Making Better Study Habits

Watch Where You Sit. Sitting in the front does have its benefits such as: better view of the board, making eye contact with the professor, and less distractions. Julie Masterine states in a USA Today College article that sitting in the front may not guarantee an "A" grade, it does however, "improve class engagement" and build student-teacher rapport. Active engagement and a positive student-teacher rapport are two ingredients for a better class period. If the front appears intimidating at first, start in the middle of the class and work your way up.

Finding the time. Begin by making a list of your school activities/responsibilities. From the list you created, select which are priorities. Scheduling large projects and assigning deadlines on a calendar will create a simple vision of how your semester will unfold. Plan out your week and find where you can fit in adequate study hours. Note that priorities can change and personal life events will occur therefore, having the ability to be flexible is beneficial.

Select an appropriate place. Allot a specific amount of study time for each class followed by reserving an area free of distractions. Keep in mind finding the ideal place is half the battle. Shutting off the phone, refraining from social media, and closing your email (personal and work) are actions you can take to create the ideal study environment.

Establish proper eating habits. Have you ever wondered why it is difficult to focus after a large lunch? Essentially, the brain and digestive system are competing for adequate blood supply to complete their "tasks." After you've consumed a large quantity of food, the digestive system then works on breaking down the food into the nutrients that your body can use as fuel. The nutrients are then transported by the blood to other parts of the body. Eating small healthy snacks are highly recommended around study times providing sufficient fuel for the body yet not overcoming. For nutrition tips and meal planning see Making Time for Nutrition.

Maintaining a positive attitude. Texas A&M University gives some excellent tips on how to remain motivated. From their article, "Self Help-Basic Study Techniques" they suggest the following:

1. Encourage yourself to study through rational thinking.
2. Recognize your irrational ideas about studying and replace them with more helpful ideas. For example, "There's not time for both study and fun" can be changed to "There's plenty of time for both study and fun when I use my time effectively."
3. Eliminate thinking that results in procrastination. For example, Statement like "I have plenty of time to do my project" often result in putting the project off until the last minute.

Develop a positive attitude toward schoolwork.

1. View school work as helping you achieve your long range goals.
2. Look for points of interest and practical application in each subject.
3. Get to know each of your professors. Knowing your profs will help you become more positive about your courses, and it will make it easier to seek help from them in you need it.

For more study help visit the BYUI Academic Support website: http://www.byui.edu/academic-support-centers/study-skills/study-tips



Resources:
Mastrine, J.. Where you sit in class says a lot about you | USA TODAY College. Untitled Document. Retrieved January 9, 2013, from http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/campuslife/does-where-you-sit-in-class-say-a-lot-about-you

3 Do's and Don'ts for Healthy Studying in College - US News and World Report. US News & World Report | News & Rankings | Best Colleges, Best Hospitals, and more. Retrieved January 9, 2013, from http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2012/01/26/3-dos-and-donts-for-healthy-studying-in-college?page=2

Self Help-Basic Study Techniques | Student Counseling Service. Student Counseling Service | Division of Student Affairs. Retrieved January 9, 2013, from http://scs.tamu.edu/?q=node/74