So you have enrolled in a course and now all you have to do is hop online and start watching the videos.

What happens, though, if the days slip by and you still haven’t started? How can you make your study into a habit? Here are seven study habits to cultivate.

Habit 1

Set a particular time of day to study and guard it closely. Enter it into your diary as an appointment. Try to keep your study time free of other commitments, or if something truly clashes, set an alternative study time before committing to something else. While the same time each day makes for the best habit, this might not be possible for your schedule. You might need it to be Monday morning before breakfast, Tuesday evening at 8 pm, Wednesday on the train coming home from work, Thursday at lunchtime, etc.

Habit 2

Make it a habit to turn off distracting apps such as social media alerts and email accounts. Turn off your phone unless you are using it for your course. Switch it to silent if you can’t turn it off. You can talk to people after you finish your study session.

Habit 3

Set up a comfortable, convenient place to study. If you have to spend ten minutes clearing a space to set up your workspace every day, it will eat into your study time. Collect your notebook and a few pens, some scrap paper, and your device for watching the course videos. When it’s time to start, make a habit of following a quick routine to follow when preparing to study. The act of putting on and wearing headphones helps me focus for study, even before I start listening to videos.

Habit 4

Set up a Pomodoro timer if you are having trouble forming a study habit. Sometimes, making a start is the hardest part. The Pomodoro can help you clear that first hurdle. Read how to make the most of the Pomodoro here. If you think of something that needs doing while the Pomodoro is running, jot it down on your scrap paper. This helps keep your mind clear for study.

Habit 5

Too much junk food can affect your health. Don’t set up a junk food habit! If you snack while studying, make it something healthy like vegetable sticks, a piece of fruit, and water or unsweetened drinks. Too much caffeine can affect your concentration or disturb your sleep. Alcohol and study don’t mix very well.

Habit 6

Exercise can help the blood flow. Every half hour or so, take a short break and stand up. Move around. Do some jumping jacks or march on the spot. Dance around the room. Take a short walk. The evidence is building: increasing the heart rate improves your cardiovascular health, improves your brain’s capacity to learn, reduces your risk of diseases including diabetes and dementia, and helps your mood. Learning How to Learn co-instructor Terrence Sejnowski incorporates a daily exercise habit to help him think and learn better. Terry mentions his exercise habit on page 131 of Learning How to Learn: How to Succeed in School Without Spending All Your Time Studying; A Guide for Kids and Teens by Barbara Oakley and Terrence Sejnowski.

Habit 7

Trying to study while tired is difficult. Make it a habit to set aside sufficient rest time each night. A useful course could be Coursera’s Sleep: Neurobiology, Medicine, and Society. Or you could enroll in Biohacking Your Brain’s Health.

A Final Thought

Sometimes the most effective way to achieve goals is to form a habit and work towards the goal every day. Making study into a habit will help you finish that course and reach your goal.

By Pat Bowden, published October 23, 2018.