9 Proven Tips for more effective Studying at Home!
By: Sam Davies
Tags: Work From Home, Studying, Efficiency, Motivation, Work Life Balance

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While there are numerous perks and benefits of studying from home, this distant mode of learning can be challenging at times, as well. Procrastination and distractions are two major issues students deal with when studying from home.

You need to have stronger willpower to keep yourself motivated and stay away from productivity killer activities. However, during these times, the tested and tried tips for studying at home can help you tackle tasks on your own and stay goal-oriented in a place full of distractions.

By keeping in mind the common issues that students face, we have enlisted some worth-sharing proven tips and tricks to make your studying experience better.

Top 9 Tips for Studying at Home:

The following are the best study tips for students who are struggling to manage their tasks at home.

Establish a Dedicated Study Atmosphere:

Distraction is one of the greatest challenges students face while studying from home. It most probably happens when we do not create a separate and quiet study space to get work done. That’s why establishing a clear boundary between areas where you study and relax is the most important thing.

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It could be a corner in your bedroom (away from the tempting bed, of course), a dining table, or a quiet area in the kitchen. If you do not need gadgets while studying, turn them off or keep them far away as these are the main distractors.

How-to Tips:

· Get rid of all distractions (mobile phone, games, etc.) from your study area.

· Keep necessary items like printouts, notes, stationery, laptop, charger, water bottle beside you.

· Make your study desk look clean, organized, and motivating.

Use Active Study Strategy:

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An active study strategy is one of the best effective study methods. It helps students to stay on track while keep moving in the right direction. It also makes them reflect on their studying method and improve it for better results in the future.

This study strategy will require your active participation either through questions, discussions, or problem-solving activities. It opposes taking in information passively and promotes smart work over hard work.

How-to Tips:

· While studying, ask yourself questions like am I getting all concepts well? Will they help me achieve a good score in the exam?

· Make short notes while studying so you will not have to read the whole topic next time again.

· Organize the material and summarize it in the end.

Make a List of Study-Related Goals

Goals help a person stay focused throughout their journey and manage their time on their own. They will boost your productivity by assisting you to stay organized.

So, start with the question like what you want to achieve through this course or semester. If you are preparing for a coming assessment, then set goals to score good marks in that test. Or, if you are working on a research paper, then set your goals accordingly.

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How-to Tips:

· Set SMART goals; S = specific, M = measurable, A = achievable, R = relevant, T = time-bound.

· Divide your goals into actionable steps and set milestones.

· Stick your goal’s list on your study desk to get a reminder routinely.

· Keep measuring your progress towards your goal.

Create a Flexible Timetable

After writing down your goals, the next thing you should do is make a list of doable tasks. Give each task designated time on the basis of its importance or worth. Then write down a timetable by keeping in mind your routine.

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For instance, if you are working on an assessment, you can divide it into sub-tasks like 1 hour to collect data and do thorough research, 30 minutes to answer the questions, 30 minutes to take a practice test, etc. Create a flexible timetable that will allow you to make amendments to it as you move ahead and have more room to breathe.

How-to Tips:

· Write your timetable on a piece of paper. It’ll make you feel more responsible.

· Try to avoid the over-commitment trap at all costs.

· Use a countdown timer if you face difficulty in tracking the time.

Don’t Neglect Physical Activities

One of the best tips for studying at home is to keep moving while you are at home. When we learn from home or have online classes, the maximum movement we show is walking from one room to another.

On the other hand, when we are in school or university, we have to move from one block to another to get classes, which help our minds stay alert, active, and focused. So, staying physically active is very important to enhance your productivity and avoid sluggishness.

How-to Tips:

· Take a break every 45 minutes.

· Sit in a healthy posture to avoid neck or shoulder pain.

· Do any aerobic activity of your choice for at least 20 minutes a day.

Reward Yourself

Positive reinforcement is a great way to encourage yourself to achieve a particular task. When you are studying from home, you will have less interaction with other students or tutors, which may negatively affect competitiveness and motivation.

So, in such circumstances, reward yourself every time you achieve a goal to make sure you still stay motivated throughout your journey. By doing that, your brain will realize that task accomplishment leads to a positive reward and will feel pleasure the next time you work on your to-do list.

How-to Tips:

· Buy your favorite meal that you wanted to have.

· Play a game after studying for hours continuously.

Follow Good Eating Habits and Sleep Well

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Restful sleep at night and healthy food during the day are the two major factors that influence a student’s productivity significantly. So try not to neglect them for the sake of an unfinished task. Your brain and body work on a fuel that is the food you eat. Establish a healthy eating habit.

Sleep well throughout the night to have a fresher and more creative brain the next day. A sleepy brain and droopy eyes will affect your memory and learning ability badly.

How-to Tips:

· Keep healthy snacks and a water bottle nearby.

· During breaks, eat food that does not make you feel sleepy afterward.

· A growling stomach will keep you distracted, so take care of the hunger first.

· Sleep at least 7 to 8 hours a day.

Stop Yourself from Multitasking

Another effective and proven study tip for students is to get out of the time-wasting and focus diverting habit of multitasking. This habit will confuse you and make you believe that you can do more in less time if you start doing various tasks together. Well, don’t believe that it’s just a trap!

On the contrary, if you put your focus on a single task at a time, you will be able to perform well and complete it earlier than expected. While studying, don’t get distracted by home chores, exercise, or any similar activity.

How-to Tips:

· Keep your study desk organized and simple.

· Do each task at a particular time.

· When working on the computer, close tabs that you do not need to complete the current task.

Take Help When Needed

When you are studying from home, you have less chance to socialize with people. During these times, use social media and other similar platforms to connect with the course-mates and discuss your study-related queries together.

Teachers always feel good about answering student’s reasonable questions. So, do not hesitate to ask if a concept is too hard to understand through simple notes. Asking questions will also show that you take an interest in the subject and are a responsible student.

How-to Tips:

· Do not push yourself more than you can handle.

· Send an email to the tutor if you have any study or deadline related confusion.

Benefits of Studying from Home

Many people may believe that the best way to achieve education is by attending classes physically in an institution. Although both kinds of learning (remote or on-site) have their own benefits, studying from home has some amazing perks, which one cannot deny. Let’s see why learning from home is good.

Save Money

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One of the best benefits of studying from home is you will have more money in your pockets. You will not have to travel to school, pay on-campus rents, spend money in the cafeteria, etc. You can save this money and spend it on something more useful like enrolling in another course.

Create Your Own Learning Environment

You can study in an environment that suits you the most. It is up to you to choose a comfortable place like the living room, kitchen table, or desk in the bedroom and establish your own study area. You will be able to set your timetable according to your schedule. For instance, if you do a job in the morning, you won’t have to worry about missing your class attendance.

Set a More Flexible Pace

Studying from home gives you a chance to study at a more flexible pace. There will be deadlines, but you will still have more time to complete tasks at your own pace.