This is based on what works and what doesn’t work for me.
Studying Sessions
+ Studying individually allows you to learn the materials easier because it’s more quiet. You get to study at your own pace and you won’t need to be overwhelmed by other people’s questions.
- Studying in groups usually results in messing around and not getting things done. Although, studying in groups can be beneficial because other people can help you out. But, as for me, I prefer independent study over group study.
Relaxation Activities
+ Taking a day off allows the brain to relax from a stressful school week. This gives the brain a chance to recuperate and you will do better the next day. Taking time off to go play a sport can take your mind off all the things that have been bothering you or stressing you out.
- Forcing your brain to study and learn when you’re tired or frustrated will only cause your brain to repel the information. You won’t get anything down and it will be a waste of time.
The Environment
+ The places where you study are key to what you will get out of studying. A quiet place that will not distract is the best place to study because you can get your work done and no one will bother you. An advice from a website stated that you should change up the places where you study, so you won’t feel tired of being in one spot all the time.
- Studying at home with your younger siblings screaming and running around will not help you study. In fact, you would get really distracted and nothing will stick in your brain. It will simply be a waste of efforts in the end.
Study Drinks
+ Tea is a great remedy when you’re under stress or studying. Studies show that tea contains less caffeine and is actually healthy for you. So while you’re studying hard, you could also be energizing your body and mind at the same time. You can also drink hot chocolate when you’re studying during the winter. Hot chocolate helps you stay warm and keep your taste buds happy. Of course, you could never go wrong with water either.
- Students often choose to drink coffee while they’re studying because all the college students do it. But the truth is coffee hurts more than it helps. Coffee contains plenty of caffeine which could either make you too hyper or make you fall asleep faster. It varies for different people; nonetheless, coffee has a higher chance of making it harder for you to study well. Energy drinks are said to be ‘harmful’ in a manner of having too much caffeine which could cause problems like anxiety or loss of sleep.
Sleep, Sleep, Sleep
+ The recommended hours of sleep a teenager should get each night is about 8 1/2 hours to 9 1/2 at least. This allows your body time to rejuvenate for the next morning. Without sleep, you will have a hard time functioning the next day and that will greatly affect your learning and studies.
- Staying up till 1:00 am to watch your favorite TV shows is not the way to go on a school night. You’ll wake up with the feeling of not wanting to wake up, which is not very pleasant. Moreover, staying up late to study for a test that’s tomorrow is a horrible idea. You will forget more than you will learn. Instead of using that time to study, go to sleep and you’ll do better on the test.
Links:
http://studyingmethods.com/tips.php
http://www.soundfeelings.com/free/studying.htm
http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/fitness/articles/2007/01/29/are_energy_drinks_bad_for_you/
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Sleep/
