If you’ve gone to the expense of enrolling on a course you want to get best value for money by actually studying it. But often people simply don’t know where to start. So, here are some tips to help you settle down and learn.
Where to Study
Firstly you’ve got to find a quiet place to study where there aren’t any distractions. Work at a table or desk so you can have your course materials to hand. Make sure the area you are studying in is well lit so you don’t strain your eyes when reading. Have a chair that is the right height for your table so you can make notes and write comfortably.
Don’t try to study in a crowded or noisy environment where you’ll be distracted. Once you’ve started your day’s study, try to finish it without a break.
When to Study
It doesn’t really matter what time of day you study as long as you have a regular time. Read my earlier blog on keeping a time diary which will help you to establish what you do with your time already. By keeping a time diary for a week you’ll be able to see when you can fit a regular time for study into your daily schedule.
You may also want to think about whether you are a morning person or an evening person. I’m definitely a morning person as my mind is best after a good night’s sleep – so when I’m studying I get up an hour earlier than normal and study then. My husband, on the other hand, is a night owl and he finds it better to study once the children are in bed.
The main thing is to establish a routine. It’s much better to study for half an hour to an hour a day rather than five hours once a week. You’ll learn more and retain that knowledge better by doing a little, often.
Study Skills
You need three basic skills to study:
Reading
Writing
Remembering
When studying any course it is a good idea to read through the section you are to study quite quickly to get an overview of what you are doing. Then read through it again more carefully making notes as you go along. (I’ll cover taking notes next week.) Making notes will help you remember what you have read as well as being a summary for you to use when you are revising what you have covered. You should revise your work regularly to help you remember what you have learnt.
Remember, if you don’t use it you’ll lose it!
Personally I enjoy studying. I like to learn new things and the sense of achievement on successfully completing a course is fantastic. So, get organised, get a routine and settle in to it. Happy studying!
