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It’s been a long summer, and no matter what you have been spending your time doing, chances are you will have been out of the swing of studying.
Getting back into a studying routine is never tougher than the first few weeks back after summer. However, even though it might prove a bit of a challenge, you will soon settle back.
To help you out during the transition, here are some handy tips for getting back into a productive study routine….
- Create a Dedicated Workspace
Creating a perfect environment to study is the first, and perhaps most important thing to do when it comes to preparing for the new term.
Whether it’s a separate room in your student home, or just a dedicated area of your student bedroom, having a quiet, comfortable specific space to work in will increase your productivity and limit distractions.
- Plan your time
As with most things in life, planning is key when it comes to studying. A well-structured study schedule will help you to be as productive as possible and ensure you keep to all your deadline dates.
Make a list of all your upcoming classes as well as allocating library time and home study time too. Revert back to the plan often throughout the week so you can see how you are doing against your plan. Don’t worry if you have to move things around a bit too – we all need a bit of flexibility in our lives to consider other things going on.
- Be kind to yourself
It’s a fact that we’re at our most productive level when we are well-nourished, well-rested and well-exercised. Therefore, be sure to add time for breaks, food and exercise into your schedule.
You should be eating three healthy meals a day and getting between 7 – 8 hours of sleep each night consistently. Falling short on any of these fronts will harm your ability to take in information and retain it, meaning your study time won’t be used effectively. Be sure to check out our other articles for help on how to sleep better or how to whip up some healthy meals.
- Be inspired
It’s always good to remind yourself why you are studying your chosen subject and what inspired you to choose it in the first place. Therefore, fuelling your passion is always going to be a good thing.
Try following the social media accounts, podcasts or blogs of experts in your chosen field and immerse yourself in their ideas and advice. This will help build your love for the subject and inspire you to study and learn more yourself to form your own ideas and opinions.
- Study with others
Finding a study buddy or a small group of people who share the same career interests as you can help to motivate you. This way, when you are having a period of feeling de-motivated or lethargic, you will have a support network to help you get back into your stride.
You can find ways of questioning each other, creating debates between you and even working together on projects to explore new ideas you may not have considered before.
It might not be easy to start studying again after such a long break, but if you look after yourself, organise your time well, and use plenty of support, then you’re sure to find a routine that works for you.