Plan of Action for Productive Studying
This plan of action is most effective if you create vivid details in the mental pictures you create. So visualize doing specific assignment tasks at particular times in a definite place. Use the following guidelines when visualizing your study success:
-create a list
-pick a specific spot to study
-choose a particular time
-study alone
-keep your desk organized
-give yourself a chance to take breaks
-don’t eat while you study
-use your time wisely, studying the most pertinent information
-consider school a tool to make your future easier
-keep your eye on the prize- great marks
Creating a list
Create a list, just as an army commander creates a plan of attack. Create an effective study list by writing out all assignments on one paper. Consider this your road map to guide you through the completion of these assignments. Check the assignments off as you complete them. How to make a study checklist Productive Study Sessions
Remember to group these assignments in a priority sequence. In the case where assignments are equal in their value you can organize your work in the following ways:
Get unpleasant ones out of the way first
Do the assignments you hate first. Once you get them out of the way. It will free up your time to focus your energy on things you prefer. If you leave those lousy assignments till the end it might become more anxious and frustrated, and you may have a harder time motivating yourself to complete it at all.
Don’t study similar subjects at the same time
Certain subjects, like trigonometry and algebra are similar, and shouldn’t be studied in the same study sessions. This will only cause confusion and frustration. Give yourself a break between studying topics like these that are closely related. It might be a good time to schedule a break in between these two subjects.
Find a comfortable Spot
Find a comfortable spot to study and make it a habit to always study there when possible. The best study spot has a comfortable supportive chair and desk that’s the right height so you don’t slouch. If you study in a comfortable spot you are more likely to stay alert during study sessions, and make the most out of your time.
You also want to make sure there is good lighting in your study area. Lighting that is not too dim or too bright will prevent your eyes from straining and will enable you to study longer.
Also make sure your study area is far away from distractions like TV’s, music, people chatting or phones. You will get more out of studying in an area that allows you to concentrate. You’ll also be faced with less temptation to stop studying if you’re in a secluded area.
Some people actually study better with a little background noise. If you need to have music on while you study try and stick to slower music, instead of hard rock music.
Giving yourself enough time
Make sure you give yourself enough time to successfully complete assignments. If you’ve got a term paper to write, you might decide to set aside a couple of hours a couple of days a week, four weeks before the assignment is due. Study at the same time of day if you can, and plant yourself in your favorite study spot. Eventually you will associate that time of day and that space with learning, and studying will be more effective. This study technique provides much better results than attempting to cram the whole thing in one all-nighter session.
Study alone
It’s a fact that you retain information better when you study by yourself. Don’t confuse studying with socializing. You need to create a space for yourself where you can concentrate in deep thought. And there is more likelihood that you will waste time and get distracted if you study with others. You will make much better use of your time if you study alone. Studying in Coffee Shops
Keep you desk organized
It is a lot easier to work in a clean area. It’s harder to keep your mind from wandering if you are surrounded by books and scattered papers all over your desk. It’s much easier to get distracted by things which are not related to what you are studying at the time if your desk is cluttered.
Don’t drain your energy and make your study time less effective by studying in a spot that is disorganized. Keep your area clean and tidy and you will be better focused and get more out of your study time.
Don’t eat
Don’t get in the habit of snacking while you study. Besides the fact that you are burning almost no calories by sitting at a desk, eating doesn’t allow you to concentrate in deep thought, and is a total distraction.
Not only that, your body’s energy will head to your digestive tract instead of your brain, so you won’t retain information as well. So save the snacking for your break, it can be a reward for completing assignments. Snacking while studying
Use your time wisely
Make sure you budget your time wisely, and not spend excess time on information that is not pertinent. But remember it’s not about speed. Comprehension is the name of the game, when it comes to reading, not speed. Read at whatever pace works for you and allows you to take in and retain the information. Time Management for Students, Stress Management for Students
Consider the following suggestions when preparing to read pertinent information:
-loosen up
-read the whole passage
-try and pick out potential test questions
Loosen up
It’s smart to loosen up before you sit down for a heavy study session; Skim through some of the information to give yourself a little background review on what you are about to study.
If you need to get through three chapters of a book in one night, take a few minutes to look over the material printed on the back and front cover, check out the author biography, and even look at when and where the book was published. This gives a little background on the information you are about to take in.
While you read, get in the habit of underlining and pointing at words on the page. This will help you read at a pace that works best for you. And remember, you have a better chance at finishing assignments faster if you only work on one thing at a time, and study in a clean tidy space.
Give yourself a break!
If you find your mind wandering while you are studying, take a short break. Even a few minutes away from the books can revive you. Get up and walk around, get a drink of water, stretch a bit. You might even take a walk around the block. But make sure to take these breaks alone, and get back to work within ½ hour. You want to rest before you become too tired. A short break gives your body a chance to recharge those batteries so you can get back at it and make better use of your study time.
When studying, read over the table of contents of a book as well as the introduction. This information will give you valuable insight into the material you are about to study. As you browse through the material, pay special attention to information that is in bold type, in italics or information in charts, tables or summary paragraphs.
And skim through those questions found at the back of the chapter before you start reading the chapter. This way you will know what the important information is in the chapter and you can make note of it when you pick it out in your reading.
About the Author To change this standard text, you have to enter some information about your self in the Dashboard -> Users -> Your Profile box. 
GREAT IDEAS!!! I”LL TRY THEM…