Studying can be a daunting task for students. Building a routine that’s engaging and low maintenance is crucial for consistent studying and success. A study routine you’ll actually stick to requires flexibility, honesty, and dedication.
Most students fail at studying consistently because they overcommit themselves. Some students become extremely motivated, pushing themselves to study for hours at a time before eventually running out of gas and abandoning studying as a whole. Others try scheduling their study sessions months in advance before skipping it because they have an event coming up or want to hang out with friends. A good study routine takes these factors into account and adapts.
Typically, students will dedicate 1-2 hours per week per subject. This does not mean you have to or should do 1-2 hours, especially in one day. Short routine sessions are proven to be much more effective than hour long cram sessions. Additionally, studying in blocks for longer than 90 minutes actually decreases effectiveness as you become much less focused and motivated.
Plan your study session a few days in advance, a week at most. Create small blocks for each topic or assignment you need to complete. This way, you can adapt your routine with life’s changes. Instead of feeling guilty for skipping studying for your friend’s birthday party, you’ll feel relaxed because you prepared the day before instead. These kinds of change may seem small, but it makes a huge difference when tackling the mental challenges of studying.
Don’t forget to reward yourself too! You deserve a treat on those days when you feel like everything’s piling up. Successful studying is difficult and rewarding yourself will make you motivated to continue.
Building these habits may feel impossible at first, but these skills will be useful for the rest of your life. Remember, you are not the only one struggling. But, beating that struggle will make you unique and will set you up for success.
Jaylene Marks, Media Department Member
