Study Tip of the Week

Ritualise your study routine
When we are born, one of the first things our parents do is try and get us in to a routine around our eating and sleeping patterns, usually resulting in a ritual of some kind, especially around bedtime. An example of this may be after a bath we have a story read to us, a bottle, and then bed. These 'cues' or 'triggers' repeated over and over get us used to these specific rituals so that when, for example, we have a bath at night, we will know what follows. 

These rituals can also be very useful when you are studying, especially if you tend to procrastinate or struggle to settle down to your daily homework.  Perhaps a routine may be of use??

There are many things that you can do to set this ritual up.
Here is an idea of what it might look like:

• When you get home, you put your school bag in your room and take out your lunchbox, sports gear and homework (this goes on your study desk or where you are going to do your homework)
• Change your school clothes and put them in the wash basket or hang them up
• Put on your Study Gear (this could be a favourite T-shirt, hat, sweater, woolly socks, scarf or some other form of clothes that you wear only when you are studying).  As soon as you finish studying you take it off.
• ​Have something healthy to eat and drink to refuel your lagging energy levels.
• Spend 15 minutes chatting with parents, siblings or playing with a pet (if they are present)
• Check your social media for 15 mins before you turn your phone off (this is the biggest distraction during study time - it requires a HUGE amount of discipline for this one.....).
• Put a Do Not Disturb, Genius at Work poster of your door so that you will not be disturbed while studying
• Choose the music you want to listen do
• Organise your files into the order in which you are planning to attend to your homework
• ​Tick off each item on your study planner sheet once you are done
• Have a 10 minute break for every 50 minutes you study - get up from your desk and go for a quick walk or stretch, maybe have a glass of water)
• When you finish your homework pack up your bags ready for school the next day 
• Give yourself some down-time as a reward for completing your homework - maybe some TV, computer game of chatting with a friend.  This will be more enjoyable knowing you have completed your homework.

This is just one suggestion.
Make a study routine that best suits you and your study priorities and goals.