Engineering students tips
Create a conducive studying environment
Here are some tips to do this:
- Tidy your desk daily
- Ensure that you have all the stationery, notebooks, etc. that you need
- Ensure that the lighting in the room is suitable
- Use earplugs to block out noise if necessary
- Put up one or two motivational quotes at your study area
- Get a comfortable chair
- Remove all distractions from the room
Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night
Students who perform well are effective learners. As the research shows, sleep is a vital part of becoming an effective learner. Sleep boosts memory and enhances learning. So go to bed at roughly the same time every day, and make it a priority to get 8 hours of sleep a night. If you do this, I’m sure you’ll see an improvement in your academic performance. Pulling all-nighters definitely isn’t how to do better in school. It might enable you to get some last-minute work done. But over time, your performance in school will decline.
Break big tasks into smaller ones
Big tasks seem complicated and overwhelming, which is why many students procrastinate. Break every big task down into smaller tasks. For instance, instead of deciding to work on your history paper, you might break the task down into the following smaller tasks:
- Read Chapter 3 (notes)
- Read Chapter 3 (textbook)
- Do online research (5 to 10 articles)
- Develop thesis statement
- Write outline
- Write introduction
- Write main paragraph #1
- Write main paragraph #2
- Write main paragraph #3
- Write main paragraph #4
- Write main paragraph #5
- Write conclusion
- Proofread and edit When you work on the history paper, focus on completing one task at a time. This will make it less likely that you’ll procrastinate.
Be organised
Students who aren’t organised end up wasting precious time looking for items or notes, or doing last-minute work they forgot about. Here are some ways to become more organised:
- Set a daily reminder to check if there’s any homework due the following day
- Set reminders to start preparing for tests and exams
- Use the MyStudyLife app
- Use a planner or Google Calendar
- Clear your desk at the end of every day
- Use an app like Google Keep to do a “brain dump”
Exercise regularly
Regular exercise helps you to remember information better, enhances your concentration, and makes you more creative. This is in addition to the other health benefits of exercise. What does this mean for students who want to be successful in school? Make exercise a fixed part of your weekly routine. Exercise three to four times a week, for at least 20 to 30 minutes each time.
Take a Mock Test
Mock tests are necessary because you will get a lot of practice. Basically, they are like a trial run. You will be in the same place, feel the pressure before appearing for the actual examination, and foster self-analysis and confidence in the aspirant.
Work in short blocks of time
I’ve found that most students can’t maintain a high level of focus for more than 45 minutes at a go. As such, I generally recommend working in 30- to 45-minute blocks, followed by a 5- to 10-minute break. Working in shorter blocks of time is more effective for the majority of students, rather than struggling to focus for a couple of hours straight.
Don’t multitask
It’s a fact: There’s no such thing as multitasking. Whenever you’re multitasking, you’re actually just switching between tasks. This reduces your studying efficiency. So don’t multitask when you’re studying or doing your homework. Instead, focus on one task at a time, and you’ll find that you’ll get more done in less time.
Develop good posture
Good posture improves your mood, and also enhances your memory and learning. So sit up straight, pull your shoulders back, and lift up your chin – and you’ll perform better in school. For more tips on improving your posture, check out this detailed article.
Get rid of distractions before they become distractions
The biggest obstacle to doing well in school is distractions. To overcome distractions, you can’t only depend on willpower. Few of us have the willpower necessary to fight off all the distractions that surround us in this digital era. Here are some ways to eliminate distractions before they become distractions:
- Turn off notifications on your phone/tablet
- Delete all the apps that distract you
- Put your phone/tablet in another room before you start work
- Set a really, really long password to unlock your phone/tablet
- Restrict your Internet access
- Have only one tab open in your browser at any one time
- Find an accountability partner as you make these changes