That said, you can’t ignore everything in the world just so you can study. If a friend or family member is having a crisis, you can’t ditch him or her just to study, either.
Don’t fall into peer pressure, either. In some schools, cheating is considered the norm, and it seems like so many kids are doing it that you might as well join in. This kind of group thinking is very dangerous and can keep you from reaching your full potential.
That said, most people really shouldn’t focus or do one task for more than 60 or 90 minutes. Getting a 10-15 minute break in between those times can help you regenerate your energy and commit to focusing again.
Don’t compare yourself with anyone. With this, you are insulting yourself.
If you really find something you’re passionate about in class, then you should do some outside reading to get even more excited about the topic. For example, if you loved reading The Sun Also Rises in class, try reading A Movable Feast or some of Hemingway’s other works on your own, too.
In order to pay attention, it’s important to keep your eye on the teacher. If you’re confused about something, you can quickly ask for clarification. If the lesson goes on and you feel yourself getting more and more lost, it’ll be hard to pay attention.
At the end of each class, you can also review your notes and prepare questions to ask the next time if anything is unclear. Some teachers want you to wait until the end of the lecture to ask questions. If this is the case with your teacher, be respectful of that.
You don’t have to raise your hand after every question, but you should make an effort to talk when you have something to say. Remember the principle of 3-3-3. In every class, answer at least 3 questions. This may boost up your participation scores. Participation is important in group work, too. Successful students work well by themselves and with others.
If other students are an easy distraction or you feel like you might just talk to them because you’re bored of the current topic, ask the teacher if you could move seats. If not, try your best to ignore the distraction and if they continue, ask them politely to stop. Try not to think about one class when you’re sitting in another. Be present in the room you’re in and worry about the next class when you get there.
Don’t worry about people thinking you’re the teacher’s pet if you’re nice to your teachers. You’re just making an effort to be a better student. If your teachers like you more, they’ll be more willing to help you and to answer your questions, and will be more understanding if something comes up.
Don’t worry about people thinking you’re a brown noser. You’re just doing the best you can to absorb the material you need to know.
Having a list that you can check off will make you more motivated. You’ll feel accomplished and focused as you check each item off your list.
If you make a point of blocking off time to study, then you won’t end up planning social events during that time, which will keep you from studying. You may not even realize that your social calendar is booked until you try to make time for your studies. You can even set a monthly schedule to make sure you take your material week by week, especially if you have to review for a big exam.
Visual learners. If you’re a visual learner, then you learn by using images, pictures, and spatial understanding. Charts, diagrams, and color-coded notes may work best for you. When you take notes, flow charts or even some relevant drawings may be more effective than large blocks of words. Auditory learners. These types of learners learn best by listening. Try recording your lectures and repeating them, or really honing in on your teacher’s words and taking some notes later. You can also repeat your notes or the course materials to yourself or talk to experts or participate in group discussion to study more effectively. Physical or kinesthetic learners. These learners learn best when they use their bodies, their hands, and their senses of touch. You can learn by tracing words to reinforce the subject matter, memorizing notes by walking, or by using any activities that make you move around or touch things while learning.
Taking breaks help to break down the data you have remembered into chunks. You may do the following during your break:[19] X Research source Listening to music. Reading a book. Having a nap. Take a shower. Play video games. Surf on social media. Successful students know when they need to rest. They can sense when they’re getting tired or when studying is no longer productive. Don’t think it’s lazy for you to take a break and remember that it’s really the best you can do for your studies.
You can even disable your Internet if you don’t need it to study to keep yourself from being distracted. If you really don’t need your phone, you can turn it off, too. If something is worrying you, then devote time to figuring it out and then get back to your studies if you can. If you feel bothered all day, then you won’t be able to get your work done.
If working in a loud coffee shop hasn’t been going well lately, then try studying in the quiet of your room or even at a park where you can feel alone.
Successful students are also creative. When they can’t get all the answers they need from a textbook, they look for other people, places, or online sites that can help them.
Not everyone is a social learner. You can test the water by studying with a friend and then inviting more students to join in. Make sure your study group is directed and organized, so you don’t end up getting off-topic too much. If you feel the group is getting off-topic, don’t be afraid to kindly say something.
Having fun doesn’t keep you from being a successful student. In fact, making time for fun allows you to study better when the time comes. Making time for your friendships will also let you relax a bit more about getting an imperfect grade. If your studies are your only interest, then you’ll be putting too much pressure on yourself.
