All of us are aware of the power of self-study through the examples of Einstein, Tesla, and others. Earlier, students had to struggle to arrange study resources. But now, it is much easier with numerous online resources. All you need is to pour your heart into studying and achieving your goals. Self-study is what you learn outside the classroom by yourself. Self-learning doesn’t include examinations, it is something you do to broaden your knowledge. A habit of self-study can take your career to great heights and improve your problem-solving skills. So, let’s see how to do self-study like a pro.
Develop a habit of taking notes
Doesn’t matter whether you are attending college lectures or learning from any online courses platform, develop a habit of taking notes yourself. Taking notes regularly can help retain knowledge and help you clear doubts. Using a colorful sticky note or highlighting important topics can be helpful in the last-minute revision before exams.
Short study sessions with sufficient breaks
Do you find yourself lost somewhere else when you sit for hours during self-studying? Well, that’s normal as we humans have a very short attention span. So, to avoid wasting time, divide a chapter into the topics of short sessions, including short breaks in between. You will see that you will be able to complete the chapter readily. Also, try not to use your mobile phone or social media apps during the break as you might end up scrolling for hours. Instead, do some stretching, listen to music, or take a snack break.
Set up a study environment
Staying concentrated while studying is the biggest challenge for students with so many gadgets and distractions. So, maintaining a study environment can be of great help. Choose a designated spot in your house for self-study. You can study effectively by crouching on the bed or lying on your sofa. Having a particular study space means you are mentally ready to study at that place without distractions.
Set achievable goals
Sometimes, learners set unrealistic goals while studying and get demotivated when they can’t achieve them. It is always better to understand your pace of learning and set goals effectively. You should start with setting small goals and gradually increase them when you develop a habit of self-study. Go easy on yourself and give your mind a proper time to relax. Also, don’t forget to give yourself small rewards when you complete your weekly or monthly goals.
Do what works for you
Different students have different paces and styles of learning. Some are visual learners while others like taking notes. There are different techniques for learning like Pomodoro, flashcards, video learning, etc. So, find what suits your learning style the best rather than doubting your learning ability.
Revise regularly
If you know about the learning curve, you must know that our knowledge about a topic fades away if we don’t revise it from time to time. So, reviewing what you learned every day helps remember the concept for a more extended period. If you spare at least 15 minutes daily for revision, you can avoid cramming the exam time in the future.
Connect with other learners
If you find it difficult to keep up your studies alone, you can make a study group in college or join an online learning community. You can join discussion forums and connect with mentors too. It will increase your motivation, improve communication skills, and make your self study sessions fun.
Share your knowledge
The best way to test your knowledge is to share it. If you can share your knowledge and get positive feedback from others, you’ll be motivated to study more. Many students also sell their online courses and earn a good amount. You can search for how to sell courses online and start selling your courses online. You can also teach other students the recent topic you learned.
Bottom line
Self-study is the greatest tool to boost your career. Once you develop a habit of self-study, it opens endless possibilities for you at personal and professional levels. Technology has made it even easier by making resources available at your fingertips. So, use it to the fullest and keep learning.