How do you study well while stuck at home? As some schools pivot toward online learning, studying is going to look a lot different this year. You might be easily distracted in the digital world, have noisy siblings, or more chores to do at home. Whatever your situation might be, you’re not alone. Studying effectively won’t happen overnight, but here are 5 secrets that can help you do that.
1. Get organized by creating a study schedule
Creating a study schedule is key to studying. Set time limits, create to-do lists, and have an effective study calendar. Whenever homework, test dates, or assignment deadlines are given out, put them into your schedule right away so you don’t forget about them. Also, don’t try to push yourself with unrealistic study goals like studying for 10 hours a day. Set the right goals. One way to set effective goals is by making them SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-specific). Aim for a study schedule that includes breaks every 25 to 30 minutes and revisions, and stick to it so that you can get the most out of your studying. Don’t let procrastination be your enemy!
Here are a few amazing (and free) scheduling apps you might find handy:
Google Calendar: This app is already preinstalled on Android phones, but it also works just as well on iPhones. What’s so great about it is that it integrates with many other productivity apps and automatically creates events from emails you receive. Furthermore, your calendar is accessible offline and everything stays synced.
My Study Life: My Study Life is another unique calendar app. This app is built just for students. It can create week and day rotation timetables and remind you about your upcoming classes and exams as well. It syncs across all your devices and works offline too.
2. Set up a good (and ergonomic) study space
Whether you are studying at a desk or a shared space, ensure that it is quiet and organized. Remember to remove anything you don’t need (or things you find distracting) away from you before you study. Moreover, let everyone in your home know when you’re studying, like at a certain time of day, so that it is less likely that they bother you. Now that you have a good study space, make it more ergonomic! Depending on how far you are from the monitor or the way you sit, the quality of studying can be affected.
Below are ergonomic resolutions to a few common issues you might experience while studying:
Issue: Your neck and back hurt when you’re studying.
Resolution: A good rule of thumb is to create an “L” with your body. Your legs and elbows should be at 90 to 120 degrees. Keep your elbows close to the sides of your body, relax your shoulders, and don’t bend your wrists. Sit on a chair that provides good, firm back support and sit straight. Keep your feet flat on the floor or footrest. This will reduce any pressure on your lower back. In addition, the top of your monitor or laptop should be at eye-level.
Issue: You study for long periods of time which results in your hands feeling painful, weak, tingly, or numb.
Resolution: Get up every 25 to 30 minutes. Do some stretches. While standing, make a fist with your hands. Then, release your fingers, fan them out, and stretch them as far as you can. Repeat this 5 to 10 times. Additionally, do an upper body stretch. Interlace your fingers, turn your palms upward, and straighten your arms above your head. Hold for 15 to 20 seconds. Click here for more stretches like these to help relieve your body tension.
For more ergonomic tips, please check out this blog!
3. Avoid distractions and focus
This one might seem really obvious, but as more of our lives are being spent online, our habits might’ve changed. We are now looking for ways to connect and entertain ourselves more often than ever before. Use productivity apps like Forest or airplane mode to beat your phone addiction. Grab some headphones and listen to your favourite studying music, preferably instrumental music like lo-fi or classical (as long as it’s lyric-free). Also, remember to focus, focus, focus. Focus is the key to studying effectively.
Want some good study music playlists? Make sure to visit this blog for some of the best Spotify playlists for studying!
4. Actively participate in online discussions
Whenever your classes have online discussions, be sure to participate in them. Online discussions are a fantastic way to ask questions about homework or assignments, talk about topics, share resources, and network with your classmates. If you ever feel like you’re falling behind, email your teacher to ask questions or pass on any issues you might have. In addition, there are study groups created by students that are worth joining. Members of study groups can gain lots of insight, learn from each other, and teach difficult concepts to one another. Participation will certainly benefit your online experience!
5. Schedule relaxation time
Leave some time in your everyday schedule for relaxing. This will prevent burnout and reduce stress. You’ve been working hard so remember to reward yourself for that.
Below is a list of some of the best ways to unwind your brain after studying.
Indulge in one of your hobbies
Grab a snack or drink
Socialize
Take a nap
Do yoga or meditate
Read
Ultimately, studying remotely can be quite a challenge for many students, but keep trying your best and your hard work and dedication will definitely pay off. Just because more of our learning is shifted online, it doesn’t mean we won’t finish this school year strong. We have the potential to do whatever we want, as long as we put our minds to it. Best of luck with your studies! I know you can do this!
Tanya is a grade 11 student in a program that specializes in Mathematics, Science, and Technology at a high school in Toronto. Although she has many favourite subjects, she likes studying Mathematics and Chemistry the most. She also loves volunteering and being a part of her school’s business and biology club, hoping to one day pursue a career in the STEM fields and help those in need.
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