Point To Remember :))

How To Self Study

This is coming from a girl who spent her fresher and sophomore year studying at home and yes, I got good grades. So, here are some tips that I followed for studying by myself without depending on any teachers.

So, let's get into it!

Gather and organise material

This is important, why? What are you going to study if you have absolutely no idea what your syllabus and study material is? By materials I mean:

Textbooks (If you have any)

Practice papers

Previous year papers

Extra reading materials/ Reference books

If you don't have any textbooks. Go through the topics that you have and gather resources from different sources.

Tip: Have at least 1 extra reading material for every subject/paper. It helps you understand some topics that are explained in a complex manner in textbooks which is almost all the time.

Don't depend on your teacher

Teachers are good. Seriously. But their attention will always be shifty. They have a lot of students to teach, from many other classes so if you depend only on your teachers for clarifying your doubts or being at the back of you to study then newsflash, its going to be hard. Rather, be your own teacher. Don't go "I'll ask this to her/him tomorrow after class" because that will be your answer every time you have even a small question which can easily be solved by a simple search. You're saving your time and theirs.

Tip: If you're someone like me who gets distracted when you take up your phone even for a second then write down all your questions in a paper and search them later after your study session.

Make notes

I usually say this because notes help you understand topics. There are many methods of taking notes. I usually don't follow any structure for note taking, I just read and write keywords under the topic name, linking a few things here and there.

Tip: Notes need not be aesthetic. Seriously. You can be as messy as you can.

Watch videos related to concepts

This helps and I know most already do this.

Tip: When you finish watching a topic, close the video and write down what you understood and then play the video again, fill in the gaps that you missed and watch it again.

Study in chunks

I always believe that whatever you do, you should do in chunks. Instead of doing one chapter, divide it. Into small bits. I'll tell you, you'll see the difference. I don't usually recommend Pomodoro since it doesn't work for me. I don't keep a time limit or a set number of breaks. I finish a chunk and if I am tired, I take a break otherwise i continue.

Tip: Self quiz yourself after each chunk and then take a break. Then after you finish the chunks for the whole chapter with the self quizzing then self quiz yourself randomly for every chunk. Here's an additional tip. Take 20 second breaks.

Period of deep work

This is not a new concept, i didn't realize i did this at first. Basically, when you start your work. You do nothing but work. Like nothing else. No phones. No snacking. No unwanted thoughts. Just nothing but what you have to do. That is to study.

Tip: It is difficult to implement this right away especially if you have a habit of it getting distracted easily so i just suggest => Start smaller. One topic with full concentration. It would usually take you 20 - 30 mins to get immersed in the work. 40 mins if it's something you don't like but once you get the momentum? An unbelievable achievement really. And then, change your environment.

Quality > Quantity && Consistency> Cramming

One hour of productive studying is better than nine hours of useless studying. I feel like it's better to study 20 mins everyday rather than the whole night before an exam. It just causes stress.

Tip: Start early. Your teacher is on chapter 5? And you still don't get chapter 1, it's fine. Start learning. Seriously, it's okay to be behind. You just have to stick. Do it everyday and you'll see results that is better than those who are just keeping up with the teacher.

Deadlines Are Mandatory

Have deadlines. There are a number of ways to do this. I'm a person who is really lazy and a weird soul who would never complete their to-do list for the day if they write it down. It would always be left unfinished. So i just keep a mental time limit and the thing i have to get done.

Tip: Overestimate your deadline. Like, let's say i have to complete around 15 lessons that week. I keep my deadline to around 25-30 and i eventually complete 15. It's about adapting to what works for you. Just change according to what works for you.

Practice questions / Previous Year Papers

I can never emphasize this enough. The best way to prepare for any exam is just do practice questions or previous year questions. You will learn a lot of things. The topics that are important or repeated. The topics that are never asked.

Tip: Grade yourself on each paper. Circle the questions in your textbook while you are studying and practicing. Then when you have to actually study then you can actually revise the topics a bit more thoroughly. If you want to know more, click here.

It's okay to be behind in class

During my first term in senior year, the whole class was around 5 chapters ahead for every test and exam while me? If they were on chapter 12, i was in chapter 4 or 5 but i understood the concepts and took my sweet time with each chapter. Because the more time you take for a chapter, the better it stays in your memory.

Tip: Here is where active recall comes handy. When you revise one chapter, take a 2 day break and study another subject and then go back to the chapter and answer the practice questions. If you're able to do them, great! If not, revise more and then look at it after 3-4 days. Repeat until you have no mistakes in your answers. This helps in long term retaining.

Make It Interesting

How do you study boring subjects? You adapt. Mind maps don't work for me. Neither does flash cards. So, i found something that did. Storytelling. Take your most boring subject, turn it into a story. Make it bearable.

