Study Tips

Welcome to the Self Study Tips Blog. Here you will find useful, thought provoking, easy to follow tips to help you successfully complete self study programs.



Sunday, January 30, 2011

Self Study Techniques: Do's and Don'ts

I have compiled a list of Do's and Don't to help better prepare you for your self study endeavors.
  • Know how you learn: This is probably the most important step. Everyone learns differently so it is essential that you know how you learn best. By this I mean, do you learn better sitting in a quiet room by yourself? Do you need a little background noise? Do you prefer sitting at a desk or in a comfortable chair? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you start your self study endeavors on the right foot. There is no right or wrong answer here. It's all about who you are. I can tell you that I sit in my living room on the love seat with the laptop sitting in my lap, books spread out next to me while my husband watches tv. Probably not an environment that works best for everyone, but it is what works for me.
  • Set Realistic Goals: The next most important step in successful self studying is setting realistic goals. If you don't think you will be able to study 2-3 hours per night, then don't set that goal for yourself. Set goals that you know you can achieve. If it's only 30 minutes of reading or reviewing a night that you can manage then that is perfectly ok. However, if you set goals for yourself that are unreachable, you are likely to get really discouraged, really fast.
  • Don't cram: Cramming can be a significant downfall for all of us. I can remember studying for hours upon hours for exams only to finish and feel like I didn't retain anything. You can only absorb so much information at one time before everything begins to blur together. This step can be tied to step 2. If you start with realistic goals, there shouldn't be a need to cram.
  • Be dedicated: This should already be a given if you have already decided to partake in a self study course. Dedication to your success and education is imperative. If you are not serious about learning and doing well, then nothing I or anyone else says to you is going to help.
  • Find what works for you: Things like note taking and reading aloud works for some people and not others. I personally prefer to take notes in a notebook when reading while others prefer to use index cards. This "Do" is personalized and based on what type of learner you are. You may have to try a few different techniques before you find the one that works for you and that's ok. The key is to not give up!
  • Know your limits: If you have set back 2 hours per night to study but you have had a rough day be aware of that. Fatigue can be your self study nightmare. I have often times read the same sentences over and over because I was exhausted. This doens't do you any good and only leads to frustration.
  • Don't beat yourself up: If you miss a designated study night, don't beat yourself up. Just start fresh the next day. We all have things that come up so give yourself a break.

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