The Need for Better Study Habits -By Muhammad Murtala

To start with, what are study habits? study habits are those behaviours and skills that can increase your motivation and convert your study into an effective process with good returns, which ultimately increases the learning. These habits of studying are also defined as any activities that promote the process of reviewing or learning about topics, solving problems or memorising parts or all of the presented materials.

To study, is to buy out the time and dedicate oneself to the application and task of study, and to become engrossed in a process of learning, practice, enlightenment and education of oneself.

Good study skills can help develop your knowledge, competence, and self-worth. They can also reduce tests or examinations fever caused by tension and anxiety. Study skills help in meeting academic expectations and deadlines. Good study habits are essential if you want to improve your grades and performance outputs whether in school or even at academic inclined work place. By developing effective study skills, you will be able to cut down on the numbers of hours spent studying, leaving more time for other things in your life.

Many students complain that throughout their study at school, they have not learnt the thing they were supposed to be doing all that time, namely – studying. It is sad to admit, but to a certain degree it is true – educational institutions deal with a lot of subjects, but they rarely manage to teach this one thing, good study habits. Thus, a student has to help himself on his own.

The first and most important thing about effective studying is time management. Once you have learnt the method, one of the numerous ways suggested is to be realistic, do not put the things off until the last moment, you are most likely to spend more time on them than you could have predicted and it will lead to no end of trouble.

Some other ways of good study habits are that students should set a schedule and find a good studying spot.This is important. You need to be in an environment with little to no distractions—an environment that will aid in keeping you focused on your assignments. The library has always been a reliable place to get some real academic work done. At home, get a solitude corner or room.

Secondly, avoid distractions and get enough sleep. Avoid social media and phones while studying. Distractions also include avoiding your phone. The best thing you can do is either put your phone on silence, turn off the alerts and flip it over so that you can’t even SEE them, or just turn the thing off! If it helps, place the phone out of sight so that you’re not even tempted to check your messages.The world can wait. Your education is a priority and anyone in your circle of friends should understand this. Also, there is need for an immediate study after class. Private study routine is key.

More so, teach others and also seek help through study groups. This centres on teamwork. Guaranteed someone in your study group can help you through a certain assignment you might be struggling with and you will be able to do the same. It is all about helping each other to succeed!

The next is to make an outline: an outline helps you organise ideas and keep track of what you need to study, especially when covering large amounts of information. If you are not making an outline, you increase the chance of missing crucial topics.

Above all, I hereby urge my fellow learners to prioritise correctly. It is often said that 20% of work brings about 80% of result – try to define what is the most important thing you are supposed to do and concentrate on it. Even if you do not manage to complete it on time, you will be much better off than if you had started from an opposite direction.

Finally, do not be contented with stopping at the general level of your classmates. Always try to exceed them, to do better, to be the best of them. Only such a method will be able to give you the necessary odds if you get to a more sophisticated group. In general, a student should strive for good regular tendencies and practices that should depict the process of gaining information through learning.

Murtala Muhammad writes from FAMAKS BRITISH SCHOOLS KADUNA.