School life, undoubtedly, is the best time of our lives. Whether it is finding your first best friend, laughing with friends, having fun in the school cafeteria or the ultimate opportunity to find out what you love to learn most – the experience is incomparable.
There’s so much to learn and explore, and therefore we must also understand how to deal with the rigorous aspect of learning. Class assignments, extracurriculars, homework, cyclic tests and examinations – it can all become overwhelming, especially for secondary school students.
However, it is possible to steer your learning towards the right direction and enjoy your time in school by being better prepared for school life. By developing good study habits early on, you can make this journey exciting, meaningful and enjoyable.
Here are seven tips that should help you to get started.
1. Set up a realistic study schedule
Research suggests that long and continuous hours of studying is not the best way towards getting the maximum result from your learning. For every 45 minutes of study time, it’s a good habit to take around 15 mins of break time. This break time can be utilised doing something you enjoy.
2. Revisit your weak areas
If you are struggling with a particular concept or topic, it’s a good idea to take a break and come back to the topic later instead of being disappointed and exasperated. Do assign the subject you need more effort a regular time in your study schedule so that you do not lag behind in your learning. Reach out for help as many times as you need.
3. Discover your learning style
There’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to learning. There are different kinds of learners such as visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic learners. Visual learners learn most through pictorial representation of information like charts and diagrams, auditory learners like to hear out loud, reading/writing learners consume information best in this form and kinesthetic learners prefer to learn by doing things that are hands-on. Find out how you enjoy learning: which one is your way and adapt your study schedule accordingly.
4. Test your memory
One of the most common study techniques employed by students is to review textbooks and class notes. However, challenging your brain by testing your memory can be more effective. Parents can encourage children to write down as much as they can remember about a topic without referring to the course material. Secondary students can do this on their own by using flashcards or creating their own study guides and sample tests. These ‘memory tests’ can also be fun as a group activity.
5. Stay organised
Staying organised can go a long way towards helping you perform better in school and beyond. Having a disorderly study desk can make it difficult to keep track of assignments and school supplies. Keep your desk clean, follow weekly decluttering sessions to get rid of anything you don’t need. Use a planner to write down assignments and check them off as you complete them. The feeling of accomplishment, no matter how big or small the task is, is always motivating and exhilarating.
6. Form a study group
Getting a group of friends together to study can help students stay motivated, as peers can hold each other accountable to complete a task in hand. Additionally, groups can bring together students of varying ability. Those who struggle with a particular subject can benefit from having a fellow group member who understands the concept better.
Also read: How to foster student well-being? Here’s what we do at GIIS
7. Reward yourself
When used correctly, rewards can not only act as incentives but also as powerful motivators. As students, you must not shy away from patting yourself on your back when you achieve milestones – big or small doesn’t really matter. Whether it is taking an extra nap time or a day off from studies, go for it and feel rejuvenated.
At GIIS, students are encouraged to develop healthy learning habits with an aim to enable them to grow and flourish in school and beyond. If you would like to know more about GIIS, please feel free to contact our friendly admissionscounsellors.
K P Sheeja
Is the Academic Supervisor for CBSE at the GIIS SMART Campus. One of the pioneer generation of teachers with GIIS, she comes from a family of educators and has been teaching English to students for the past 25 years. She believes her job as a teacher also includes mentoring and being a friend to her students.
