How to Study Effectively: 3 Easy Steps to Success
We all know that being prepared for exams or assignments make a big difference to school performance. Not only is this preparation reflected in your child’s grades but also in their demeanour and attitude towards school and study.
The hallmarks of a child that is stressed about their school homework or an exam are:
- Procrastination
- Moodiness or irritability
- Crying and/or worrying
- Withdrawing from their favourite activities
There are of course many more and as a parent you would easily recognise these signs.
So how do you help them? By assisting them with coming up with and maintaining a good study routine. When doing this, there are 3 things to keep in mind to study effectively:
Create a Routine
Create a sequence of actions followed regularly. The good thing about a routine is that you can customise it to suit you. A routine also leads to better sleep and health, both contributing to lowering stress levels.
To create a study routine, you need to consider all of the activities your child has during the week and what their main schools tasks are (including homework).
A good routine is then easy to remember and follow and most importantly, regular. The key things to remember:
- Choose the same time every day for an activity
- Choose the same location every day, such as the kitchen table – location is very important for establishing a routine. The same location helps to place the brain into study mode.
- Make sure the schedule is easily visible – place is on the fridge or in the child’s study area.
Planning to Study
With the help of our Daily, Weekly and Monthly Study Timetable you can plan out your child’s week. This method is the same as how adults use a calendar to manage meetings, deadlines and school engagements.
To use our Study Timetable consider these main questions:
- What are your 3 priorities?
- Where is most of the time spent? Does something need to be rescheduled to ensure homework/study is done?
- How long should I study for? Remember: Longer isn’t always better
- When I achieve it, what is my reward?
Be flexible
Plan out a day and a week and see what works and what doesn’t. Only through testing and reworking your timetable will you determine what works for you leading to studying effectively. You may have dedicated an hour to complete your maths homework, but actually all you needed was 30 minutes. Here are some more well researched methods to studying – that actually work!
Seeing the results of regular, planned study takes time, but keep at it. Remembering that the results will be reflected in your child’s grades, organisation, stress levels and most importantly, their confidence.
Download our Free Study Timetable to make planning Daily, Weekly or Monthly much easier.
Click here to learn about 7 Easy Habits for More Productive Study
There are hurdles when it comes to studying, many are easy to avoid! Check out our 5 Hurdles to Avoid when Studying.