Healthy Study Habits for Students

Studying while watching TV, texting, or browsing online, staying up late the night before a test, learning early in the morning, and relying on junk food, caffeine, and energy drinks are common bad habits among students. Not only do these poor study habits impact their studies, but they also negatively affect their physical, mental, and emotional health.

However, no one realises this and keeps practising bad study habits until the symptoms start showing up. Over time, they start forgetting what they learned right after exams, leading to shaky foundations in math, science, or languages, making higher-level concepts challenging to understand. Other issues that poor study habits can cause include anxiety, sleep deprivation, and loss of interest.

If you are also practising poor study habits, like multitasking, inconsistent study routine, procrastination, passive studying, etc., take steps to ditch those habits and introduce healthy study habits to your life. Once you do this, you will start to feel active and alert and recall things better. But to introduce healthy study habits, you must know about them first. To learn about healthy study habits for students, read this blog until the end.

Set a Consistent Study Schedule

One of the best ways to become better at studying is to study daily at the same time. It's called having a study routine. When you study regularly, you remember things better, feel less stressed before exams, and finish your syllabus on time. You don't have to study for ten hours a day to be successful academically. Even 2-3 hours of regular focused study is enough.

Though a consistent Study Schedule offers numerous benefits, few know how to create one. If you don't, here is how you can create a good study schedule:

• A chair and a table are a must when studying.
• Choose a fixed time to study every day.
• Keep your smartphone away during study time.
• Make a simple timetable with time allotted for each subject.

Many students study only when they “feel like it,” and that feeling is rare, or it may never come. So, start studying according to a study schedule. Also, do not change your study time daily, study while watching TV, or scroll on your phone. This way, you can never succeed or achieve something great in academics.

Also Read: How to Make the Best Study Timetable for Students

Create a Distraction-Free Study Environment

To study well, you need the right environment where your mind can focus on whatever you are looking at or studying. If there are too many distractions around you, your brain can't concentrate, no matter how hard you try. A clean, quiet, and well-lit study space helps you learn faster and remember better. It also saves time because you get more things done in less time.

Your brain connects places with actions, and if you study in one place daily, your brain will associate that place with studying. And whenever you sit at that place, it will send your mind a signal that it's time to focus. However, creating such an environment could be difficult, and if you are struggling, here is how to create a distraction-free study environment:

• Avoid studying at places with TV, loud talking, or street noise.
• Switch off your phone, as even one message can break your focus.
• Only keep books, notebooks, and what you need on your study table.
• Use earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones if there is a lot of background noise.

Practice Active Learning Techniques

Forget rote memorisation that you have been practising for years, because if you just sit and read your textbook over and over, your brain will likely forget most of it. To remember what you study, you must stay active while learning. Active learning means using your brain to think and question. Instead of just reading, try explaining what you have learned aloud, as you can only explain things you understand fully.

Ask yourself questions like How does this work, and Why is this important? Write short summaries in your own words.  Use flashcards, draw diagrams, or solve practice questions. When your brain does more than just staring at the page, it understands and remembers better. If you are not sure where to start practising active learning techniques, try these tips:

• Teach the topic to a classmate or friend.
• Use flashcards for definitions or key points.
• Quiz yourself after finishing a chapter.
• Create mind maps or charts to link ideas.

Prioritise Physical and Mental Health

If you want to study and learn more effectively, take care of your body and mind. If you are tired, hungry, or stressed, it becomes harder to stay focused. Do not ever think that taking care of your health is a waste of study time; it makes your study hours more useful.

Start with simple habits like sleeping 7-8 hours each night, eating home-cooked food with fruits and vegetables, and drinking enough water. You can consider a short walk or a few stretches between study sessions to refresh your mind. However, while focusing on your physical health and studies, don't forget about your mental health because it matters, too.

Talk to someone you trust if you feel anxious, angry, or sad. Stress will keep building up as you ignore it. Here are tips to help you take care of yourself while studying:

• Don't skip meals, even during exams.
• Take breaks for fresh air or light exercise.
• Talk to someone if you are feeling overwhelmed.
• Sleep on time and wake up at the same time every day.

“You have a looming deadline, pending tasks, and a growing to-do list, yet you’re watching reels, using your mobile phone, playing games, straightening your desk, and checking email for the tenth time. That’s procrastination, it swaps action for avoidance and leaves you feeling guilty.”

Take Breaks the Right Way

Most students think studying non-stop is key to academic success, but the truth is your brain needs rest to work properly. You will feel tired and stop absorbing anything if you sit too long. Breaks help your brain rest so you can come back and study better. However, not every type of break is better for your brain. Scrolling social media or watching videos during breaks can make your mind even more tired. The best study breaks are short and help you feel fresh.

If you have never tried this technique of keeping your mind active and fresh, try this: study for 25-30 minutes, then take a 5-minute break to refresh your mind. After 2 hours, take a break of 15-20 minutes. During breaks, make sure you:

• Stand up, stretch, or walk around.
• Drink water and eat a light snack.
• Don't use your phone or watch TV.
• Don't lie down, as it can make you sleepy.

Set Clear Goals and Track Progress

If you sit at your study table without a plan, you might waste your next hours figuring out what to do. Set clear goals to help you know exactly what to focus on. When you set small targets, you feel motivated as you complete them. Begin your day by creating a brief to-do list. For example, you can set a goal of revising one science chapter, solving five math problems, and reviewing English notes.

However, keep in mind you don't have to do everything at once. Take your time to see some real progress. Keep track of what you finish using a small notebook or checklist. When you see your progress, it gives you a reason to keep going. Here are some more tips to help you set clear goals:

• Set simple, doable tasks for each day.
• Break big subjects into smaller parts.
• Mark or tick off tasks when finished.
• Review your weekly progress on Sunday.

Ask for Help When Needed

Sometimes, you do not understand things, no matter how hard you try. And that's okay. Do not spend too much time stuck on a problem. Asking for help saves time and helps you move forward with confidence. You won't be considered weak if you ask questions. In fact, students who ask for help when they are stuck on something learn better than those who don't.

You can ask for help from your teacher, classmate, parent, tutor, or someone willing to guide you. Do not let your confusion transform into frustration. The sooner you ask, the faster you understand things. Here is how to never let confusion turn into frustration whenever you are stuck on something:

• Ask your teacher after class or in a message.
• Form a study group to learn with friends.
• Search online for videos or examples.
• Talk to an older sibling or parent who can explain.

Conclusion

Over time, students develop or adopt poor study habits that affect not only academics but also their mental, physical, and emotional health. To eliminate such study habits, replace them with good habits that help you succeed academically. Some healthy habits you can introduce include setting a consistent study routine, creating a distraction-free study environment, practising active learning techniques, prioritising physical and mental health, etc. After developing such habits, you will become unstoppable and can achieve whatever you want. If you need more information on studying effectively, stay tuned to Vivek International Public School, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.