{"id":1974,"date":"2010-03-23T21:37:27","date_gmt":"2010-03-24T05:37:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=1974"},"modified":"2013-10-08T08:17:53","modified_gmt":"2013-10-08T16:17:53","slug":"how-to-stick-to-your-study-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/how-to-stick-to-your-study-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stick to Your Study Plan: 6 Best Practices"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“Which Direction I (You Are Here)” Courtesy of Vido Drago<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Whether you’re studying on a college program, for a career qualification, or just for personal interest, you’ll want to make a success of it. But few of us have the luxury of being able to just<\/em> study \u2013 life has to go on as well.<\/p>\n

You’ve probably already figured out that having a plan<\/em> helps you to study consistently (rather than giving up, or cramming in hours of work just before exams). But how can you make sure you actually stick to the plans which you’ve made?<\/p>\n

Be Realistic<\/h2>\n

Firstly, be realistic. Many of us are prone to over-estimating how much we can get done<\/strong> \u2013 and studying is a high-energy, intense activity which requires a lot of concentration. You simply can’t focus at that level for hours at a time.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, being realistic about your studying plans might mean looking at the other commitments in your life. Do you need to ditch something else in order to have time to study effectively? Can you cut down on social activities to give yourself a couple of weeknights free for studying?<\/p>\n

Find Your Best Time of Day<\/h2>\n

Are you a lark? Some people are at their best in the morning, before the demands of the day have crowded in. If that’s you, then try setting your alarm 30 minutes earlier so that you can spend this high-focus time on your studying.<\/p>\n

Or are you an owl? Without the constraints of a school day, you can choose to study late at night, if that suits you. For parents, this can be a good time because children are in bed and the house is quiet.<\/p>\n

Even if you think<\/em><\/strong> you know what time of day’s best for you, try experimenting for a week or two. <\/strong>Perhaps your lunch hour is a great opportunity to practice your French vocabulary, or maybe you can drive to a coffee shop on the way home from work and study there until 6.30pm.<\/p>\n

Have a Place to Study<\/h2>\n

As well as finding the right time<\/em> to study, you’ll want to find the right place.<\/em> Your studying environment can make all the difference when it comes to sticking to your plans.<\/strong> You’ll want to find a place where:<\/p>\n