If you don’t plan your study habits, it may be difficult for you to understand academic content as a student. But with this, you can tailor your strategy to guarantee academic success. If you’re a student who has trouble memorizing material, staying motivated, or managing your time effectively when studying, it can be useful for you to know what study habits are the least productive.
It takes expertise to study effectively. Consequently, it is easy to separate your routines into ineffective and productive study habits. We have compiled a list of poor study habits of college students so that you may stay away from them in an effort to improve your academic performance.
The importance of developing excellent study habits is discussed in this article, along with a list of 15 bad study habits and information on how to stop them.
Why is it important to practice good study habits?
Good study habits should be put into practice in order to get the most out of your efforts and guarantee academic success. The following advantages can be yours if you approach your study strategically:
- Better retention of information
- Effective use of time
- Improved work-life balance
- Academic success
1. Better retention of information
You may ensure that you retain knowledge more efficiently and for longer periods of time by practicing appropriate study habits. When studying basic content that grows upon itself and gets more difficult with more study, this may be extremely useful.
2. Effective use of time
Being savvy when studying may help you make the most of your time and enable you to finish all required readings without losing precious time. After this, you may take more time to analyze the materials and make sure you fully comprehend any pertinent ideas.
3. Improved work-life balance
If you have solid study habits, you could be able to remember knowledge better, find it simpler to access resources, and need to study for a less amount of time overall. From this point on, you may enhance your work-life balance so that you have the time and energy to focus on your personal life outside of school.
4. Academic success
You might be able to achieve academic success by employing strategic study habits if you keep in mind all the advantages listed above. Getting good grades might make it easier for you to approach your future education and employment with less worry and more drive.
15 bad study habits and how to fix them
Academic life is not complete without studying. And doing it well is crucial for success because frequently, obtaining a degree is insufficient. You’ll eventually learn what works and what doesn’t for you.
Examples of bad study habits are included on this list so you may decide if you engage in any of them. If so, it’s time to stop so that your study efforts can provide greater outcomes.
Here are 15 ineffective study habits and how to break them to improve your academic performance:
- Studying without a plan
- Procrastinating
- Managing time inefficiently
- Having access to your phone
- Multitasking
- Cramming the night before an exam
- Studying for memorization
- Using a disorganized approach
- Forgetting to take breaks
- Omitting old material
- Studying when you’re tired
- Eating junk food
- Missing class
- Allowing distractions
- Inefficient note taking
1. Studying without a plan
Without a plan, studying might result in an unorganized timetable with no clear direction. Due to this, it can be difficult for you to do all the required reading within the allotted time. To avoid this, be sure to prepare a plan before you start studying that specifies your objectives and lists every job you want to do each session.
2. Procrastinating
Your scholastic achievement may be significantly hampered by procrastination. You might not have enough time to go over all the necessary information before a test if you put off your studies. By adhering to a rigid schedule and beginning all of your projects at least a week before the due date, you can break this bad habit.
3. Managing time inefficiently
Students may spend hours studying with little progress in mastering the content. Poor time management frequently leads to this. By employing time management techniques, such as setting up a timetable you can follow and using timers to keep track of your efforts, you can prevent this.
You must set up time to study since it takes time. As a result, in order to allot the proper amount of time to studying each subject, you’ll need to grasp time management. Prioritizing activities, developing a calendar, splitting up large jobs into smaller ones, providing rewards, and rising up earlier in the morning to allow oneself more time in the day are some time management strategies.
4. Having access to your phone
You could have the want to check your social media accounts or reply to text messages while you’re studying. Despite this, using your phone can be a big distraction and make it difficult for you to concentrate on your work. Therefore, it’s better to turn off all of your electronic devices’ notifications while you work to prevent interruptions.
5. Multitasking
Many students think that multitasking will allow them to study more effectively and learn more in less time. This is frequently a misperception because task switching, or moving between activities briefly, might take longer than concentrating on one job at a time. Try to divide your studying assignments by similarity and finish them in sets rather than juggling several things at once and dividing your focus.
The reality is that you aren’t genuinely focused when you multitask, despite the fact that it could seem like a smart idea since you feel like you can accomplish numerous tasks in less time. People who concentrate on one subject at a time learn more and are more effective. You are less likely to retain knowledge if your brain is continuously changing activities. Additionally, you may exhaust yourself more rapidly.
Make a strategy, set priorities for your tasks, prioritize studying first, and minimize multitasking. You shouldn’t move on to the next item on your list until you have completed the previous one.
6. Cramming the night before an exam
Some students may believe they have the time and energy the night before a test to complete all of their studying. This strategy can be harmful since it frequently leads to ineffective time management, multitasking, and stress.
Avoid cramming by starting your studies early and doing a little bit every night instead. By studying your information gradually over a longer period of time, you may be better able to keep your motivation and retain knowledge.
Procrastination and cramming go hand in hand. If you wait until the last minute to study for an exam, you’ll probably end up memorizing or comprehending the material. Although this could be effective in the near term, you must remember that the majority of subject matter is cumulative and builds upon your prior knowledge.
