Being a mother is hard work, and even harder if you work or study on the side. As a mother, I have experienced the difficulty around balancing parenting with my education. But it’s never too late to study, whether we’re looking studying to pass the Bar or take taking the MCAT to become medical students or doing one of the many online degree programs available. To make things easier, I’ve put together a list of things to keep in mind when studying at home, so you can study better and be more productive.
1. Develop a perfect studying environment.
The first step to studying better at home is creating developing a perfect studying environment. Make sure your study area is quiet, comfortable and independent from distractions. It is all about finding a balance to make parenting and studying stress-free! Try to do experiment with different study areas. For example, if you get too distracted when you are at home, try studying in the school library or in any other calm area. If you are not required to use technologies for your studying, try switching off all of your devices (too much screen time is bad).
2. Stay perfectly organized.
Use an academic planner to keep track of your assignments, homework, and deadlines. You can use a traditional paper-based planner or use the resources available on your school website or online. Always organize your learning materials. Keep all materials for different subjects in different folders, use color coding or labeling to make your studying more effective. Most importantly, not all organizational systems work for all students, so make sure you develop a system that works for you.
3. Manage your time appropriately.
Effective time management is one of the most beneficial skills that you can learn while at school. This is a lifelong skill that will give you an advantage in many ways. Plan how much time you want to spend studying a particular subject every day and set yourself realistic deadlines. Do not completely make yourself aloof from extracurricular activities that you might have and make sure you have enough time for studying.
4. Communicate with your peers and teachers effectively.
Engage with your peers on social media for asking questions, share with them your thoughts and resources or collaborate with them on different projects. Teachers will give you perfect guidance. Further, this also shows that you care about your academic performance which can consequently lead to improved grades!
5. Convert your notes into flashcards.
Turning your notes into flashcards is very beneficial when you are studying for an assignment or an exam. For example, if you are studying geometry formulas, write the name of the formula on one side and its formula on the other side of the card. Also, utilize paper index cards for creating flashcards.
6. Take breaks while studying.
Your brain can only take a particular amount of information at a time. If you do not take regular breaks, you will mostly find it difficult to memorize information and you will end up feeling stressed and depressed. For every hour that you study, you should take at least a 15-minute break to do something that takes your mind distant from studying. For example, go for a walk, listen to some music, play a game, or talk to your friends. Getting enough sleep is important to study effectively.
7. Reward yourself after fulfilling a goal.
Positive reinforcement is a magnificent tool for staying motivated. Reward yourself in small ways after accomplishing tasks. Treat yourself to having your favorite snack, vlogging about your experiences, or watching a movie.
8. Study all the time effectively.
At last, try your best to study all the time instead of studying a day before your test or exam. Reviewing your notes daily and learning in smaller chunks will help you stay organized and will lead to better knowledge retention. Again, this will for sure lead to achieving better academic results.
Studying does not have to be full of anxiety and time-consuming all the time. With these tips, you can easily balance parenting and studying together. It is all about taking a different approach and finding what works for yours. Hopefully, these tips will prove beneficial to you. Good luck!
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