TIPS FOR STUDYING

TIPS FOR STUDYING - OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION

1.Have a tidy bedroom – the brain will get distracted and think about what needs to be tidied before it can focus on studying. (Also isn’t it nice to have a tidy room? – it actually lifts your energy.)

It is setting you up for success.

2. Have a specific place to study – a table or desk. (Not your bed!). Make sure it is clutter free, no old cups, plates, old paper lying around, school books that you don’t need.

Good lighting, natural light ideally or a bright side light, create a nice environment, can you have a diffuser with some nice aromatherapy oils, pictures of your dog, your best friends or your family.

3. Calendar – write down your study goals; this will focus on what needs to be done and will keep you on track

4. Use positive words about your studying! Your word is your wand.

Instead of saying ‘I need to’ do this assignment say ‘I am looking forward’ to doing this assignment. Instead of ‘I’ve got to do’ this revision say ‘I love doing this’ revision. Or another good phrase to use is, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun if…’

If you say it enough then your brain will start to believe it.

5. To Do List

Create a study ‘to do’ list for the day

6. Inspiration Quotes

Post it notes on your wall with some inspiration quotes.

7. No phones! 

Put your phone away or turn off notifications on social media, as this will cause you to loose concentration. It takes a few seconds for your brain to focus on the new thing, (i.e. the social media alert) then another few seconds for your brain to go back to the original task, so if you are checking your phone every few minutes then that is a lot of distraction!

8. Set a timer.

Do 20 or 30 minutes studying, then have a break, get up from your desk, have a walk, go outside, play your favourite song, have a dance, get a cup of tea.

Pomodoro system

This system is a good way to focus yourself and gives you something to aim for:

1. Work out what you need to study

2. Set a timer for 25 minutes

3. Work on the task with no distractions until the timer goes off

4. Take a short break for 5 minutes and check off the time on a piece of paper

5. Repeat the process until you have four checks

Still struggling to get into your studying, then do the below.

Journal on why you are procrastinating, why are you not wanting to do an assignment or a revision. Just make some notes and see what comes up. Is it too difficult? Is it something you don’t understand? Is it because it is boring?

Can you ask for help, can you google the information, can you get a study buddy to help you go through the subject?

A great tip to motivate yourself is to do the following:

1. Review what work needs to be done

2. Set all your work out

Get your school books, text books, computer, pens all laid out on your desk

3. Go for a 10 minute break

Make a cup of tea, get a snack, have a walk

4. Come back to your work and crack on

This focuses your brain and puts it into action mode

5. Set yourself a goal of doing say 10-15 minutes.

Just sit down and get on with it – sometimes once you are actually doing it and involved you are more likely to carry on.

6. Free Procratstination Apps

There are various free procrastination apps that could also help, such as apps that block various websites for a certain amount of time. To do list apps and there is also apps that follow the pomodoro system.

7. Give yourself a reward.

Say to yourself ‘I will do 1 hours of studying then play on my playstation for 30 minutes’, for example.

8. Stop being hard on yourself

If you don’t manage to get much studying done – then don’t beat yourself up about it. Acknowledge it then move on and promise yourself to do better tomorrow.

9. Remember your why

Why are you doing this revision? Why are you doing this assignment?

Because I need to get a certain grade to apply to that college I want, or I need to pass this exam because I really want to do that specific course.

Remembering your why can be a great motivator to spur you on.

FINALLY, yes its tough having to do studying, revision, exams; however think of the consequences of not doing it, (having to re-sit an exam, getting a really bad mark in your assignment, sitting in parents evening listening to your teacher saying how poorly you are doing!, seeing your friends celebrating good grades and you feeling despondent because your grades aren’t very good)

GOOD LUCK – YOU CAN DO THIS!