WAYS TO MAKE STUDYING EASIER AND ENJOYABLE

Trying to understand what is being taught in the classroom can be stressful and strenuous sometimes, but students can adopt various ways of making studying easy and enjoyable. It may be no fault of a student that a lecture is boring, or a lecturer is inefficient, but it might be problematic if the student in question does not put in extra effort to excel regardless of any shortcomings.

To find some solutions on making studying easier, students can use the following practical and highly efficient techniques:

Join a study group

In most schools, there is usually a group of ‘serious’ students who can help each other excel in various ways. You can join an existing study group in school, if you find it productive and serious. If there isn’t any for you to join, take the initiative and encourage some of your colleagues on the need to study together. Study groups help students revise what they are taught in the classroom in a broad and understandable way. It is usually the goal of a study group to meet the academic needs of each member of the group, thus every member tries to explain topics in an easy and comprehensible manner for all to understand. This also gives an opportunity for members to share and learn different perspectives on topics as well as consolidate their knowledge base in areas they did not understand before.

Make your own notes

If you are fond of making your own notes, then you’re on the right path. There is a difference between making notes and taking notes. Notes taking is limited to writing or copying what is provided by the lecturer or from another source. Notes making however simply involves listening to the lecture and writing notes in your own way and words. This facilitates a proper understanding of the subject you are taking notes on, and helps you appreciate the topic better. Making notes is important because, as you take notes, you are constantly trying to understand the content of the subject which can go a long way to help you understand the topic better. In other words, you are focused and tend to concentrate, which is an efficient way of learning. You can make your own notes from a handout, a podcast, lecture notes or any other academic material.

Google, It’s Free

If you need extra information on a topic, or you do not understand it, the internet can be your savior. The world wide web can be described as the biggest library with free resources for students. Sites such as www.seekapor.com have resources which are useful for students and can help in your academic performance. You can download pdfs, videos or tutorials and learn at your convenience. The internet is a good place to find extra information on a topic studied in the classroom/lecture hall. It also affords you the opportunity to get information from different perspectives, places and cultures. Do not forget; you can also share information, which might be useful to others.

Read Ahead

When school resumes, teachers usually make topics scheduled for the term/semester known to students early in the term. Typically, at the end of every lecture, most teachers also tell students what the topic for the next class is. Good news! This makes reading ahead a lot more informed and exciting. Always try to read ahead. Before the lecturer makes it to class, you need to be ahead of him, or at the same level with what he/she is teaching for the day. This approach also helps you catch up with the previous lesson in case you missed it. This is a good trick which helps you keep in track without feeling left behind. This may be a bit difficult for some students especially considering how difficult some find it studying after school, but fact is, there is no easy road. Log out of social media, take a book or get internet connection and acquire some knowledge.

Organise, Rest and socialize

Being clumsy can only make you easily irritated, stressed and feeling tired all the time. Taking time to clear the clutter in your room, on your study desk or even in your school bag can make you feel more relaxed. Get a diary, plan and set timelines for every single task you need to accomplish and stick to them. People who are organised are more likely to achieve majority of their goals then those who aren’t. So, set some ground rules for yourself, be disciplined and you will not regret you did!

A tired mind and body has less chance of concentrating, so it is important that you make time to rest and re-energize. You do not necessarily need to be exhausted before you rest, you can take a nap for at least 30 mins each day. Of course, you have to study, but your mind needs some rest to help you learn efficiently.

Burying your head in a book is good, but it is equally important to talk to real people, build healthy relationships and develop your social circles. The people around you can help you improve on your studies, make good career decisions, help you build self- confidence among other personal development choices.

Keep your phone away

Lastly, make sure you are not distracted when you take a book to read or when you are in the lecture hall. Your mobile phone can be tempting especially if you are addicted to social media. Please turn off the notifications tone on your mobile phone while studying, or put it on silent mode altogether. Do not be distracted by your phone. Keep it away if you are not using it in your studies. You can check all your WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat messages without guilt when you are done studying.

Studying can be a daunting task for some people, but the ability to stay focused and achieve results comes from the willingness to do so, and a conscious effort to commit to it. Learning can be fun and enjoyable if you plan properly and apply the above tips. Have a happy reading!