There are many hacks, methods, and productive academic habits that can help you endure even the tightest of study sessions. However, not all are healthy, and some can be disastrous if not applied correctly. But that shouldn’t keep you from trying. There are a few powerful combined methods you can try. From planning to wellness, here are some you should prioritize.

Accurate Information Sourcing

There’s a lot you must read and demonstrate an understanding of when studying and preparing for tests. Whether you’re still at school or enjoying college, sources of information are vital, and you will need to provide accurate references. There are different systems, such as the Harvard method. However, there are also citations you can use in bodies of text, which is made easier with the IEEE citation generator. Tools like this help you focus on work without worrying.

Productive Academic Habits Through Planning

Planning is a core part of any worthwhile activity. Today, around 50% of students are behind their peers in terms of academic performance. But you can maintain focus with some planning:

  • Develop a consistent study schedule for leisure time, work, and school.
  • Set specific goals for individual study sessions around what you need to learn.
  • Break down larger study assignments into smaller ones that are more manageable.

Take Notes Correctly

Note-taking is a common part of education. It provides a solid foundation for looking back over large sets of data and information, helping with recall, rewriting, and understanding later on. However, it is a bit of a skill and doesn’t come easily to everyone. Most people hastily scrawled notes using a notepad and pen. However, this can lead to scribbles you can’t understand. It can be easier to use apps such as Notes, OneNote, and Obsidian for a clearer picture later on.

Productive Academic Habits for Memory

Sometimes, people can appear smart, but they just have an easier time remembering. Of course, understanding is the true key to learning. However, you need to remember the information first. Whether you need to prepare for PSAT or college assignments, generally, you need between 5 and 7 repetitions of information to remember it for potential indefinite recall:

  • Take detailed notes so you can refer to and process information more effectively.
  • Review materials now and then and practice recalling the details at varying intervals.
  • Employ memory aids such as mnemonics and flashcards to reinforce retention.

Notes are the first step in referring to and recalling the info you need for studying and completing work. You can reinforce critical data by going back over it with memory aids, and if you remember it after three days, it will probably stay in your noggin for the rest of your life!

Rephrasing is a Way You Understand

When learning a new subject, there might be some things you don’t fully understand. Sometimes, this can be because the data is presented in a way that makes it appear more complex than it actually is. You can rewrite notes and textbook data in a way you understand more easily. However, this can also be challenging. Today, AI tools such as ChatGPT and Grok are excellent at rewriting and, indeed, explaining complex subjects. Just don’t copy and paste!

Wellness and Productive Academic Habits

Recent data suggests that 57% of students experience poor self-care because of mental health issues. As a college or school student, you are still developing, and self-care is vital for studies:

  • Try not to study too late, and ensure you get enough quality sleep before studying.
  • Make time to eat healthy foods with as much natural energy as possible.
  • Ask classmates and teachers for assistance if things are getting to be too much.

Reward Yourself for Hard Work

Okay, so your PS5 controller is looking pretty good right now! However, there is some work you need to do. School and college work need time and focus, so they must be tackled as soon as possible while you have the energy. Once it’s out of the way, you can reward yourself, even if it is a late-night session of online gaming. The key is completing responsibilities first, before you even think about booting up Fortnite, Call of Duty or even getting online to play Fall Guys!

Summary

Using tools to source data and cite references is one of the most effective and productive academic habits you can develop. It also helps to use various methods of memorizing information and rewarding yourself with something fun only when you have completed your tasks.

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