Three Productive Study Habits 

Every start of a new term brings the unique opportunity to revamp, restart, or learn new ways to effectively study. Here are three study habits that I’ve implemented into my study routine that are actually helpful and most importantly, doable.

1. Split an hour into active study sections and rests
   1. I like to use the good old 25/5 minute rule, 25 minutes of intense studying and a 5 minute rest. For my time studying, I limit as many distractions as possible. This includes my precious cats and my phone. As long as you feel comfortable in your space and feel like you can focus, that’s what matters. After your 25 minute block of studying, allow yourself to step away from the laptop, or at the very least, your homework and let your brain rest. Take that five minutes to step outside or pet your cat, give yourself a reward for focusing. This technique allows your brain to really focus without getting massively fatigued. 
2. Shut down your phone
   1. Using a lockdown app to temporarily block certain apps or even just silencing phone notifications can make a big difference in your studying by improving your focus. I don’t know about you but my phone always seems to go off at the least opportune times. It’s always as I sit down and declare, “I will now only study – nothing else, no distractions.” But, with my notifications silenced I am forced to either focus or choose to look at my phone because there’s no stimulus telling me that there’s something urgent happening. Take a look at the app store, you may find a couple apps which build in the split studying/break time from the above post into the lockdown of your notifications and specific apps.  
3. Use the note-taking strategy which works for you
   1. Regardless of what many will say, there is no one right way to take notes. Ask yourself, with my current notes do I learn and retain what I need to learn and retain? If your answer is a resounding “yes” then keep on doing what you’re doing. But, if you’re closer to a “no” or “not so much,” then there is no shame in switching it up. Feel free to check out our article about different note taking strategies (https://lbcommuter.com/2023/01/14/five-straightforward-note-taking-techniques/).  

Have a great term! 

Image by jcomp on Freepik