Getting used to self-guided study

Self-guided study

Self-guided study is not something that comes naturally to many of us. It is a skill that can take time and practice to develop. Being prepared and having a goal in sight helps.

Without the motivation of an exam coming up, it may feel like studying is a pointless chore. As with going to the gym, sometimes the hardest part is actually getting up and going. But afterwards, we can feel even better than we thought.

This creates a positive reward cycle. Self-directed learning is similar. It’s about taking ownership, responsibility and most importantly, taking control back.

There are a few different strategies you can try to help motivate yourself. Look through some of our suggestions below to make the most of your self-directed learning.

Study environment

A messy study space can make it harder to concentrate. This can be the desk that you work at, or the desktop on your computer. Lots of unnecessary textbooks or open tabs can create distraction.

When procrastinating, the smallest things can seem entertaining. Take a few minutes to tidy your environment to better focus on content that you need to be studying.

Apps like Forest can help by blocking your access to social media, and limit your ability to look at non-education websites.

Tomás, youth volunteer, talks to Fiona, Jigsaw clinician, about the importance of creating a study space for yourself.

Exercise to get going

Heading off to do some exercise may seem counterproductive instead of studying. But it can help to improve productivity. Most of the time when we’re unsure how or where to start, we sit at our desks feeling stuck.

Begin your study session with a walk or a quick YouTube workout. This can help by giving you the feeling you’ve gotten something done.

Feeling a sense of accomplishment will carry over when you hit the books. Momentum from achievements, regardless of how small, can be a catalyst for study. Plus, we know that exercise can help our mental health too.

Group study

To keep on track, planning an online study group can be helpful. You can all choose to cover a specific topic, and chat about it together. Or you can pick a theme and work out problems as a group.

Be mindful of how the group dynamic will impact your studies as well. Chatting with others who are stressed can increase our own stress levels. Make sure you’re comfortable with those on the calls and feel everyone will contribute equally.

Study schedule

Planning and committing

When getting started, it can seem impossible to know where to begin. This feeling can grow into dread or a lack of confidence.

Manage this by breaking down tasks and planning ahead. When you plan and write down study goals, you’re committing to the task. Focus on one task at a time as it allows your brain to concentrate better and reduce anxiety.

Use of time

Studying for end of year exams or writing a thesis are big tasks that can seem far away. Understandably, it may be difficult to keep motivated over a long period of time. Figure out how to use your time most effectively.

If you know you work best in short spurts, use that strength to your advantage. Set a timer for 20 minutes and focus on one task for that time, with a five-minute break afterwards. Then recommit to another 20 minutes on a different topic.

Or you may prefer to dedicate a big chunk of time to get a piece of work over the line. So you then don’t have to worry about it later.

If you find something just isn’t sinking in. Or it’s really hard to put into the right words for your assignment, note it down, and move on. You can always go back and edit later. Keeping yourself moving is a great way to maintain motivation.

Study approaches

There are many different approaches to studying. Switching it up by trying different ways can help figure out what works best for you. Some study approaches are:

• Reading over notes
• Making up songs or acronyms to help you remember
• Writing out and answering practice questions
• Using mind maps or visuals
• Re-writing and condensing notes to help you review and focus on the important information
• Finding ways the topic applies to your own life to make it feel more relatable
• Reading to yourself out loud, some people remember easier through sound
• Looking at or write a case study to help the topic come to life
• Flashcards can be created using notes or visuals
• Reading over work or notes your friends did and having a chat about it after
• After reading, writing out the content in your own words, or as you would explain it to a small child. This can simplify topics and make them easier to remember
• Watch YouTube videos, documentaries or listen to Podcasts related to the subject.

Visualisation

Visualisation is a powerful learning tool. It is basically your brain rehearsing completing difficult tasks. This lays down pathways that make it easier to do the task in reality. 

Visualising yourself studying and doing well on an assignment or exam can help achieve that goal.

Reward yourself

An episode of your latest Netflix obsession, snacks, or ordering something you’ve been saving for, can all be rewards for achieving goals. Reminding yourself of your chosen rewards, big or small, can be a useful nudge when you get distracted.

Keeping the end goal in sight is great. But it is equally important to have short-term goals along the way. Take a moment to ask yourself, would you prefer smaller goals daily? Or a bigger goal at the end of the week/month?

Make sure to use breaks and rewards when you are planning how you will study. You got this!