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SET UP A SCHEDULE. Allocate more time for
the most difficult classes. Make sure that you allot time for recreation
and social activities. (You need to reward yourself for your hard work!) And
follow your schedule. |
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START STUDYING FOR 10-15 MINUTES AT A TIME AND THEN BUILD UP
TO LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. Most study skills programs suggest
reading for 10-15 minute increments your freshman year, 20 minutes your
sophomore year, 25 minutes your junior year, 30 minutes your senior year
and 45 minutes to an hour in graduate school. So, work towards reading
for longer periods of time. Just remember to be realistic. If you can
no longer concentrate or remember what you have read, stop. There's no
sense in wasting your valuable time. |
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TAKE BREAKS. Take breaks when studying. The average
attention span for one task is approximately 20 minutes. DO NOT ATTEMPT
TO CRAM! Study small portions of material, take a break and then study
some more. We retain a great deal more if we learn in small manageable
portions, than when we attempt to learn a great deal of information at
once. Make these breaks mandatory. Even if you are enjoying your reading
or studying, take some breaks. You do not want to get burned out. |
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REWARD YOURSELF. Reward yourself for studying, learning
a difficult concept, or completing a project. Go to a movie, spend time
with your friends, or do the things you put off in order to study. This
reinforces your behavior. You are more likely to study again and concentrate
if you know there is a reward at the end of completing a task. |
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FIND A GOOD LOCATION. Where you study can influence
your concentration and your study habits as well. Make sure you are comfortable,
but not too comfortable. Sitting at a desk is preferable to lying in bed. |
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USE THE SAME PLACE FOR STUDYING. This will help you
associate that particular location with studying and will facilitate concentration. |
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MAKE SURE IT IS A QUIET PLACE. Seeking a quiet well-lit
study area is equally important. A radio blaring in the background, a stereo
blaring next door, and the sounds of an interesting conversation are but
a few of the factors that can disturb a study area. |
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ELIMINATE THE OBVIOUS DISTRACTIONS. Some of the more
common distractions are telephone calls or friends and family stopping
by to chat. Put up the newspapers, magazines, and unfinished projects.
Even the sight of a textbook from another class can serve as a reminder
of how far behind you are in another class, causing you to waste time worrying.
Once you become aware of these simple distractions, you can eliminate them
and improve your study skills. |
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REMEMBER THAT MEMORY IS "CONTEXT DEPENDENT." Studying
in a physical situation similar to the one in which you will be tested
increases your chances to recall information. (This is another reason why
studying in bed does not work!) Make your studying situation as similar
as possible to the testing situation. When possible, go review your materials
in the classroom. |
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MEMORY IS ALSO "STATE DEPENDENT." Studying
in an emotional mood similar to the one you experience during tests increases
your chances to recall studied information. When studying, keep the same
focus and enhanced attention you have in your tests. Being too relaxed
during your study time would not match the level of activation you reach
during your tests. You need to increase your concentration and activation
levels while studying to increase your chances to recall the studied material
when tested. The reverse is applicable to tests. If you get too psyched-up
or tensed-up during your tests, you will not be able to recall your material
because your test mood state will not match your studying mood. This is
the reason why it is so important to calm down in a testing situation.
The Relaxation screen of the Counseling Center Help Screen provides a relaxation
technique. |
