Studying at home may have been a perk a few years ago, but it has become more of a need with Covid-19 playing hide and seek in our society. With more and more colleges and universities opting for online classes rather than physical ones, studying from home can sometimes be challenging. Especially if you live with your family, with your mom coming in to tell you to take out the trash and your sister trying to steal your headset. The distractions that happen during the home study are one of a kind. Couple that up with a habit of procrastination, and you have got a lazy bomb in the making. Perhaps this is why so many people around the world do not like studying at home.
I have had my fair share of home-based study, and unlike most people, I have always found it much more effective. There is no travel time, so you have more study time, plus it saves you from the exhaustion of traveling. Studying at home is also much more comfortable; the environment is relaxing and almost fun. Whatever the case, at least you don’t have a teacher breathing down your neck while you try attempting a question. Studying at home can be more rewarding and efficient if you know how to manage your time correctly.
In this article, we have curated a list of some study tips that may help you focus a lot better. With the fall semester ending just around the corner, we don’t have much time to waste. So, let’s get right into it!
- A good night’s sleep makes all the difference
It is a common practice among youngsters to stay up late during the night to study. And it is very damaging in the long run. The human body needs at least 8 hours of sleep to regenerate, and the brain needs that time to let go of negative energy. Staying up late to study may be doing more harm than good for you.
Many students stay up late and sleep in the next day. There really is no worse combination. Firstly, you are studying with an already tired brain. Secondly, by sleeping in late, you are wasting the precious few hours of morning prime time.
A refreshed and alert brain is what you need to study to your fullest. And a decent night of sleep can make a lot of difference to the quality of work you are doing.
- Decide on a study area and stick to it
This may seem like overkill, but there is a struggle involved if you do not have a good study area. Consider studying on the bed; there is always a risk of falling to pillows into an all-too-welcome nap. And that’s not even half of it. Keep your bed for when it’s time to sleep and avoid sitting on it with books during the day.
You can have your laptop in this area connected to some nice high-speed network connection like the Centurylink internet. This will give you the freedom to study online too, without trashing the entire house with your books.
Having an appropriate area designated to study can help you focus better and organize yourself. It also aids students in keeping their work area clean and tidy and arranging their subject notes properly. It definitely beats studying on the couch!
- A few chores won’t kill you (or will they?)
Let’s face it. All of us who still live with our parents, which, of course, is very common for ages under 18, do have certain responsibilities around the house. You may log in to your morning class only to have your mom come in and remind you it’s your turn to do the dishes. Or your father may want help in the garage.
And that is completely fine. Just make sure that any chores you may have, you handle them before you sit down to study. Avoid getting up during your study hours and tell your family you will manage your chores when you are free. You can also do small tasks during study breaks that would allow you to relax and hopefully keep your mother’s temper in check!
- Strict deadlines may save your life
Studying at home is a rather tricky business. One look at your phone, and you can quickly go down the rabbit hole of cooking videos and make-up tutorials. It is hence, imperative to have a detailed goal list in your game plan. Make clear aims to get through in a day and stick to them religiously.
For example, you can set a goal for yourself to finish two chapters during the day. Or perhaps one mathematics exercise. Make sure your goals are not too difficult and fall within achievable limits. Give yourself deadlines that you can handle and try to make them work.
After all, the slow and steady do win the race, and those deadlines may just be your saving grace!
- Reward yourself with some downtime
One of the most critical aspects of studying at home is knowing when not to study. Schools and colleges have breaks, lunchtimes, and recesses, but those are much easier to ignore. For a fresher brain to work with, it is vital to detach from the books and relax somehow.
It is easy to forget that well-deserved breaks are essential to your health and, ultimately, your study schedules. So, get up from that desk and do a little physical work, maybe a few stretches. Or scroll through your socials with a nice cup of hot chocolate. But I would suggest you disconnect from screens for a while and let your eyes rest; perhaps a nice short nap ought to do the trick?
Well, that about wraps up our dainty little tip set. There are multiple ways to study well within the confines of your home, but it is best to make a schedule that takes into consideration your physical and mental needs. Taking breaks is indispensable, as is sleeping and eating well.
However well you are studying, make sure to follow these few tips. They will change the way you perceive learning at home and help you attain your goals much faster.