Study Habits & Organization

With organization, careful planning, diligence, and determination, anyone can be successful in their academic endeavors. Need a few ideas to get you started on the road to success? Follow these tips:

Get organized for each class.

Know what the reading assignments are, what kinds of tests the instructor will give, when they will occur, and what type of projects are required. Use a weekly planner, as well as a monthly and a semester calendar. Cross-reference your readings and projects with your personal and professional obligations across these three calendars. You may need to add calendars for sufficient organization. For example, you may need a home calendar for your family or a school calendar for projects and assignments at school.  

Plan the major events that are coming in the semester.

Graduate students are expected to contribute at all levels of coursework (e.g. discussions, individual and group assignments, readings), as well as create supplemental ways to add meaning to their own personal level of academic knowledge. Some adult learners need more information than what is available in class materials to be able to understand concepts. So, in addition to planning the time needed complete the assignments listed in your syllabus, plan for any additional time you may personally need to add the meaning you want and need.

Notice what kinds of things distract you.

For some people, it is classical music; for others, soap operas; for others, rock music; and for most, a knock at the door. Try to eliminate distractions in your study environment. If you usually cannot study while watching a TV movie, don’t try. Be honest with yourself and do one or the other. Choices are necessary and there should be time for both, if you are setting your goals effectively. Note that your family members may enjoy learning something about your studies. Or, children of adult learners may enjoy having a joint study time.

Use language to assign meaning to what you are learning.

You will understand the content of your classes and your readings better if you put the ideas into your own concepts, either by visual note taking or writing your own words. Always use your own language for thinking about the content of your readings, classes, and projects. This will help you learn better.

Be prepared! 

Preparation is important to reducing anxiety. Your level of anxiety is reduced the more prepared you are and if you can imagine yourself being successful. Picture yourself accomplishing your goals. This  increases your self-confidence. Learn your material conceptually.  Don’t start studying the night before. You will retain more information if you study in small increments each day. Short and regular study sessions are more productive than one long single session. Start at least two weeks prior to the exam. Many graduate classes have projects or take-home essays rather than tests. Be sure to give yourself enough time to plan your thinking, then write and refine. Otherwise, your writing will be a stream of consciousness that may not represent your best conceptual learning.

Create a quiet and neat study area.  

Where you study can influence your concentration. Studying in the same location will help you associate that location with concentration. Make sure that you are comfortable and have good lighting. Sitting at a desk is better than lying in bed. This type of positioning helps your eyes and hands connect to form clearer thinking. Also, study when you are rested. Take frequent breaks to conceptualize what you are learning.

Make a study schedule.

A time management system will enable you to see clearly how your time is spent and will enable you to block out time for studying, as well as for other activities and your family and friends. Take projects and break them down into two-hour segments across your calendars. This gives you access to a lot of work across time. However, sometimes projects need big chunks of work time. In this case, you should block-out a weekend and arrange time for yourself to do this work.

Take advantage of peak energy levels. 

Use the time of day when you have the most energy to do your studying. For some people, this is before everyone else is up in the morning. For others, this is on the weekend while the rest of the family is at a soccer game. Alternatively, maybe you take turns with your friends sharing time and projects. This helps build a community of support for yourself and for others.

Work with a study group. 

Classmates can work together in a study group. This is a conceptual learning opportunity. The individuals who do the explaining are using their language systems to help layer the meaning of the ideas; so, they are learning more. Therefore, take turns talking, drawing, and sharing ideas. These are additional levels of deep learning.

Reward yourself. 

Be sure to recognize your accomplishments and the accomplishments of others in your cohort. Recognition of others’ work, appreciation for others’ help, and credit given to those who accomplish the goals will go a long way in supporting yourself and others.