Our View: Study habits necessary for new semester


Winter break has come to an end and, for most of us, the change between leisurely deciding the agenda for the day and sticking to a rigorous, demanding schedule can be excruciating. Too often work gets neglected or put aside due to the plethora of distractions that plague college students. Instant messages, e-mails, phone calls, family members and roommates all can prove to be a serious hindrance in completing important tasks.

The goal of finishing an assignment or studying is often less alluring than a chat with friends about the latest gossip and can easily draw even the most dedicated students away from the task at hand.

Mustering the enthusiasm most assignments require can be difficult, especially because the payoff is so far in the future. Most distractions provide students with instant gratification, unlike preparing for class. The benefits of studying and reading class texts will not be noticed until the end of the term, when it is too late.

Asking students to be on the ball all the time would be an exercise in futility. Arguing for students to totally ignore distractions would be equally absurd. Finding some middle ground between neglecting assignments and focusing entirely on studies is paramount this first week back in school because now is the time to establish your modus operandi for the rest of the semester. Now is the time to break the old habit of allowing these distractions to deter you from completing assignments.

Before beginning a task, simply putting your cell phone on silent mode or putting up an away message on your instant messaging program can eliminate a huge portion of the most attention-grabbing interruptions. Adjust your studying environment to something more appropriate for school and less distracting. Even leaving your room to study in the local library might be necessary to improve the amount of material absorbed during a study session.

It is also important to give yourself a breather every once in a while. Allowing yourself some time to take a break can enhance your ability to complete tasks more effectively, and the time spent on an assignment will be better utilized.

Although it may take you longer to complete something, the time dedicated toward finishing the task will be more effective.

Remaining too focused and not allowing any distractions will create poorer quality work because you will be burnt out and unable to perform. The key to having a successful semester is moderation. Allowing yourself to be frequently distracted can permanently set you behind in a class, yet remaining focused all the time will wear you out.

It is important to establish good studying habits early on because these habits will follow you throughout the rest of the term. It is important to remember that although the rewards of studying may not be apparent immediately after completion, earning a high grade is much more gratifying than any trivial gossip or riveting reality TV show.

Calendar

Display Ads