How To Make Extra Sure Your Study Time Counts

Build in variety to your study plan

Try to avoid spending too long on just one narrow topic. Design your study plan to mix your study sessions up a bit. If you've spent the last 20 minutes grappling with new material, spend the next 10 minutes reviewing a subject you covered in last week's study plan. 

Tackle the hardest material at the start of your session

In other words, work your study plan to take on the toughest learning challenge while your brain is fresh and your concentration still razor-sharp. At the end of your study period, as you begin to tire, you might then want to switch to something less demanding - like reviewing your notes from an earlier part of the course.

Practice "active" learning 

In other words, try to react to what you're reading based on your preferred learning style – visual, audio, tactile etc.  Think about how you learn.|

After you've read a paragraph, take a moment to stop and summarise the main point in your own words. Ask yourself if you agree with what's being said. And think about how this material relates to other parts of the course. Build time into your study plan for active learning.

Cover everything three times

This is a really simple way of making your study plan more effective. First, scan a page of text quickly for the key points and the overall meaning. Second, read it through thoroughly. Third, put the text itself on one side and carry out a mental "review". See if you're now able to summarise what you've just learned from memory - and then jot it down. Building up your study plan in this way means that you will retain material much better.

Decide to "Be here now" 

It's easy to let your mind wander. So get into the habit of catching yourself whenever this happens. When it does, try saying the words "Be here now" out loud. Remind yourself of your study plan. With repeated use, this simple phrase can be a powerful way to bring your focus back onto your study plan. You can then leave dealing with all those distracting thoughts until later.

Don't underline your study texts - use a highlighter

Why? Because research shows that text you highlight is easier to remember than text you simply underline. It's another simple tip - but it works!