Q&A for How to Plan a Study Day

Return to Full Article

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How many hours a day should you study?
    Christopher Taylor, PhD
    English Professor
    Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.
    English Professor
    Expert Answer
    As a general rule, plan to study 2-3 hours for every hour you spend in class. So, for instance, if you are taking 5 courses that each meet for 3 hours per week (15 credits), you would ideally study for around 5-6 hours per day.
  • Question
    How do I plan my study?
    Christopher Taylor, PhD
    English Professor
    Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.
    English Professor
    Expert Answer
    Be consistent, if possible. Create a routine and find a quiet place that allows you to focus. Take short breaks when you need them.
  • Question
    Which time is best for study?
    Christopher Taylor, PhD
    English Professor
    Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.
    English Professor
    Expert Answer
    This varies based on a number of factors. Find a consistent time of day where you can remain focused in a quiet place.
  • Question
    How can I do well in my studies?
    Christopher Taylor, PhD
    English Professor
    Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.
    English Professor
    Expert Answer
    Create and maintain a consistent study schedule, form a relationship with your professors, and find ways to take a genuine interest in what you are learning.
  • Question
    What is the best study routine for effective studying?
    Jai Flicker
    Academic Tutor
    Jai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego.
    Academic Tutor
    Expert Answer
    It depends on the individual. Some people really need their sleep and may do better with a late start when studying. Others love getting up early, so they're going to do better with an early start to get all of their studying out of the way. Try to find a schedule that works for you.
  • Question
    How do I avoid getting headaches or getting sleepy or bored while studying?
    Sarah Flores
    Community Answer
    First off, make sure you get plenty of sleep every night and eat well during the school day so you still have enough energy to work when you get home. Try having a healthy snack before you start studying so you don't feel hungry later on. If the work is overbearing, divide a big project into smaller parts so it becomes easier to tackle, and instead of studying a lot of things for a long period of time, break your study sessions into little chunks and work on one subject at a time. I suggest using the Pomodoro technique, it's very helpful and there are many apps and websites you can use such as mytomatoes.com.
  • Question
    How do I stop overthinking while studying?
    Dahlia Gillespie
    Community Answer
    If you feel like you're getting distracted, try 5 minutes of meditation in which you only focus on the moment (mindfulness meditation). This will help you clear your mind. After you study for about 45 minutes, you can reward yourself with a short break and get some fresh air, some tea, etc. Once you start studying again, your mind will get on track and you will stop overthinking.
  • Question
    How do I stop daydreaming and remember everything I study?
    Community Answer
    I find that listening to music (without lyrics) or white noise (like rain) helps me to focus better, since I get less distracted. I tend to space out more in quieter rooms, so having background noise helps me. As far as remembering things, there's no trick to it, you just have to go over the information over and over again until it's lodged in your brain.
Ask a Question

      Return to Full Article