Organization is the key to making everyday a successful one, especially in college. One of the best ways to stay organized is by creating a daily study routine based on your current habits and where you’d like to be by the end of the semester. While every student’s needs and focus areas are different, we’ve compiled a list of do’s and don’ts for creating a daily study plan.
Do make a detailed plan of what you plan to study every night.
Include prior commitments and classes that in your schedule, the specific materials from each class you’ll be covering, and the time at which you plan to cover them. Read over your plan in the morning. Not only will you be refreshed, but you’ll be ready to start the day off with a purpose.
Don’t put off the harder topics until the very end.
This is counterproductive. You risk spending too much time on concepts you already understand, and the more difficult topics require full concentration. Tackle the hardest subjects first, and you’ll give yourself a boost of confidence to carry you through the rest of your planned study time.
Don’t be afraid to schedule breaks in between your studies.
Even when crunched for time, you need to give yourself a beneficial breather from studying. Don’t turn on the tv, start any video games, or hop on social media and most importantly… do not even think about Netflix! Instead, take a 10 to 15-minute break to go for a run, get some coffee from the quad, or just walk around your campus. Once your scheduled break time is complete, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to keep studying.
Don’t be tempted to give yourself a cheat day.
Even when you don’t have any tests or projects, take the time to read the next chapter and write down a list of questions you want to ask your professor about in the next lecture. Read through any test questions or projects that you didn’t do so well on maybe there is a concept that you can ask your professor about. Be proactive.
Do remember that you aren’t a robot.
College is about finding balance. You don’t need to study 24/7. Instead, use these do’s and don’ts to create a daily study routine that will help you achieve your goals while providing you with a chance to explore your current interests, find new ones, and create the type of friends and connections that will stick with you throughout your adult life.
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