take breaks. One of the biggest mistakes I see my friends–and myself!–make while studying is forgetting to take breaks. I have a tendency to sit down and study for long periods of time without breaks, and sooner or later I realize that I'm not really focused or taking in what I'm working on. Give yourself a break every hour. It doesn't have to be long, just five or ten minutes to decompress so you can finish your task with a clear head. And be sure to get up from your desk during your break to stretch your legs. Personally, I use my breaks as short periods of cardio!
Be realistic. That huge Calculus test? The massive research paper? A group presentation? All of these require careful planning and lots of preparation time. My biggest downfall in my high school career thus far has been my tendency to underestimate the amount of time I'll need to complete a task while overestimating my ability to complete it quickly but thoroughly. Being realistic when it comes to studying and doing assignments is my biggest goal this year. I definitely think that my past experiences, including a few all nighters, will serve as a good reminder when I'm making plans and study schedules that I need to work on being a bit more realistic.
I really hoped this helped y'all and I would love to hear all of y'all's study habits and tips!
XO
