Effective Study Tips That Take Out The Stress From Studying

The earlier you develop study skills, the greater chances you will have of achieving success in your academics. Learn some effective study tips in this article.

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the development of study habits because each one learns in different ways. Some would need complete silence to go over lecture notes, read handouts, review textbooks, and write reports. Others can study better as part of a group that brainstorms ideas together. Not to worry, though, because learning style can be acquired through study tips and techniques.

Know The Kind of Learner You Are

Contrary to popular notion, the act of studying is not difficult. What may be is the way you learn the new information. Ask yourself what kind of learner you are. You could be an auditory, visual or kinaesthetic learner which means you learn best when you hear, see or are hand-on when it comes to information or informative material. If you are unsure of what kind of learner you are, think back to previous classes that you took.

Certainly, there were learning forms which came so much easier for you than others. What forms those were make up your learning style. You can develop those skills and tailor them to suit your learning style so you can have more productive and useful results. If you still aren’t sure what your learning style is, try different strategies and then adapt and add to them. There are many websites around which can give you an idea of what your preferred learning style is. 

The Auditory Learner

The auditory learner is dependent on hearing and speaking as his/her primary way of learning. He/she uses not only his/her listening skills but also his/her repeating skills in order to sort out information given, sent or presented to him/her. The auditory learner absorbs information best when it is heard a loud and does well in classroom discussions and with oral instructions.

The auditory learner often struggles more than others with information which entails a considerable period of reading time. If you have determined that you are an auditory learner, use a small tape recorder for classroom discussions and lectures so you can play back the whole thing later. The auditory leaner should work orally through test instructions and assignments for better understanding of what needs to be done.

For the auditory learner, saying sentences aloud during or before writing them can help. Say whatever you need to into your tape recorder, play it back, and stop when you need to write. Attend sessions of study groups for your particular classes. Have someone be your study partner to read aloud your writing to you; this makes it possible for you to listen for possible changes you need to make or to correct your mistakes.

The Visual Learner

A visual learner, on the other, understands information and concepts best when he/she is able to see these. The visual learner is able to learn new tasks by watching them demonstrated. While lectures may prove difficult to comprehend for a visual learner, writing on white boards, slides, overhead projector presentations are easier to manage. Here are some tried and tested study tips for visual learners:

• Create outlines by taking notes during discussions and lectures.
• Use abbreviations and symbols when taking notes.
• Learn shorthand writing, or you can develop your own, to speed up the rate of your note taking.
• Read all of the lecture or discussion materials way ahead of time.
• Pay attention to instructions that are written on white or chalk boards, outlined or presented as slides.
• Color code topics, footnotes, etc. to differentiate them from the rest of the information right away.
• Avoid studying near visual distractions such as posters, television, and people in motion.
• Draw pictures, charts, diagrams, and charts if these would help.

The Kinesthetic Learner

A kinesthetic learner understands best through a hands-on process, meaning he/she can process information more effectively by actually doing whatever is required. The kinesthetic learner excels in laboratory classes and other learning activities which require physical motion, albeit writing and lengthy reading may prove difficult for him/her. Here are some study tips for kinesthetic learners:

• Ask for projects to do in place of worksheets, book reports, and other requirements that require writing, computing or reading.
• Include motion in studying.
• Make use of manipulative objects and materials as often as possible.
• Move around, stretch, and get up when taking a break from being seated for long sessions.
• Take notes when attending classroom lectures, discussions, and study group sessions because the motion of writing everything down can help you remember the information.
• Be in kindergarten again and use flash cards or scented markers, chew gum or punch some holes into flashcards to obtain texture when studying.
• Draw maps in your mind of whatever you need to accomplish first, second, third, etc.

Time Management, Concentration, and Motivation

Whatever kind of learner you are, however, it is crucial for you to apply time management when studying and it isn’t how much time you will spend studying but what you accomplish in that particular time allotted for studying. Learn how to develop your own study plan with a schedule that can maximize the amount of time you spend studying, like allocating longer hours for subjects you are weak in like chemistry.

Without concentration, time management will be useless. Your scheduled hours for studying a subject would be wasted if most of those hours are spent fending off distractions. Learning how to concentrate is crucial if you want to your time management efforts to succeed. Overcoming the need to react to certain conditions like listening to conversations which go on is something you need to practice religiously.

Your attitude towards studying has a lot to do with motivation and without it you may not turn out to be productive. You should learn and develop a way to get motivated when you prepare for examinations, essay writing, recitations, and other classroom requirements. When you are motivated, you learn better and quicker because you look forward to an end goal, like going on a trip if you ace your geometry test.

Managing Stress

Stress can be a deal breaker to almost anything but when it comes to studying, unmanaged or mismanaged stress could mean failure in an exam or a low mark in any subject. While stress is part and parcel of studying, you can manage it successfully. One study advice on stress management involves doing a list of all the things which need to be done including those that may not be study-related.

List down what you have to accomplish within a specific time frame such as class assignments, book reports, laundry, finishing errands, attending parties, going to the gym, etc. Make a weekly schedule and fit all of these into that schedule. This will help you not only to organize but manage your time, become motivated, and concentrate on the tasks at hand because you don’t feel overwhelmed or aimless.

Cross off each item on the list as soon as you have accomplished it. Once you see your list getting shorter and shorter, it gives you a sense of accomplishment, which is really a great motivator for you to forge ahead and do more. It is also one of the more interesting study tips in that it is an excellent way of freeing your schedule to engage in other non-studying activities such as going to the movies or engaging in sports.
Many students resort to other means to manage the stress and concentration issues related to studying such as smart pills and supplements. If you have considered this route make sure you have all the facts before you try them.