Bad Study Habits to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)

You know you need to get rid of your bad study habits. There are many great ways to learn, but there are also many bad methods. Let’s look at study methods to avoid and those to prioritize so you can remember all the material and study for your next test.

Avoid These Bad Study Habits

• Rewriting: Rewriting is good if you’re clarifying and condensing your material (and you should rewrite your notes immediately after class to help you remember them better), but it’s not the best strategy for remembering information if you’re just rewriting everything you’ve already done. written over and over again. The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests shortening notes to the point that they include only key concepts. After this, or instead, try using active retrieval , a technique that requires you to retrieve information from short-term memory so that the information is retained longer. You can use flashcards, summarize chapters and notes out loud, or take a practice test—and this will be more useful than simply rewriting.
• Taking linear notes. Writing down what you hear during a lecture is important, but doing so in a productive and useful manner is even better. And while it may not seem like it’s really “training,” remember that it’s the first big step toward overall retention. Simply writing down key words and phrases, or worse, every word, will not help you identify key concepts or make connections between them. Instead, use a note-taking method such as note-taking or the Cornell method to actively listen and write down the most important information as you go. And don’t forget to repeat them immediately after class!
• Cramming: Cramming is an inevitable part of college, but it’s not an ideal way to study every time you take a test. In fact, scientists and researchers suggest that it may even backfire , causing you to remember less for an important test. Instead, plan to study over several days. Use the distributed practice technique to create an ideal study schedule based on when your next test will be. This requires more discipline, but will help you remember more material over longer periods of time, making it ideal for cumulative finals as well as regular old quizzes.
• Don’t take breaks. Try not to take breaks while studying, even if you’re not cramming. A key element of distributed practice is breaking up learning sessions into chunks. You’re more productive when you take breaks , so try using the Pomodoro method to consistently schedule those breaks.
• Over-focusing while studying: The University of British Columbia warns its students against over-focusing , and for good reason: when you make everything a highlight, you don’t remember the pieces of information that really are. Color coding texts and notes has its benefits , but only if you do it intentionally and carefully. Instead of putting too much emphasis on it, try reading critically, using methods like SQ3R or KWL , to determine exactly what you want to learn before you start studying, narrowing down the concepts you need to look for and remember.