The learning environment can affect one’s ability to study. This includes the social aspect. For instance, when the pandemic hit, we had less physical campus time. This restricted our integration into the study community and caused feelings of loneliness. Despite this, we still studied in the same buildings. Here are some ways to improve your study environment and make studying more enjoyable. Listed below are some of these strategies. We hope you find them helpful.
Mental health problems
The results of the SHoT 2014, a national survey of college students, showed that severe mental health problems were four times more common than moderate problems. However, students with moderate symptoms of mental health problems were just as likely to delay their studies, as were students with severe problems. While the percentage of students who have severe mental health problems may be higher, the proportion of students who consider seeking help with these conditions is much lower.
Depression is a prevalent mental health issue among college students. According to recent surveys, depression affects seven to nine percent of students. In one study, researchers found that more than half of those suffering from depression began their symptoms in their childhood or adolescence. Studies have shown that the risk of developing mood disorders increases significantly from early childhood to adulthood. According to Kessler et al., by age 25, one out of every five individuals develops depression. Bipolar disorder also follows a similar pattern, with approximately 3.2 percent of college students meeting the criteria for depression or bipolar disorder.
Time management
Developing your time management skills is important for a number of reasons. Not all tasks are equally important and, in some cases, they can delay your research project or other work. For example, a time-waster could be a person that interrupts your work or one that doesn’t appreciate your time. Eliminating such activities is difficult but essential if you are to successfully manage your time. Here are some tips for time management while studying.
Develop a calendar for the entire term. Most educational institutes will give you a general outline of assignments for the term, with due dates for various projects. It is wise to plan ahead, so you can stick to your schedule. Make sure to make time for self-care, too. Take breaks from studying for a little while, exercise, meditate, and get plenty of sleep. You will be glad you did! This will help you stay focused and motivated.
Exercise
One of the first steps to improve study time is to get active. Exercise is known to boost mental and physical well-being, and it also helps relieve stress and anxiety. Physical activity helps to decrease fatigue, which are common symptoms of elevated stress levels. Furthermore, exercise boosts study productivity because it increases mood and energy levels. Keeping yourself physically active is important for improved study time, and it’s easy to incorporate exercise into your daily routine.
Getting exercise increases brain power. Exercise releases endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that make us feel good. The endorphins in exercise help to lower stress levels and jumpstart our brains so we can study better. It’s the perfect way to get rid of your stress levels and kick-start your brain for studying. You don’t need to spend hours doing crossword puzzles or Sudoku. You can play games like Jeopardy instead. Exercise can give you a mental boost and make it easier to remember difficult concepts.
Getting enough sleep
Getting enough sleep is important not only for your short-term health, but it also plays a big role in your academic performance. Most adults need about seven hours of sleep each night, and teenagers need around eight to ten hours. It’s no wonder that staying up late can be detrimental to your study ability. Fortunately, there are ways to get the rest you need to stay on top of your game. Listed below are some tips for ensuring you get the rest you need.
A good way to get the necessary sleep is to set a bedtime and wake time that are consistent for the entire day. College-aged students generally require more sleep than most people. Eight hours of sleep is the minimum requirement, but many need as many as ten hours, which can be beneficial to study ability. You should also aim to get up early in order to enjoy a full day of fun activities. To help your body adjust to the new sleeping schedule, wake up at the same time each day.
Distractions
The extent to which distractions reduce your ability to study depends on the nature of the distracting information and the difficulty of the task. For example, distractions that are unrelated to the primary task reduce your ability to recall details. Meanwhile, distractions that are related to the primary task can interfere with memory formation. Thus, it is important to know the exact nature of distractions before you choose an approach to study. The following article discusses the causes and effects of distractions on your ability to study.
While most external factors can be controlled, students often experience boredom when working on challenging assignments. In such cases, students seek out the comfort of instant digital pleasure. This can include social media and online gaming. However, academic tasks require serious concentration, and thus, minimizing the accessibility of such resources is essential. Distractions are a major cause of low grades. Therefore, limiting accessibility of these distractions is an effective way to improve your concentration.