Studying as a teen is not just about memorising facts and figures; it’s a journey of self-discovery and growth.
Studying helps to develop new skills that will help to shape your future outside of school, fostering curiosity and deepening an understanding of the world we live in. Beyond grades and exams, studying creates discipline, encourages critical thinking, and boosts resilience – skills that pave the way for success. So, whether you’re doing maths equations, learning English techniques, or memorising biology notes for that upcoming test at school, you are making a step towards reaching your future goals. Sometimes, however, studying can be difficult, so here are some great steps to help you along the way:
1. Set a timer
Set a timer for 30–45 minutes. This is the time in which you are going to absolutely put aside everything else and focus on study only – your goal is to not touch anything else until that time is up. Then, you stop for a brief break. This will help you focus and not switch to other activities.
2. Find a place you associate with work
The reason we generally work better at school is because we associate it with learning. That’s why it’s important to find a room or space outside of school that is primed and ideal for working in as we can get our brain to associate that area with studying.
3. Recall
Practising a certain skill or technique repeatedly will help you improve your instant recall of how to do something. The more you practise, the better likelihood of that skill being moved from short- to long-term memory making the skill not only easier but less likely to be forgotten. For example, if you’re preparing for a speech, it’s important to read it over and over again – performing it out loud as well – in order to help memorise the words.
4. Make sure you understand the content
The most crucial step is making sure you understand the work in front of you, because if there’s a gap in your knowledge you will find it harder to study at home. If you don’t know what something is or what it means, search it up, watch a demonstration video, or simply ask your teacher for a bit more guidance before heading home to work on it.
5. Reward yourself
Studying can be hard and many of us find ourselves dwelling on doing it. Putting a reward system in place is a great way to motivate yourself to study. For example, say or write down ‘If I do this every day for a week/When I complete this task, I will buy myself ice cream’.
6. Practise papers
Doing timed practise questions or past papers from a previous exam while at home can help you work in more ‘stressful’, exam-like conditions and are great strategies to use in the weeks leading up to a test or assessment.
Happy studying!
Words: Navita Maher
