Study Skills and Tips for Students

One of the biggest mistakes students can make as they make their way through middle and high school, and even in to college is they take try to do too many things at once. Between school work, sports, jobs, and a social life, sometimes there isn't enough time to do it all. College and high school requires a certain number of classes each semester to be completed in order to graduate, but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to study for all of your classes in one consecutive study session each night. 

Breaking your study time up into shorter time frames allows for more retention of the studied material. After a long day of school, the first thing to do is begin your homework, as many of us do. The bad part to this schedule is when did you mind get the time to rest? On the car ride or walk home from school? Sometimes our brains need to relax before conquering another 4 hours of studying. Whether this means coming home and watching television for 30 minutes while have a snack, having a play date with a friend, going for a walk, or just sitting down and relaxing; all these things help when conquering more studies.

Some study tricks to try to make your studying a bit more interesting while continuing the learning are study skills, time management, and study environment. Repetition can bring boredom and with boredom comes no motivation to continue. Set up a rewards system for yourself. For example, after studying for 45 minutes, take a 30 minute break to chat on the phone or watch television. Repeating certain schedules and study skills will teach the proper ways of studying, but sometimes we all need a little motivation.

Flash cards, review sheets, outlines, or a recording are ways repetition study can work. For a great deal of what you are expected to learn in middle and high school, and even college, this idea will definitely prove itself worthy over time. All of these guides can be taken with you in the car, bus, or while walking; they are small enough to fit in a bag or pocket.

Don't forget to develop an environment for yourself, one which is pleasant and conducive to your learning. The study environment can be in your home like a bedroom or study, or in a public place like a library or bookstore. As long as you know which environment is conducive to your studies, this would be the best choice. For example, if you are at home you might find a place with good lighting, which is as far away from your common distractions as a computer, phone, internet, or television. Sometime family can be a distraction if they are in your best study environment; rearranging your schedule to allow you to be in a certain part of the home is an option.

Setting time aside for your studies is a key to successful learning. If you choose a public place, make sure it is a spot where you won't be distracted. If you know friends meet at the local bookstore, then choose a different bookstore. The main concern when studying is not to be easily distracted while trying to retain the information important to pass the tests.

Information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. This does not represent a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Please consult your financial advisor.