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Whether in high school, college, or graduate school and beyond, good study habits always come in handy.
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Eliminate distractions. Turn off the TV, radio, and iPod. Work in a quiet place where you won’t be easily interrupted – a library is a good choice.
Study by schedule. Don’t wait until you feel like studying – the time may never come. Carve out a regular block of time for study, and treat these times like a mandatory class, an obligatory appointment with yourself.
Know your deadlines, and plan your study around them to avoid last minute cramming.
Go step by step. A study assignment can seem overwhelming until you break it down into sections. Take it one chunk at a time, mastering each section before moving on to the next one.
Explain ideas to yourself in your own words. This ensures that you have truly understood and mastered them.
Read actively. Use the SQ3R method: Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review. Glance over your reading material to glimpse the big picture. Then, as you read, ask yourself questions about the subject matter and answer these questions aloud to yourself as you go. After going through a few sections, look them over again. Review regularly.
Actively listen. You don’t have to shorthand every word of a lecture; instead write down the key points. If possible and/or appropriate, read the corresponding text before and ask questions during the lecture. You may even want to record the lecture so that you can refresh your memory later on.
Read and reward. After focused study, reward yourself with a break and a small reward, such as a favorite dessert, an evening walk, or a light novel. Take your study in concentrated doses, then maintain your motivation with small incentives. This helps prevent burnout.
Keep healthy. Eat a balanced diet, drink lots of water, exercise, and get plenty of sleep. The more well-rested and alert you are, the more you’ll get out of studying.
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