You may have already realised how beneficial it is to make plans to help you study continuously, compared to giving up or studying right before tests. However, how can you be sure that you're following your plans? We provide you with the following:
6 Practices for Adhering to Your Study Plan
1. Realism
Be honest with yourself; most of us overestimate our abilities, and studying requires a lot of energy and focus, which you can't give for extended periods.
When creating your study schedule, you should be practical and consider your other obligations, such as whether you can cut back on social activities to free up time for studying and whether you can give up something else to make more time to study.
2. Determine the best time to study
If you prefer the morning, try setting the alarm thirty minutes earlier than your typical waking time so you can use this time for studying. If you prefer the evening, you can choose to study late at night if that suits you. Some people perform best in the morning, especially before their daily responsibilities begin.
Because the kids are asleep and the house is peaceful, this can be a pleasant time for parents. Try experimenting for a week or two, even if you already know what time of day is ideal for you. Maybe you can study at the cafe after work, or maybe your lunch break is a fantastic time to go over the vocabulary of the language you are learning.
3. Choosing a suitable place to study
Finding the perfect study location is just as important as choosing the ideal time to study. Your chosen atmosphere can impact how committed you are to your goals. When seeking an appropriate study space, it needs to fulfil the following requirements:
- is so convenient that no one can interrupt you.
- No noise.
- Having enough space for the study materials and tools you use.
- It puts you in an ideal mood for studying.
If your calendar is busy, you can study at home or close to it, saving yourself time when getting there. If you have more time, you can choose a location further away, avoiding the temptation to return home when bored.
4. Studying various subjects
If you study one subject for an extended period, you easily become bored with your schedule. Thus, attempt to vary the subjects you are learning rather than focusing on just one for an entire week. You can keep yourself busy by studying one subject one day and studying a completely different subject the next.
There are also other ways to learn; there isn't only one proper approach to study, so keep in mind:
- Take notes from books while reading.
- Read for half an hour, then take notes on your memory.
- Listen to audio material on the go.
- Watch videos.
- Go to seminars or classes.
- Discuss what you are learning with your fellow students.
- Write an article or post about what you've been studying.
- Draw diagrams or pictures to help you remember or understand concepts.
5. Building flexibility
How often have you created an ideal strategy for the study to have it fall apart when an unforeseen circumstance arose?
There is no problem with that; it happens occasionally, and you may need to postpone a study session to handle an unforeseen circumstance or emergency. Just be ready for this, and when creating your study schedule, leave time aside for contingencies. Even in the best-case scenario, you might find that some study sessions take longer than you anticipated, so allow extra time for these occurrences.
6. Track your progress
Once you realise that the plan is effective for you, it will be simple to follow, and there are multiple ways to monitor your success. As an illustration, you may record the study sessions you've finished on your calendar or, after each week, reward yourself with something small if you successfully follow your study plan every single time. Additionally, you review the content you have studied, maybe by doing a quick test or tests regularly.
Remember that following your study schedule despite daily fluctuations in your motivation levels is what's causing you to improve if you see any progress.
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