Navigating the various academic and personal requirements that come with college is challenging. There’s a lot for students to juggle, and if you are not careful, it starts impacting your academic performance. The reality of college is that there’s never enough time to do anything. Yet, there’s always a lot to do within a limited time.
Students who often struggle with managing the various requirements of college are usually freshmen. But, managing college requirements is also demanding and exhausting for other students. Properly managing the things that require your attention in college impacts your studying habits. Once your college studying habit is affected, it starts impacting your performance and, subsequently, your grade.
However, despite the millions of things requiring your attention, it’s possible to carve out time for them and still prioritize studying. That’s where the importance of cultivating and nurturing good study habits comes to play. This article takes you through how to study in college and still prioritize personal time.
How to be a better student in college to improve your study habits
Improving your study habits in college is essential to improving your grades. The primary purpose of being in college is to get a degree. However, our personal lives creep in every once in a while. Given that, it’s crucial to find ways to manage both and still prioritize studying. Here are strategies for college students to improve their study habits.
- Do the hard things first
Many College students are in the habit of posting studies at a later time. The reality is that there’s never the best time to study except when you have time and you’re still trying to postpone it. Once you catch yourself trying to procrastinate, take that as a cue to sit down and start studying.
- Develop a flexible study strategy
Of course, it’s a bit challenging to convince yourself to sit and study. However, flexibility does the trick. For instance, use a 20 or 30 mins mind trick. Promise yourself that you’ll only devote 30 mins to study. Two results come from this: you sit back and cover some reading areas and might spend longer than expected studying.
- Use the reward technique
Sometimes, it could be challenging to convince yourself to study. In such cases, promising yourself something in return makes all the difference. Find something you’re willing to forgo studying for and decide it’ll be the reward after studying. The more you get excited, the more you’re committed to getting reading out of the way as soon as possible.
- Take it one at a time
Another tip for studying in college is to take everything gradually. This applies primarily to study. Instead of being in a hurry to get everything out of the way as soon as possible, pick one study area and focus on it. Doing this eases you into a particular study area and improves the study’s effectiveness.
- Take rest seriously
It’s impossible to function when your body is tired. Many students don’t realize this but not getting enough rest stands in the way of practical study. Always capitalize on rest; ensure you get up to 8 hours of sleep regularly.
Sometimes, the college timetable clashes with the siesta. But, if you can afford a good night’s rest regularly, your body will be ready to take on each study day.
How much should you study in college?
Students are free to select study times and schedules that work for them. But, it’s advised that students allocate study time for each course covered for the day. Study experts recommend 2 to 3 hours of study and revision on previous classes. However, doing even at least 1 hour of each course improves your knowledge in the given area.
How much time do college students spend studying?
Studies show that the average college student spends at least 10 hours a week or 2 hours a day studying. Yet, some students spend less time than this on their studies. While it’s ideal for spending up to 10 hours a week studying, you can also tailor your study time to suit the amount of work you need to cover.
Conclusion
There are no one-size-fits-all study tips for college students. However, trying out as many tips as possible is essential until you figure out what aligns with your study pattern.
