Planning an Effective Study Session: Part II
Welcome to Part II of Planning an Effective Study Session! The goal of these blog posts is to help you supercharge your study sessions and maximise your learning potential. In this part, I’m delving into more useful tips and techniques to help you make your study time even more effective and enjoyable.
Studying isn’t just about the hours you put in; it’s about how you use that time. So, whether you're a student striving for academic excellence or someone looking to enhance their learning skills, you've come to the right place. Let's dive into these practical tips that can make a world of difference in your study routine, helping you reach your goals with confidence and ease.
4. Plan your sound environment
If you are distracted by the sound of a television or radio or hearing the conversation of a single person on the phone, it might not be a good idea to study where you are likely to encounter these. What I have found, is that while hearing one person talking or a tv show playing can be very distracting, if I go somewhere like a café to study, the sounds of many people talking tend to blend together into background ‘white noise’, and I am able to tune them out and get good work done.
Try listening to different kinds of music while you study to see if there is one or more that helps you focus on studying. The kinds of music that are useful to listen to can change depending on what kind of work you’re doing (for example, reading, writing, or editing can all need different types of music). I found that when I’m reading or writing I need music that doesn’t have any lyrics, but when I’m editing I can listen to music with lyrics. I tend towards music with a quick beat to keep my energy up while working.
Here are a few kinds of music to try:
Upbeat Instrumental for Studying
5. Have tasty snacks
Even though you aren’t doing a lot of physical work, you are still burning energy and your brain needs fuel to keep going and keep your focus going. As I mentioned in Part I, it can be really disruptive to your study process to need to get up and go find something you need, including food. It’s a lot easier and smoother to have a few snacks at hand that you can grab in the moment without disrupting your flow. I like to have fruit, nuts, or even a chocolate bar to hand to keep me going during study sessions. Picking snacks that feed your brain, so those that have complex carbohydrates and/or protein, are best. My personal favourites are apples or grapes, peanuts or cashews, and Snickers bars. These snacks aren’t a substitute for having a full meal, so make sure you make time for a proper breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner.
6. Consider studying in a group
Whether this is co-working or group study, working in a group environment can be really useful. Group study generally consists of multiple people who are interacting with each other and discussing a class that everyone is taking. Studying in this way can be helpful because you are likely to get exposure to different perspectives, you can make use of shared effort and resources, which can mean you don’t have to do quite as much prep work yourself. Explaining information to a peer who doesn’t understand something you does can actually help embed that knowledge into your own mind and memory better. Asking someone else to explain a concept you don’t understand can reduce the amount of time you have to put into understanding it, making your study more efficient.
Another approach to studying in a group environment is co-working. This means multiple people come together with the intention of working on their own separate work. There is usually no interaction between participants during the working periods. One of the big benefits of studying in a co-working environment is to improve motivation and accountability. It’s a lot harder to slack off and check social media if you’re sitting with friends who are diligently at work themselves. I like to think of this as a kind of ‘positive peer pressure’. During the rest periods, you can socialise with your friends, which also reduces feelings of isolation, reduces overall stress, and enhances your overall wellbeing. Being a student can sometimes feel lonely if you only ever study by yourself. Creating opportunities to socialise are really valuable.
Remember that the effectiveness of group study sessions can vary depending on the group dynamics and each person's learning style. To make the most of group studying, it's essential to establish clear goals, maintain focus, and ensure that the group stays on topic. Additionally, finding a group of individuals who are motivated and share similar study goals can greatly enhance the benefits of group study.
7. Structure your study time
It can be really overwhelming to look at the pile of work you have to do without a plan of attack. Breaking your study time down into manageable chunks can help reduce stress and increase productivity. One way you can structure your study time is by subject. Some students find that focusing on one subject in a study session helps them get into deep concentration and allows them to make a lot of progress on that topic. Other students find that having a variety of subjects to work on each day helps them to imprint the material in their memory better and gives needed variety throughout the study session.
Regardless of whether you are working on one subject or multiple subjects, you should break down the time that you plan to study into structured chunks. One popular method of structuring your study time is to use the Pomodoro technique. This consists of set work periods with corresponding break periods, which together are referred to as a Pomodoro. Starting with 25 minute work periods and 5 minute break periods is a great way to learn how to use this technique. This can be really helpful if you have a tendency to get distracted by wanting to check social media or your phone. You know you’ll get a few minutes to do it at the end of the work session, and I find this allows me to have greater concentration and focus on my work. I also sometimes do 50 minute work sessions with 10 minute breaks, but it’s better to work up to this length of time rather than trying to start with it. After a few Pomodoros, you should give yourself a longer break (20-30 minutes). The creators of the Pomodoro technique recommend using a physical timer (like a kitchen timer), though you can use your phone or even this online timer.
8. Take breaks
As mentioned above when talking about using the Pomodoro technique, breaks are an important part of any kind of work. Your brain needs time to process as much as it needs to take in new information or analyse existing information. Studying without breaks for extended periods of time can lead to mental fatigue. I frequently conceptualise this experience as feeling like my brain is oozing out of my ears or melting inside my head. Extended study sessions without breaks can lead to burnout, decreased motivation, and increased stress levels. Regular breaks help prevent these negative consequences, maintaining your enthusiasm for learning. Breaks are important for your body as well as your mind. Taking the opportunity to stand up, stretch, and even walk around a bit is good for your physical health as well as your mental health.
Taking breaks allows you to return to your study with fresh purpose. You can set small goals for what you intend to accomplish in each work period, helping you to fully relax during your break period and remain focused during work periods. Establishing a routine for your work and break periods helps your body and mind get accustomed to the pattern and can enhance the effectiveness of your study sessions.
Wrap Up
Remember that everyone's learning style is unique, so don't be afraid to experiment with these techniques to discover what works best for you. The key is to be proactive and intentional about your study habits, ensuring that your efforts lead to meaningful progress and a deeper understanding of the material.
With these tools in your study arsenal, you have the power to boost your concentration, motivation, and overall academic success. So, go ahead and put these strategies into practice, and watch your study sessions become more effective, efficient, and rewarding. Your academic goals are well within reach—happy studying!
Written by Carly M
