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The biggest challenge in college is learning how to study. Most people usually think they know how to study and then get frustrated when they are not doing well on tests. The truth is that most people do not know how to study. This is not their fault because no one teaches students how to study in school. It’s so difficult to study when you are distracted. You may have a pile of exams coming up, but you just can’t seem to get yourself to open up your notes. You’re probably thinking that you’ll study “tomorrow” and today is for relaxing or hanging out with friends.
Or maybe you’re the type that studies really well before a test, but you tend to put it off as long as possible. Procrastination can be a bad habit or a coping mechanism. Don’t let your procrastination be an excuse for getting low grades on your tests.
You might feel like you’re going crazy because you know that studying is important, but you still keep putting it off.
When you’re planning a project, it’s easy to fall in love with an idea of what the results might be. But it’s also easy to get distracted by other ideas, or to feel overwhelmed. To-do lists, calendars and time management apps can help keep you organized, but they don’t tell you where to start or what to do next.
That’s a problem because multitasking is bad for productivity. Switching between tasks and context switching costs time and money, so it’s important to work on the right task at the right time.
There are many ways of prioritizing tasks and tasks that are urgent don’t necessarily need to be done first. The Eisenhower method is a simple process that uses urgency and importance as the criteria for making decisions about your tasks and projects.
The first step to getting more done is to identify and eliminate distractions. For many of us, the biggest distraction in our lives is also the device that we use for work — our smartphone.
Being constantly connected has made us more productive but at the cost of being constantly distracted. We’re so good at responding immediately that we’ve conditioned people to expect immediate responses from us. This has led to a huge problem with email and other messaging services.
The solution isn’t necessarily to be less responsive but rather to be more thoughtful about when you check your email and other message apps. The most effective way we have found is to set specific times during the day when you check your messages and batch those tasks together.
To help you stay focused, we’ve put together a list of the most common distractions.
1. Smartphone notifications
2. Email
3. Social media
4. The internet in general
5. TV, gaming consoles, and other electronic devices
6. Caffeine
7. Chronic multitasking (i.e., doing several things at once)
8. People (including family members, friends, and co-workers)
9. Non-work related tasks
When the going gets tough, you need to keep going. If you’ve ever slogged your way through a workout you weren’t crazy about, or run up the stairs when it was the last thing you wanted to do, you know this to be true.
The first step is to find a reason that’s bigger than yourself. Maybe it’s improving your health, or having more energy to keep up with your kids or grandkids. Maybe it’s feeling good in your clothes, or boosting your confidence for an upcoming vacation. Maybe it’s preventing disease and knowing that what you’re doing today will help you not just now but for years down the road.
That reason — that “why” — needs to be big enough so that when things get tough (and they will), it helps carry you through.
Once you’ve got that big reason in mind, build a plan around it. How are you actually going to get from point A (wherever you are now) to point B (wherever it is that motivates you)?
This might include specific goals (like running a 5K), or even just a particular kind of exercise (like cardio). Whatever your goals are, write them down and make sure they’re achieved fulfilly.
There’s no denying the importance of exercise, but not everyone knows how to stay motivated when they’re just starting out. Instead of overwhelming yourself with too much information, stick to these essential fitness tips and you’ll be on your way to a healthier and happier body.
Get Inspired!
You can’t try out every time management method, there are too many. But you can try out a handful of the most popular ones.
Time management can be as simple as making a to-do list, or it can involve complex scheduling strategies. It’s up to you to try out different methods and figure out what works best for you.
For some people, it means downloading an app and syncing their calendar and task lists across devices. For others, it means keeping a paper planner on hand at all times. Some people find that they’re the most productive when they have specific blocks of time set aside for certain tasks each day. Others prefer to jump between tasks as their inspiration flows.
There are several free time management apps you can download and try before investing in a paid version of the software or switching to another platform altogether. This is especially important if you’re working with a team because you’ll want to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
Maybe you’re not great at managing your time but you have a knack for prioritizing work efficiently. In that case, consider using a tool like Trello or Asana to break down projects by importance so you know where best to spend your energy throughout the day.
Think about the space where you usually do your studying. Do you have a dedicated desk, or do you use the kitchen table? Your study space should be quiet and comfortable, but not too comfortable. If you’re prone to procrastination, try studying in a public place like a library or coffee shop.
Your study space should have good lighting and be well-ventilated, without any clutter around. If possible, make sure it’s separate from where you hang out with friends or watch TV.
Being in an environment that’s conducive to studying will help keep you focused and motivated.
If you’re studying in an environment that’s not conducive to concentration, it’s easy to let your mind wander. If you don’t have a lot of control over your study space — say, if you’re in a public library — try using noise-canceling headphones.
The best thing to do would be to set yourself up for success by overcoming this habit of procrastinating seriously. Focus on managing motivation for exams. Each time you have to study for a Professional certification exam, find out what motivates you about it. Think about why you wanted that certification in the first place and then find reasons why studying for the exam is still important. Focus is the key to boosting your learning. Have a regular schedule, try a study method that works for you and you will definitely get through it!
There are four main types of procrastinators
