Enhancing our studying skills is arguably among the most important aspects of academics, as effective learning is truly key to getting good grades and reaching higher success. But the irony is that students are rarely taught how to study efficiently throughout their educational journey. Instead, we tend to rely on the routines we developed ourselves, some of which might be successful, while others are simply detrimental to our learning experience. However, universally good habits do exist, so here are some of the best learning habits you could form as well as the benefits of developing them:
- Reducing distractions
One of the easiest ways to enhance your learning is to minimize distractions during study sessions. In most cases, this means finding a quiet and comfortable place for studying, whether it’s a private spot in your room, a local library, or even an empty coffee shop. But apart from minimizing noise, it would also be wise to consider your electronics. Turning off the Wi-Fi, putting your phone on silent, and blocking notifications can all help to minimize distractions as well. And once you’re learning in a distraction-free space, you will be able to sharpen your focus, increase productivity, and improve retention, which will result in more efficient learning.
- Taking regular breaks
Taking intentional breaks periodically during study sessions is one of the best things you could do for your learning process. This habit has been linked to increased energy, higher attention, and better retention. Research suggests that optimal productivity can be achieved if you give yourself a 15- to 20-minute break after every 50 minutes of work. During those breaks, try to avoid electronics as well. Instead, have a healthy snack, go for a short walk, stretch, listen to an upbeat song, clean your desk, or simply relax in an effort to improve your performance.
- Setting learning goals
To develop proper learning habits, consider setting specific goals for each study session you have. They can be content-based or time-based. For instance, you can aim to review three chapters, study for two hours, or even both. These goals will give you a specific objective to strive towards, they will keep focus and motivation high, and they can increase the efficiency of your study sessions, in turn improving your learning. Goals are great for studying effectively, but don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t always achieve them; studying can sometimes be unpredictable.
- Using great resources
When attempting to enhance their studies, Canadian students attending McMaster University often use additional McMaster student resources throughout their learning process. Representing an easily accessible online collection of study notes, essays, and projects written by previous university students, these resources are directly relevant to the subjects and topics that are currently being studied. As a result, current students can use the most suitable and accurate materials for enhancing their studies, thus increasing learning and project success. Similar resources could help you develop better learning habits as well.
- Joining a study group
Across the US, on the other hand, study groups are incredibly popular, and can also be beneficial when it comes to improving learning habits. Within a study group, members can help one another solve complex problems, offer encouragement, provide unique perspectives, help each other reach certain study goals, or simply make studying a bit easier and more pleasant. Even the mere process of explaining difficult concepts to other people can aid in retention and comprehension. For that reason, you might want to consider joining a group study session or creating a study group of your own.
- Taking practice tests
Across the globe, practice tests are also thought to be quite helpful tools for helping students to learn better and retain information more easily. Testing ourselves is a great method for revealing any gaps in knowledge, encouraging us to retrieve information from memory, improving retention, and even reducing stress and anxiety caused by exams. If your courses or school websites offer practice tests, incorporate them into your learning habits to reap these advantages. If not, finding practice tests online, writing your own questions, creating flashcards, and having a friend quiz you are all tactics that can have the same benefits.
- Taking care of yourself
After all, the best habit you could develop is a healthy lifestyle. While being a student is undeniably demanding, you have to prioritize your health and well-being. This means getting at least 8 hours of quality sleep each night, eating well, exercising regularly, and nurturing your mental health. Taking care of yourself in such a way is not only beneficial for your overall health, but it’s also crucial to improving your learning process. Only when you are healthy, nurtured, and rested can you expect to study efficiently and retain necessary information in the long term.
Forming proper learning habits can be a challenging task, but the benefits clearly outweigh the efforts. Start with the small and achievable tips above and accelerate your road to academic success.