Therefore, memorizing material at the last minute is not a good idea because what is learned rapidly is also likely to be forgotten quickly. Start by doing a little bit of homework each night after class. In this manner, you may gradually assimilate knowledge and truly retain what you learn better.
There’s a good probability that if you cram, you’ve been up late. As the name suggests, it refers to staying up all night studying. This is a lose-lose situation because you aren’t getting enough sleep and are stuck prioritizing memorization over comprehension. Additionally, sleep is essential for the brain’s operation and memory retention.
7. Studying for memorization
You should approach your study with the intention of completely understanding the content. Making useful connections between topics from previous or upcoming tests may be lost if you focus solely on memory during your study sessions. Utilizing strategic tools, such as content maps, to link knowledge and apply it practically will help you get beyond this obstacle and develop a better comprehension of the material.
8. Using a disorganized approach
Your ability to simplify your approach and utilize your time effectively may be hampered if your notes and other study resources are disorganized. Being proactive will help you get rid of your study disarray. To better organize your approach, make an effort to take detailed and well-organized notes regarding the subject covered in class and during assignments.
9. Forgetting to take breaks
Consistently taking breaks while you’re studying can help you maintain your level of productivity over time and keep your energy up. Burnout may occur more readily if you neglect to take breaks while studying. To make sure you’re getting adequate rest, try to take 10 to 25 minute breaks after 50 to 90 minutes of studying.
Regardless of how engaged you are when studying, remember to take pauses. Breaks give your brain time to process and remember the information. Additionally, you avoid weariness by taking a pause to recharge your brain. Check out this list of healthy study break activities for the body and mind.
10. Omitting old material
If you don’t have a firm grasp on previous content and leave it out of your workflow, you can find it difficult to advance in your studies. Include the content from that unit in your study if you performed badly on a prior test. This is especially true if the material you’re currently studying builds on ideas from earlier tests.
11. Studying when you’re tired
You might not be able to concentrate or as effectively as you could if you approached your studies when you were more alert. To prevent this, try to plan your study at the periods when you feel most productive. Consider arranging your studies for the morning instead of the evening, for instance, if you feel your energy levels are at their maximum then.
12. Eating junk food
It’s critical to nourish your body with nutritious foods when you’re studying so you have the energy to stay motivated and focused. If you consume junk food while you study, you can fall asleep earlier or feel groggy. You may avoid this by pre-planning your study snacks and selecting healthier options.
Despite the fact that it might not seem like it, what you put into your body will have an impact on how you study. Your brain and body will slow down if you diet badly and consume a lot of high-sugar and high-fat meals.
In their study “Nutrition and Students’ Academic Performance,” released by Wilder Research, the researchers discovered that consuming trans and saturated fats might impair memory and learning. Instead of bringing fatty and sugary meals, think about packing nutritious and convenient on-the-go snacks like apples, almonds, Greek yoghurt, raw vegetables, hummus, or roasted chickpeas.
13. Missing class
Whether you attend lectures in person or online, doing so will ultimately improve your learning. You will already possess the background information required to fully comprehend the topic since you will have studied the subject matter that was initially offered to you in class.
When you skip class, you’ll also need to spend a lot of time catching up by copying notes or consulting your classmates. You may spend that time studying and revising what you’ve previously learned instead.
Attending class is the only way to prevent missing it! To fit everything in around your class schedule, make a note of your timetable in advance. The good news is that you may be more flexible with your schedule if you decide to attend an online school. This is especially true if you enlist in a school that offers recorded sessions, allowing you to select when and where you want to learn.
14. Allowing distractions
Avoid being distracted! Distractions, like multitasking, divert your attention from your goals. As a result, you should create a dedicated study area that is free from distractions. Put your phone in do not disturb mode, turn off the TV, and get to work.
15. Inefficient note taking
You should take notes if you are in class, which you should be doing. You will have reference material to turn to in order to review what you learnt in class. If you don’t have any notes, start making some now! It appears as though you are not taking them if they are dispersed or difficult to locate when you are taking them. Try out several note-taking techniques to see which works best for you.
Conclusion
Your performance will surely be impacted by the way you decide to study. You could have nervousness on test day when taking an exam. Studying and being as prepared as you can ahead of time is one of the best methods to reduce that kind of anxiousness. When you do this, you might feel confident when taking an exam.
You should do your best to stop any inefficient study habits you may have in order to feel this way. Choose a handful to cut out of the list above if you find yourself participating in a number of them to get started on a healthier course of action. You’ll be able to develop productive study habits over time to achieve your best results!
Hey, I am Sachin Ramdurg. I run and manage futuredecider.com website that helps students, graduates, and professionals, to find and decide on their future career with ultimate future career advices and future career guides. I have an overall 12+ years of career guidance experience in multiple domains which has helped multiple students, graduates, and professionals to find the best career path for their future.