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Study Skills

Time Management

How to Manage Your Time

  • Take Ownership of your time
  • Plan your schedule
    • Know your daily alertness pattern
    • Allow sufficient time for each aspect/subject
    • Goal setting (long term, intermediate and short term)
    • Make your schedule work!

Avoid Distractions & Time Wasters

  • Computer
  • Phone – turn it off
  • Visitors – do not disturb sign
  • Clear work area of clutter
  • Ineffective planning
  • Lack of self-discipline
  • Procrastination!

Procrastination

Why do we procrastinate?

  • Perfectionism
  • Fear of failure
  • Fear of success
  • Laziness
  • Rebellion

Overcoming Procrastination

  • Set personal contract & goals
  • “Five minute” Plan
  • Reminders
  • Routine
  • Do it when you think of it!
  • Remind yourself of the consequences of procrastination

Exam Preparation

Preparing for Tests in Class

  • Note taking strategies
  • Go to every class
  • Explore listening habits
  • Outline
  • Abbreviate
  • Identify main points
  • Review notes that day

When to Review

  • Frequently during the semester
  • Attend study sessions run by the professor
  • Schedule several final review sessions—not one long one
  • The night before – briefly review main points and get some sleep
  • Do not study immediately before test time

Study Smarter

Ways to Improve Studying

  • Develop a schedule
  • Study one subject for one hour at a time Keep all materials for one class in same notebook
  • Have a purpose
  • Predict possible questions
  • Go over previous tests (if available)
  • Make Charts
  • Use visual aids
  • Instead of highlighting, use SQ4R
    • Summarize, Question, Read, Recite, Review, Recite Again
  • Avoid Cramming
  • Make information personally meaningful
  • Method of Loci
    • Method of memory enhancement which uses visualizations with the use of spatial memory
  • Quiz yourself frequently and in the way you will be tested
  • Get help when struggling

Studying in Groups

  • Keep groups small; 2-5 people
  • Ask each other questions
  • It’s OK to disagree
  • Take a break when needed, whether it’s to energize or cool off after a disagreement

Where to Study

  • Set the right atmosphere
    • Avoid distractions
    • Be comfortable – just not in bed
    • Organize your work area

Test Anxiety

What causes it?

  • Pressure
    • “My parents have invested so much in me, I can’t let them down.”
  •  Past experiences
    • “I never do well, no matter how much I study, so why study at all?”
  •  Fear of failure
    • "If I don’t do well on this test, I won’t graduate or get a job.”

 Reducing Test Anxiety

  • Don’t put your whole future on the line with a single test.  It’s unlikely that one test will “make or break” you
  • Learn relaxation techniques to control anxiety
    • Deep breathing
    • Muscle relaxation
    • Visualization
    • Positive Self-talk
  • Don’t fall into the trap of having low expectations - Studying can bring results!
  • Don’t try to compete with others
  • Improve concentration by using self-discipline
  • Budget your time during the test
  • If you feel anxious, take a mini-break to get some water or fresh air
  • Don’t change an answer unless you know your second one is correct
  • Don’t panic when you don’t know an answer
  • Eliminate options that are incorrect and make an educated guess

Studying Healthy

When You Feel Bogged Down

  • Get up and move
    • Stretch
    • Drink water
    • Shower
  • Return and review notes

Keep Yourself in Good Shape

  • Get plenty of sleep
  • Eat nutritious meals
  • Exercise
  • Take time out for fun
  • Play hard, study hard, and don’t worry about one while doing the other
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