Tip: Tie it somethings that you like. For example, business studies was the most boring one for me so obviously, every topic was a story for me. HR Theories and Processes? ==> An office romance story. Management Principles? ==> A fantasy story where a group goes on a quest. Make It interesting. Make it gripping. And let me tell you, this actually works because our minds grasp stories better than just normal theory jargon.

Difficult Topics Are Only Difficult Because You Think They Are

This was something that i learnt the harder way. Everything looked difficult at the beginning. Everything. But the most difficult paper was maths. Because i had no teacher. Literally. I was learning from YouTube, searching different sites for tips and tricks. I thought it was too difficult and then i was like "i have to do it anyway no matter how much i brood" so i started from scratch like 3 months before my exams.

Tip: A mind set change is everything. If you think it is easy. The topic will be more bearable. If you think it's tough, it's going to be more tough. If you want some more tips for complex topics, click here.

Hope this helps !!! :)

Hi thanks for your informative posts! I am struggling with my studies and I really don't understand what the goal of studying should be. How do you actually study? And what usually is the aim to achieve? This is not about motivation btw.

Hey Anon!

First of all, i'm glad you like my posts, really appreciate it :)

What Is The Goal Of Studying?

It literally depends on you.

Entirely on your perception.

If you think studying is useless, then it will be useless. I personally would advise you to study for yourself. To be better. And to sharpen your skills. Don't study just because you have to, don't study because you need to. Study because you actually want to.

It may not be a problem related to motivation but it definitely can be a problem about purpose. You have no idea why you study and that may be the main problem. You haven't tied the act of studying to an actual emotion.

For me, the only way I pushed forward through high school was to remember some main purposes of mine.

Get into a good college (that has the lowest fees)

Get into a degree i love

Actually explore things without the hindrance of getting good grades

Purposes will differ from one person to another. Literally.

Goals are achieved by purposes. Have a strong purpose. Make it worthwhile.

So, How Do We Actually Study?

This also differs from person to person. You're asking a subjective question. I'll be honest. Studying is actually easy. Really easy. You just have to stick to the act long enough.

Let me break it down. You want to start getting your grades up, but you don't know how to because you just don't know the purpose of it. So,

1. Replace "Study" with "Learn"

You don't have to study. Studying is a repetitive job. Stuck in memorization and practice. You learn things that literally won't benefit you in real life (especially maths). But that is the whole negative aspect of it, you know how i see it? Like, i'm learning something new. It always excites me. I don't study for an exam, i learn for myself because i just love the prospect of knowing things.

Approach learning with curiosity and not obligation.

2. Chase Deep Understanding

Many students learn. They get good grades. But. If you ask them to show how one thing links to the other? Nope, they can't connect even simple concepts together as if whatever they've learned is completely unrelated when it's actually not. They can't apply the things they learn about. So, learn to apply.

The goal is not to recite but to internalize. Turn your curiosity into something really powerful.

3. Progress > Perfection

I always believe in this. I believe that a step in a particular direction consistently with a purpose is better than running miles in different directions with absolutely no idea where you're going.

I don't think there's anything wrong with perfection. It wastes time and energy. Give it your best and pray for the rest.

What Is The Aim Of Studying?

Not good grades

Not perfection

Not to be smart

But to be better than what we were yesterday.

Let's be honest, if you learn something, how can you not be curious about so many things you're learning about.

There's a difference in learning for grades and learning for the sake of learning. A very minute difference.

Your perception.

You learn for grades; it makes you entirely dependent on it. You seek validation.

When you learn to better yourself, be curious and love the process of the grind? That's a different feeling. You'll love what you do.

And let's be honest. You wouldn't want to be a complete clueless person here, would you? Read more. Harness your curiosity. Be open to failure.

Getting good grades won't mean you'll succeed in life, but it might increase your chances in some cases. If not, most cases.

Your Steps

Take a day off. Don't do anything. Don't pick up textbooks. Nothing.

Take a piece of paper and just write what feel about studying. Get all your frustration out.

Then take another paper and write what studying has thought you. Your accomplishments, not just in studying but for anything.

You learnt something new? Won in a competition? Anything. You will be more aware that maybe, just maybe that you are doing good but you aren't aware of that fact. Writing down the things you've achieved gives you an idea and a direction.

Now take another paper and write:

Why Do I Feel This Way?

Do I Actually Don't Like To Study Or I Just Don't Like The Perception Of Studying?

What Actually Pisses Me Off?

Since When Am I Feeling This Way?

And Most Importantly, Is There Someone Specific That Gives Me Such Ideas/Influences My Thoughts?

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I hope this helps you, even if small. Keep trying and trust the process <33

📁+📖

Hey lovely Anon! Thanks for the ask :D

📁 what is a project/assignment you’re really proud of?

