Planning an Effective Study Session: Part I
As a student, you probably hear people around you talking about studying all the time. Very few people talk about what studying should look like or what you should think about when deciding what your study sessions should look like. This is the first in a two-part series with tips to help you prepare and plan an effective study session – for any topic you plan to study.
1. Pick a time to study that’s right for you
You’ve probably heard people talk about something called ‘circadian rhythm’, which are the physical, mental, and behavioural changes in a person’s body and mind that naturally ebb and flow throughout the day. If you haven’t heard about circadian rhythm specifically, you probably know people who consider themselves either a ‘night owl’ or a ‘morning person’. What this means is that your ability to focus and concentrate isn’t the same throughout the entire day, and that the time of day when one person hits their peak focus isn’t always the same time that another person does. This means that the best time of day for studying or doing activities that require focus can be different between one person and another.
When you’re picking what time of day you want to study, especially if you’re looking to set a regular study schedule, take into mind your own circadian rhythm when doing so. Do you consider yourself a night owl or a morning person? Are you aware of whether you tend to have more or less focus right after a meal? What about right before? It’s important to not try to force yourself into a schedule that’s a poor fit for you. If you’re not a morning person, trying to make yourself get up 1-2 hours earlier than usual might not be as effective as carving that time out of the middle of your day (if possible), or planning time in the evening, if you are able to get good work done then.
If you aren’t sure what time of day is best for you to study, you can keep a journal for a week about what activities you do when and how well you feel like you focus throughout each day. Alternatively, you can try studying at different times of day and keeping track of how effective you felt each study session was.
2. Decide where you are going to study
The first step is deciding where you are going to do your work. My best advice is to pick somewhere that is not also your sleeping or recreation area. If you have a desk at home that is just for working, that’s ideal. As not everyone has space for this, a kitchen table can be an excellent choice. You might also be able to work sitting in a chair with a small lap desk in the living room. If you try to study on your bed, you might struggle to stay awake, as your body and mind associate your bed with rest. If you try to study in the same spot you sit on the couch to play video games, you might find it difficult to get your mind into study mode and find your study session lacks focus.
You can also consider whether studying outside your accommodation or flat is an effective approach for you. There is usually space in the university library to study, and most libraries also have computers you can use if your work requires one. There’s an added benefit to working in a place that is designed for work, and you may find it easier to get your brain ‘in the zone’ in a university library or other campus study space.
3. Have your study tools
This tip might sound a bit vague, but that’s because the tools you need for a study session will differ depending on what you’re planning to do. If you’re doing heavy reading, you’re more likely to need highlighters, page markers, a pen or a pencil, and either a notebook or computer (depending on your study method). If you’re working on mathematics, you might need a calculator, pencil, and paper. If you’re studying engineering or computer science, your work might all be on a computer.
Really what this boils down to, is knowing what tools you will need to accomplish the studying you plan to undertake. If you have to keep getting up every few minutes to find something that you need but forgot to gather before getting started studying, the disruption will affect your ability to focus and negatively impact the effectiveness of your study session.
4. Make sure you’re comfortable
This tip can cover a few different kinds of comfortable. You want to be sure you’re sitting in a chair and position that you are able to maintain for an extended period of time. If you are sitting on a hard, wooden chair and know you don’t tend to be able to sit on them long due to increasing discomfort, you are likely to find yourself less focused during your study session.
If you are in a location that you don’t feel comfortable, whether it’s a busy place with lots of movement and distraction or one where you feel you have to remain aware of what’s going on around you, your concentration will be impacted. Also consider the light levels. Is it too dim for you to be able to see well, or are the lights so bright that they affect you? Are you sitting in a place where the sun is likely to get in your eyes?
The final part of comfort is specifically your bodily comfort. Is the room too cold or too warm for you? I like to keep a jumper handy at my desk so that way I can put it on or take it off as needed to ensure I don’t get distracted by being too warm or too cold when trying to study. I also recommend visiting the toilet just before sitting down to study. This helps ensure your body is as comfortable as possible when you begin your study session, and you won’t be disrupted soon after starting by needing to make a trip to the loo.
Wrapping Up
These first few tips might seem obvious to you, but even if you know about them, are you having a conscious thought about them when you actually are going to study? Even if you’re an ‘old hand’ at studying, taking a moment to think through these again might yield some new insights into how effective your study sessions are and whether they could be even more effective. Stay tuned for part two on this topic, where I will have another 4 tips to share.
Written by Carly
