How to Implement A Smart Study System!

How to create an effective study system

How do you study smart? Some students find it easier to spend an hour creating elaborate flash quiz cards to help them master new vocabulary words, while others might keep a spreadsheet of words they are unsure of and memorise these words. While there are different strokes for different folks, one thing that all these students have in common is that they make it a point to create a study system that works for them. In today’s post, I’ll share some tips on creating an effective study system and hopefully, you can use them to create one which works for you.

What is a study system, and why do you need it?

A study system is a set of strategies and methods that helps students organise their studies and improve their results. It is designed to help students learn better and faster. A study system can be used for any subject, whether you are in primary or secondary school. It breaks a formidable task into accomplishable chunks. Plus, it frees up your energy to focus on learning rather than the mountain of assignments you have. It can help you organise your time and ensure that you spend the right amount of time on each subject.

Let me show you how you can implement a smart study system in three simple steps. Take a look at the list below:

1. Sort by subject and start with the easiest task

After a long day at school, it is challenging to get started on your homework. You are tempted to wind down and text your friends. Watching Netflix sounds definitely more appealing than completing your composition assignment.

Some assignments could take an entire evening to complete, while others may take just minutes. A good way to prevent procrastination is to sort out your homework by subject and complete the easiest assignment first. To make good use of your time, start with either the easiest task or your favourite subject. This will boost your confidence and spur you to continue working on other assignments.

2. Schedule your day

It is satisfying to make a list of all the tasks you’ll need to get done and cross off the items as you move along the day. While this is a great method to stay organised, it is not easy to allocate time for your other activities or plan a revision for an upcoming test.

Creating a schedule for your day makes it easier for you to take control of your time. Instead of committing to a deadline and beating yourself up for not achieving it, set an intention and a plan to work towards it consistently. For example: I will start on my composition at 5pm and finish it by dinner time. According to the author of Atomic Habits, James Clear, when you write out your intentions, you rely less on willpower and motivation to act.

Every morning, rip a sheet of paper from your notebook. Then, block out the hours you will be in school or attending enrichment classes. Blocking out your time is a great way to visualise your schedule and determine how much time you have on your plate. This gives you a realistic idea of what you can achieve for the day.

In the white spaces, partition your time into one-hour blocks. You can assign these blocks to revision, specific projects, and other activities. A good tip to remember when doing this: try grouping related tasks into a time block. You can group them either by subject or level of difficulty. Remember to make time for fun and rest too. This time-blocking step which takes minutes to implement, assures you that you are working on huge projects without neglecting the little tasks.