Environment Find a comfortable and ventilated study environment Make sure you have everything you need to study Find a place that you use exclusively for study so that the environment becomes associated with concentration Make sure you have adequate light If possible, sit up straight to aid concentration, and avoid studying in bed Reduce Distractions Turn cell on silent or off, turn off the television, and log out of social media Clear away clutter and distractions from your designated work area Every couple of hours change the subject you’re working on; you pay more attention when your mind is challenged with new information Try not to get annoyed with distractions, as that will make them more influential and time consuming Schedule Your Time Estimate the number of hours you will need to study for each course each week; identify other fixed obligations Create a schedule with adequate study time Note when you study best, and schedule your more demanding or less exciting material for these times Take Breaks Take short breaks — five to ten minutes — as you cannot concentrate forever Take a walk, oxygenate your brain (which helps alertness), stretch, change locations, or eat a small snack Schedule “Worry” Time Set aside a specific time each day to think about concerns Create a “concern” notebook, and every time your mind wanders to a worry, record your thoughts Notice themes and take action to address your concerns — ask for assistance! Think Small Break study goals into small achievable tasks Honor Your Body & Spirit Eat healthily, get enough sleep, and exercise frequently Attend to any medical or health concerns Allow for love, laughter, leisure, and personal interest time Reward Yourself Give yourself a reward when you have completed a task (Netflix/Hulu/YouTube video) Keep the task small and the reward meaningful For significant assignments, choose special incentive rewards Adopted and adapted from Simon Fraser University’s Learning Commons (PDF document) and Good Colleges
