8 Study Tips That Will Set You up for a Productive Day - Tiffany Tang
Feeling distracted or unmotivated? As teenagers, a good portion of our day is used for studying. However, like many of my peers, I often feel unmotivated to get any work done at all. They say “time is our most valuable asset”. So, let’s honour God by being good stewards of our time.
Here are a few study tips that work for me:
Pray
Before I even pick up my pen, I like to ask God for the strength and productivity. You don’t have to strive on your own because God has equipped you with everything that you need. Pray for a focused mind and no distractions in Jesus’ Name!
Find the right place
Your environment is so vital for your productivity. Ever wondered why some of you guys study better at night? It’s because of the tranquillity of the night. Your phone is not always buzzing, and there isn’t noise from passing cars. If you feel that is the best environment for you to study in, you can try to recreate that same environment in the day. Draw the curtains (making sure there is sufficient light), turn on the a.c. or fan, and put on your earphones.
Some like the ambience of cafes; with many overlapping conversations and the tinkling of coffee cups and saucers. Some also enjoy the company of friends to keep them on track and motivated. It’s never the same for everyone, so find the environment that works best for you!
Plan your to-do list
A good to-do list is specific, realistic, time-bound, and organised according to the importance of each task. Firstly, be specific with your assignments. ‘Revise for Math test’ is NOT specific, while ‘Read Chapter 9-11 of Math textbook and do exercise 7 & 8’ is specific. Secondly, plan out your day realistically. Include breaks and buffer time. Thirdly, aim to finish each task at a particular time. This helps with urgency so that you maximise the use of your time. Lastly, categorise your tasks into your ‘needs’ and ‘wants’. Your ‘needs’ are the things that you have to get done on that day. In contrast, your ‘wants’ are things that you can put off to another day, such as going shopping and watching a movie. I feel that this helps motivate me to finish my work so that I can do the things that I want to do.
Don’t get too stressed about following this list to a tee. Improve on it along the way as you better understand what works best for you.
Get a drink
Drinking water helps with fatigue and helps increase your concentration. So drink up!
Music
I love to put on some instrumental worship while I study. It fills up the spaces in my mind where I would otherwise fill with random thoughts like “What should I eat for lunch?” Music also puts me in a good mood to be efficient as I study! Of course, it is different for each individual, some may find music distracting while it helps others concentrate.
Flashcards, mind maps, notes & slides
There are so many methods of getting information in your head. If you’re more of a visual person, mind maps may work better for you. If you’re a verbal learner, you may want to read out your notes to a mirror. Find out what works best for you and stick to it!
What is your motivation?
This is such an important point! What are you studying for? Is it to please your parents? Or to get into your dream school? There are no wrong answers here, but you must have a sustainable source of motivation. One that you can rely on to align you back to the “why”. Why are you studying in the first place?
Priorities
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Lastly, trust in God that He will be by your side. Seek first His kingdom and don’t worry too much about your studies because He is a good God who will guide you through it. Ask for His assistance and guidance when you feel weary. And set aside time for your Heavenly Father even in your wildest storms because He is with you always.
Tiffany Tang
Tiffany is a part of our Kingdomcity Youth family in Singapore.