Long study sessions can be really hard to take. Especially when you have so many other fun things on mind that you would rather do than searching data for another essay. If your study sessions take too much time and you would like to know how to spend less time with your textbooks, we are glad to help you out. Keep reading to learn about four ways to shorten the time spent studying.
The key to success in any task is to organize your time, your space, your method, and your mindset. Once you keep your mind and place organized, as well as your plan, you can significantly cut the time you spend of studying. To figure out what works for you, you need to answer the following questions.
The first step is to understand what you should do and when in order to create a plan for your study sessions. For example, you can spend three hours each day studying on a regular basis and four hours daily before exams. It’s okay if you would like to spend even less time daily – once you create a routine that works for you, you might be able to complete your tasks faster. So, for the first step, decide how many hours you need to spend each day studying, including short breaks.
Make sure you put your daily schedule together considering the time period dedicated to your studies. Prioritize your studies and put it in your schedule first alongside your classes and your job if you have one. Then, you can add to your schedule other chores and daily tasks.
Some students find it hard to study at the same place where they usually relax and get rest. This means that your bed is not a good place to settle with your textbooks. Make sure you have a space where you study, preferably with a convenient table and chair. Also, make sure you have plenty of light (daylight or a good light source) in there as it will help you concentrate and avoid feeling sleepy. It’s best to open your windows throughout the day for at least an hour or two in order to let fresh air in and help your brain activity.
Keep you place clean and organized – it will make much difference in terms of been focused on your studies only and not on the mess around you. It will also save you time when you need to find a textbook or an article that is lost somewhere among other papers on your table.
Spend your study hours effectively. You don’t want to be distracted by your phone calls, TV, etc. The key to saving time on studies is an understanding that it’s not the amount of time you spend studying that matters but the quality of it and the effort you put. You might be sitting with your unfinished essay for the whole evening and not be able to progress because you are:
So, what you really should learn how to do is to focus on one task and be productive during the time that you are working on it, even if you are pretty bored. To make it easier for you to concentrate on a specific task and avoid distractions, you might try a Pomodoro technique. It’s basically a technique that says, “work during set periods of time, for example, 25 minutes, then take a short break for five minutes and repeat previous steps.” Once you have finished three or four such circles, you can take a longer break for 30 minutes. What this technique gives is a feeling that you need to concentrate for only a short period, and then you can reward yourself with a break. It’s much easier than have a few-hour long study session where you lose your focus after the first half of an hour.
The best way to shorten your study time is to make the most out of what you have – your place, your time, and your productivity. Your main goal is to learn how to study smarter, not longer, and put all of your efforts into studying, even if it’s a short period of time. You will definitely be able to boost your grades and get more free time if you follow our easy tips. Good luck with your studies.