Structuring Your Student Study Time: The Key To Learning

Time management is one of those things that everybody from all walks of life can benefit from, not just students. Whether you are thinking about your career path, or you have no structure in how you study, managing your time and providing a framework for you to learn is an essential life skill. But there comes a time when studying becomes more than a difficult task, and this is why you need to learn how to structure your studying. What are the best methods to do this?

Learning In Groups

Group learning can be a very effective method, especially if you are constantly banging your head against a brick wall because there’s something you just aren’t getting. A fresh pair of eyes can help you so much when it comes to developing a different perspective, that you will learn the information and retain it far better than if you were sat by yourself in a dimly lit room. While you may struggle with that paper, a new perspective is what you need, and while they can’t write your paper for you, they can certainly give you pointers as to where you might be going wrong. Never underestimate the power of a fresh pair of eyes!

The Importance Of Breaks

We feel that we have to sit down and not leave our chair until we have learnt everything in a mammoth, 800-page textbook. Not only is this completely ineffective, but you are not giving your brain the opportunity to assimilate the information. Breaks are very important because it gives you that opportunity to recharge. There are structured productivity methods that many people use, such as the Pomodoro method, but if you struggle to keep focused, having a break every 40 to 50 minutes will help keep you fresh and productive.

Choosing The Time Of Day To Study

It might be the fact that you are studying at the wrong time of day. You might pick the time period where you are at your most sluggish; in which case, it’s hardly a surprise that you aren’t taking in information. Research has shown that if you want to learn something new, doing it right before bedtime has shown to yield the best results. This is great if you’re trying to learn a new skill, but it’s time for you to listen to your mind and work with it, not against it, and if this means studying at 3 in the morning, then so be it!

What Are You Eating?

If you’ve got a terrible diet, you’re not giving your brain the adequate nutrients. Fish oil, vitamin D, organ meats, and small doses of caffeine are great things for your brain. And don’t underestimate the power of fat. Remember, your brain is predominantly fat, and this is what will help it function at its optimum. If you are constantly experiencing sugar crashes, and your diet consists of junk food, throw it out! It’s certainly a difficult transition, but you will feel so much more focused once you’ve got over this hump.