5 Ways to Boost Your Productivity When Studying
Monique Williams
A key element to being successful is to make sure you are working efficiently and productively. In high school and college, a large amount of time will be spent studying and in order to keep up with deadlines and maintain a balance between school, work, or extracurricular activities, productive study skills are an asset that cannot be overstated. Here are five tips on how to boost your productivity while studying.
Find the Right Study Space
Finding the right atmosphere to study in is essential to fostering productivity. Whenever possible, study outside of your bedroom. Separating the space where you relax and where you study can alter your mindset as you start studying. A productive environment can be the difference between a successful afternoon studying and an afternoon of fighting to focus on the task at hand. Differentiating what motivates you is another way to choose what study location works best for you. If you work best in silence, a library may be a good place to study, but if a small amount of activity generates motivation, studying outside or at a local coffee shop may be more beneficial. Everyone’s needs are different, but what is most important is selecting an environment where being productive is possible.
Focus on What is Infront of You
When it comes time to sit down and study, plan out what needs to be done. Working in the order of most importance is a good place to start. Write out your plan on a piece of paper or a notepad to keep yourself organized and on track. Focus on what is in front of you and don’t let whatever else is on your to-do list distract you; while you are working on a task, dedicate your attention to that task.
Take Breaks
When you’re pressed for time and feel as if every minute is important, it can be easy to neglect taking breaks, but in reality, taking small breaks is going to serve you better than studying for hours at a time. The Pomodoro Technique, created by Francesco Cirillo, is a time management technique that consists of six steps: choose a task you’d like to complete, set a timer (or Pomodoro) for 25 minutes, work on the task until the timer rings, when the timer rings take a short break that is not work-related, and lastly, every four pomodoros take a longer break of about twenty to thirty minutes. This technique has grown in popularity over the years and has proven to be effective, not only in high school or college but in the workplace as well.
Take Effective Notes
Pulling out the essential points from your notes is a good way to weed out what information is not serving the big picture of what you are studying. More often than not, we include more than we need in our notes, so going back and highlighting key topics can make your study time more efficient and productive. You want to make the most of your time spent studying, and constructing a brief outline of your notes for yourself can help you organize the information in a way that makes sense to you. This will also make the review process easier when it comes time for exams and quizzes.
Consistency is Key
As suggested by Florida National University, find ways to make studying part of your daily routine. Studying each chapter and keeping up on assignments as they come are going to serve you much better than trying to cram for an exam the week before. Developing a routine that involves time set aside to study will make for a less stressful exam season and a more enjoyable semester or school year. Consider what your daily activities consist of and adjust accordingly to make your study schedule work for you.