As students, navigating the demands of academic life can sometimes feel like a juggling act. With lectures, assignments, and exams vying for our attention, finding a balance between studying and self-care is essential for success. Establishing a healthy study routine not only enhances productivity but also promotes overall wellbeing. In this guide, we'll explore practical strategies for preparing before studying, planning your study routine, staying focused during study sessions, and incorporating breaks into your schedule. By implementing these tips and tailoring them to your individual needs, you can cultivate habits that foster academic achievement while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

Preparing Before Studying

Before diving into your study session, take some time to prepare both mentally and physically. Here's how: 

• Establish a Separate Day Structure: Allocate specific times for work and rest to break up the monotony of the day. This creates structure and helps you feel more organised. Experiment to find what schedule works best for you. 
• Get Dressed: Dressing for the day helps delineate work time from separate time, boosting productivity and focus.
• Prioritise Sleep and Physical Activity: Remember, your physical health directly impacts your cognitive abilities. Ensure you get enough sleep and incorporate physical activity into your routine to keep your mind sharp. 
• Organise Your Study Materials: A well-organised set of resources saves time and reduces stress. This could be flashcards, notes from class, or it could mean the resources you use to study. Do you benefit from rewatching lectures, or is it more planning using tools such as Notion, or OneNote? 

Planning Your Study Routine

• Identify Your Peak Productivity Hours: Determine when you're most productive during the day to schedule your study sessions accordingly.
• Understand Your Study Preferences: Do you prefer short bursts of focused study or longer, uninterrupted sessions? Find what works best for you. 
• Create a Distraction-Free Environment: Separate your living and working areas to maintain motivation. If possible, designate a specific study space away from your bedroom. 
• Set Realistic Goals: Break down larger academic goals into manageable tasks to stay motivated and focused. Not everyone can focus for hours at a time, and that is normal! 
• Evaluate your schedule: Before building your study routine, closely examine your daily schedule and commitments. When do your classes start and end? Do you have any extracurricular activities? Do you have to work after class? By understanding your daily schedule, you can create a more personalised study routine. 

Actually Studying

• Keep a Study Log: Keep a log of what you have done and what you plan to do. I like to use the Pomodoro timer Flora for when I am actually studying, and you can add tags for each subject, as well as notes on what you did in each period of time! 
• Minimise Distractions: Set specific study times and stick to them. Consider using techniques like the Pomodoro method to maintain focus and prevent burnout. We have a whole guide to the pomodoro technique and studying in short bursts for you to read! 
• Create a Distraction-Free Environment: Our brains associate physical spaces with an activity. When we are in bed our brain expect to sleep, which is why we feel tired or relaxed, when we are in the kitchen we may feel hungry. This means that we need to decide how we feel at the desk. If you want to use your phone, try moving somewhere away from your study space. Find a quiet, clutter-free space for studying. Turn off your phone and use website blockers to minimise distractions. 
• Stay Consistent: Commit to your study schedule as much as possible to develop a routine that fosters deep focus and productivity. 

Breaks and Wrapping Up

• Reward Yourself: Celebrate meeting your study goals to stay motivated and reinforce positive habits. 
• Take Active Breaks: Incorporate activities like stretching, hydrating, or going for a walk to recharge and refresh your mind. This May it is Take Time Out, so we have a plethora of resources for you to look at on how to take a break. Take a look here at some ways you can take time out. It is also important to ensure you actually get outside too! Here are some ways you can spend your breaks outside. 
• Make Time for Socialising: Schedule regular breaks to see friends or engage in social activities, providing balance and something to look forward to. This is part of ensuring you have healthy study habits by keeping a balance. You can read more about healthy study habits here.

By implementing these strategies and tailoring them to your individual preferences, you can build a study routine that enhances productivity, minimizes stress, and sets you up for academic success. Remember to stay flexible, listen to your body, and adapt your routine as needed to maintain a healthy balance between work and relaxation. If you want more practical tips for studying, take a look at our guide here!