It’s been quite some time, but here is another guest post by the lovely MekaylaSilver. You can find her on YouTube and nag her to make a new video!

Here are her 7 tips on how to study from home:

Hello Again

I am almost done with my second year of university, wow this year went super-fast. For the past two years, I have been studying from home. I wouldn’t call it studying online since all my work is in physical books and papers and I write my exams at an exam venue with a pen and a paper. The only thing I do online is submit my assignments, check my marks and read university related emails from lecturers and e-tutors. So, you could technically say I am doing the grown-up version of homeschooling.

I am accountable for all my assignments being submitted on time and learning all my work by myself since I don’t go to classes where my work is explained to me. I have to make sure I give myself sufficient time to work through all my textbooks. So, I thought I would share some tips on how I successfully study from home and give myself the opportunity to do as well as I possibly can. Of course, all these tips could be used with any kind of study whether you attend classes or not.

1. Schedule

Daily routines and daily schedules are very important. If you don’t have a daily routine it becomes very easy to procrastinate and just not get to all your work. I, for example, set out to do my work/studies between 9am and 12pm. I make it a goal of mine to be at my desk, already dressed and done with breakfast, ready to work. The great thing about studying from home is that you can make your own schedule that works for you and your lifestyle and obligations.

2. Planning

This is an essential step because without planning it is very easy to fall behind and then panic at the last minute. The first thing I do is write all my assignment due dates and my exam dates into my diary (see number 4) so that I have a visual reference to when they all need to be done. I then plan when I am going to get these assignments done, and no I don’t mean two days before each one is due. I personally like to give myself at least a two week break between my assignments and when I start studying for my exams. I find that breaks are very necessary for me as I have an already full packed schedule. This requires setting a due date to finishing all my assignments, which often means weeks before they are due, and making sure I get them done by that date or week I have set.  

3. Be Organised

This step is very simple. Organisation creates a clear mindset and prevents stress. Make sure you know where all your study materials are for each subject, keep everything together that needs to be together and find a system that works for you. I have plastic drawers which are rainbow coloured and each drawer has a subject label on it. That way I keep all of those subjects books in the correct drawer and anything relating to that subject. When I want to work on a specific subject, I know exactly where everything is.  

4. Planner

Getting a planner which works for you is very helpful and this might need some trial and error. I have gone through diaries, desk calendars, bullet journals and I have finally settled into digital planning which works amazingly for me. So finding a planner that works for you is key to planning success.

5. Set Goals

Setting goals and sticking to them will ensure that all your work is done when you want it to be done. You could, for example, set out to do question 1 on Monday and question 2 on Tuesday and so on. Keep yourself accountable for sticking to these goals. Remember… changing your goals is okay too. If you are having an off day or find that what you set out to accomplish cannot be done, then change your goals to work for you. This does not include laziness!

6. Use Colour

I have found that colour-coding my subjects has been so helpful because then my study schedule can consist of my calendar being coloured or highlighted, instead of the boring and tedious “study this subject on this week”. It makes everything more fun and aesthetically pleasing and make having to study just that little bit more bearable.

7. Study Techniques

Use study methods that work for you. I can’t tell you how to study because everyone’s brains work differently and everyone studies different. Find a method such as highlighting, making notes, making summaries or any other technique that works best for your brain. Personally, I highlight the important parts in my textbooks and study guides because my brain loves colour. I sometimes make notes, although my notes mostly include summaries of whole sections and lists! It’s always nice to have everything on page as an overview. I also make sure to work through past papers because they are extremely helpful in getting an idea of what your exams will look like.  

Although studying from home is not for everybody, I love it and I am so grateful that I get to have this lifestyle which enables me to live my dreams such as being a (kind of professional) Spanish dancer and being able to make the most of the opportunities I get. It also allows me time to work so that I can earn some money and save up for things such as travelling and of course the many expenses that come with being a dancer. I honestly love my lifestyle and the hard work always pays off!  

Thank you for another great post!

I hope we’ll hear from her again soon.

xoxo

Binx