Okay, so recently I had a computer project and we had to either make a video, animation or meme or whatever etc. And our team produced one video, one animation and 5 memes which was like alot of work in a span of 1-2 weeks. So, yeah, the teacher was really impressed and i was extremely happy with the results we got xD

Other one would also be a computer project, it was in junior year for the school exhibition. My friend and I did photoshop (like changing backgrounds, combining images etc) and yeah, that was cool xD

📖 a book/reading from your field you’d recommend/really enjoyed?

To be honest, I don't know what to say cause I'm still a senior in high school xD and i have no idea about what field I'll choose so... I don't know :")

85 days left

Okay, today was interesting ...

I got my results and I'm only disappointed in accounts.... Even though i didn't score that bad ://

Anyway, I am starting to be a little more productive atleast from some days... I'm planning to make use of this term because honestly I don't know how we are gonna get our final papers...

Today I:

Did accounts + made notes

Revised economics

Revised Business studies

And I'm currently reading this self help book "Think straight" by Darious Foroux. It's kinda good actually, it's been a while since I've read anything so it's nice from my usual routine.

💌 Send this to the twelve nicest people you know or who seem to have a good heart and if you get five back you must be pretty awesome. 💌 ✨🌹✨

Heyy :)

Thank you, really appreciated! Right back at you <3

Thanks for the tag! :D

wAmy (Study tips, self improvement etc etc)

Matt DiMaio (Study tips, motivation)

Organic Chemistry Tutor (Maths, Physics, Chemistry etc)

The Saheb Academy (Accountancy T-T)

Tagging: @agirlwithglam @girlwithherheadinthestars @panda-studiesmed @anna--studies @desi-girll @rain-is-studying @gajina and @-anyone-who-wants-to (no pressure :))

reblog this with your favourite study youtube channels of any kind (study with me's, study tips, channels that explain certain topics, etc) and tag your friends

I'll go first

fayefilms, effective study and productivity tips

abao in tokyo, study with me videos

nexa classes, the motherload of cbse math (Hindi)

@aimless-twig @foxscarf @honeyteastudies @worn-out-converse-girl-studies @amare-studyblr

Hey any last minute revision tips for tests/exams? I always struggle with it

Hey there Anon!

First of all, during revision, I try my level best to recall everything without actually going through the topic but it's kinda difficult so glance through the topic before you close the book and recall every single point.

Revise the chapters that you know well and are confident in first because it's better to thoroughly know some specific topics than being doubtful in every single topic.

Do not, under any circumstances, start to learn a new topic during revision (unless the topic is like really really important). It will only cause you panic.

If you find yourself distracted, move around alittle.

More distractions? Act like you're a tutor or teacher.

Don't study the whole topic line by line, recall important key words and examples.

Don't set a time limit for each topic. Set time limits for the whole syllabus. (Like, if you have 12 lessons. Think you'll complete 6 of them by the afternoon, allow 2 hours grace time and viola, you now know half the syllabus completely)

Take breaks. Both the 20 mins and 20 second breaks (-> 20 sec post)

Eat some snacks in between. I personally don't prefer meals because I get really lazy and sleepy after that.

Do not call your friends to ask how much they've revised because you'll definitely panick.

Go through your material. If you don't remember a topic which you actually have studied, write short notes just beside it.

Use past question papers and practice problems.

Quiz yourself. Say your answers out loud.

If you have no idea where to start, just go from the shortest chapters because then you'll feel like you have completed some syllabus.

Lastly, whatever you do, sleep early. Atleast before 11 pm because you need to be fresh for the exam.

Basically. Recall. Summarise. Quiz. Repeat.

Hope this helped! <3

♥️ love train! send this to all the blogs you love! don’t forget to spread the love! ♥️ (no pressure only if u want to ofc) 💟💟💟

Hii :))

Thank you! <3

Mistakes I made in my junior year that i don't want anyone else to repeat.

Signed up for more extra curriculars than I could handle

Not giving myself enough breaks

Sleeping late

Had increased screentime

Didn't give midterms it's dues importance

Lost my notes a couple of times so I had to rewrite them and thus, wasted time.

Thought too much about what people think

Had increased anxiety levels because i wasn't doing anything productive

Didn't study from the start

Got overconfident in the subject which was easy and ended up getting the lowest in it.

Gave too many f**ks about unimportant matters

Didn't give too many f**ks about important matters

Didn't manage my time

Got alittle too ambitious and ended up backfiring

Implemented every single piece of advice i got from teachers (didn't turn out well)

Unhealthy diet and reduced my meals

Didn't exercise.

(For both my reference and yours. I have definitely thought about how I can improve in my last and final year of highschool based on this and thought that this might help someone else too.)

If nobody hates you, you're doing something wrong