10 Study Hacks for Students to Boost Focus and Retention: From Creating a Study Plan to Body Doubling
Is your student maximizing their study sessions? In this article, we share practical strategies for students to create a personalized study plan that works! From setting specific study times to understanding how your environment affects your focus, this guide is packed with actionable tips to help your student stay organized and engaged. Learn about body doubling, mixing up study tools, and how AI technology can enhance their learning experience. These techniques will help your student stay motivated and prepared for any test.
Make Your Study Plan Before You Sit Down to Study
Sounds simple, right? You’d be surprised how many students don’t know their upcoming test dates or subject matter topics. And here’s where they need to get specific. It’s not enough to say, “My test is on Ancient Greece.” They need to know what aspects of Ancient Greece the test will cover.
[READ: How Can We Create a Homework and Study Plan That Works for an ADHD Brain?]
Assign Specific Study Times
Work backward from the test date and allot specific time slots for studying. Always build in extra padding in case the unexpected. I like a 30% buffer.
Create a Motivating Environment
Desk? Floor? Dark? Bright Light? Facing an open window? Small and cozy? What kind of environment you work in directly affects your studying behavior!
[READ: How Can I Make Homework Less of a Tedious, Awful Chore?]
Consider Body Doubling
Need help focusing? Body doubling is one of my most successful “go-to” strategies for students. A “body double” functions as an anchor. Literally. The presence of another individual acts as a force field; focusing you and making it possible to get going and stay there.
Mix Up Your Study Tools
This helps to optimize learning by keeping the material fresh, fun, and more engaging. Tap into interests to create study tools that work for you. Write a song to learn foreign language vocabulary, draw a graphic novel to learn about Mesopotamia, create a mock textbook page to learn Earth science, and the list goes on.
Listen to Music If It Helps
I SING the praises of music to help students do homework or study. Many students need it to help them attend and initiate. I love Brian.fm because their music is scientifically proven to help you get work done.
[WATCH: How Music & Playlists Help ADHD Brains Activate & Stay Engaged]
Use Focus Mode On Your Phone
Turn on focus mode to silence notifications and avoid distractions while studying. Trying to multitask is a time suck. It’s said it takes about 25 minutes for us to get back into focus after being disrupted.
Split the Load
There’s no better gauge of whether you truly understand something than having to teach it to someone else. To teach is to understand! Also, working with others means you’re talking out loud. And that’s important because it slows you down, helps you process, and forces you to communicate in a way that makes sense to you and those who are listening. And the best part? When you work with others, you get to draw on everyone’s expertise.
Understand How Assistive Technology Can Help You
There is so much technology that you can benefit from. Cleft Notes. Goblin. Quizgecko. The list goes on and on.
Ask for Help When Needed
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Everyone needs it in some form or another.
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