Learning How to Study From Home

Technically, students are supposed to be studying since grammar school; it began with spelling and math tests and continued with statistics and physics.  However, even in high school and college, students don’t have the study habits they are supposed to have at that school level, because they were never taught the correct techniques.  According to an article titled What Happened to Studying, found in the Boston Globe, students are no longer studying and studying is a fundamental part of education.  Research conducted by two California economic professors, shows that the average number of hours spent studying has been decreasing over the past five decades.  In 1961, the average four-year college student studied 24 hours a week, while today the average student studies about 14 hours a week.  Learning how to study from home is very important, in fact, a self-motivated person is more likely to be a more productive worker, and a more fulfilled citizen.

Time Management

Students often say that managing their time when in college is the biggest problem.  In addition to attending school, many other people have other priorities, such as work and family.  When there are many things to get done, studying often gets set-aside until the last minute.  Here are some basic principles to help you when it comes to time management:

  • Make a Schedule and Stick to it - Whether you prefer to set your schedule in a personal engagement notebook, a calendar at home, or your cell phone – find which way works best with you and start writing down what you need to accomplish daily.  Once you have your priorities written down, and then schedule a block of time that is devoted to studying.  If you make an appointment with yourself – don’t miss it!
  • Learn to Say “No”– If you have an exam coming up and it’s written in your schedule that you have to study from 7pm to 9pm, you should study.  A lot of the time, things come up, which is inevitable, but if a friend asks you to go to a movie, but you know you should be home studying, you should say “no”.  Once in a while, it’s okay to indulge, but it’s also important to stay on task, and know what’s a priority.
  • Use Your Time Effectively– Students who have no other major priorities during the day, such as work, often waste a lot of time with activities like television, video games, and the computer.  Knowing when you waste time during the day will help you with time management; once you identify the times, you can start by taking a portion of it and using it to study. 

Concentration Tips

Knowing how to manage distractions will help you when it comes to concentrating in terms of schoolwork.  Distractions are usually found in both your external and internal surroundings; becoming aware of your various distractions will help you manage them effectively.

  • Internal Distractions – There are three internal distractions that are often an issue: physical distractions, self-talk, and personal issues.  Physical distractions include your diet and exercise, how you sleep, and your physical health.  Your body’s energy and what’s going on inside can really take an effect on concentration.  Many people may not notice, but people silently talk to themselves when they perform tasks – this self-talk can have a negative effect on concentrating depending on what you are silently saying to yourself.  Lastly, everyone has personal struggles and issues going on. Having to cope with what’s going on other than your schoolwork can provide a huge distraction. 
  • External Distractions – External distractions include, people, noise, technology, and even the place you choose to study.  Studying at home can cause distractions because of family, or pets, the television is on, the dishwasher is running, the phone keeps ringing, etc.  When these kinds of external distractions occur, the best advice is to either find a quiet place at home and inform your household that you need quiet, or go to your local library, where it will be easier for you to focus.
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