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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

Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management system that encourages people to work with the time they have -- rather than again it. Using this method, you break your workday into manageable time chucks (for example, 25 minutes) separated by five minute breaks. These intervals are referred to as pomodoros. Click for more information and a sample worksheet.

Have you been diagnosed with ADHD

If you have been diagnosed with ADHD or are just looking for some tips on managing your time, organization and study skills feel free to look over either (or both) of these resources for ideas and tips.

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