What Not to Do When Studying

A few years ago, people thought the key to learning was hours and hours of plowing through flashcards. We now know, of course, that effective studying requires much more effort. It’s one of those activities where there are a lot of ways to screw up.

Studying hard is all very well, but how do you do it without making some of those silly little study mistakes that can completely derail you? For a start, there are a few things you should avoid if you really want to optimize your learning experience.

We’ve rounded up 12 things that you should NOT do while studying to help you avoid as many obstacles as possible on your journey to reaching the top of the academic world.

What Not to Do When Studying

1. Cramming the Night Before Your Exam

Cramming for exams is the academic equivalent of running through rush hour traffic without a map. In the short term, it might not seem like it, but it’s likely to set you back for quite some time and is one of the worst things you can do for your brain. Cramming might be effective if you’re trying to pass an exam, but it won’t help you retain the information for very long.

What to do instead:

Plan ahead and study a little bit each day, starting as early as possible. Don’t save all your studying for the last minute. The more time you give yourself to learn new information, the better your brain will be at keeping it.

Related: How To Make Good Grades In Middle School

2. Multitasking

Multitasking while studying is like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube with boxing gloves on. You might think you can get a lot done when you study, but your brain isn’t meant to focus on more than one thing at a time.

What to do instead:

Focus on one thing at a time. Turn off your phone, put it on silent, or leave it in another room. Shut off the TV, put it on mute, or better yet, unplug it. Focus on what you’re studying, and nothing else.

Related: How To Avoid Using Phone While Studying

3. Studying in a Disorganized Space

Messy desks can make you feel anxious, which, in turn, can make it difficult to focus. Studies show that when our environments are chaotic, our brains feel the same way.

What to do instead:

Clear your desk, pick up your stuff, and make sure your study space is organized. Spend a few minutes tidying up before you study, and you’ll be amazed at how much better you can focus.

Related: 15 Effective Ways To Avoid Sleep While Studying

4. Studying Without Taking Breaks

Trying to cram as much information into your brain as possible is a recipe for burnout. If you’re going to study effectively, you have to take regular breaks, or your brain won’t be able to focus for long.

What to do instead:

Use the Pomodoro Technique or some other method of time management to ensure that you take regular breaks during your study sessions. For example, study for 25 minutes, then take a five-minute break. After four study sessions, take a longer break of 15-30 minutes. This gives your brain time to recharge, which helps you focus and be more productive when you do study.

Related: How To Make Studying Aesthetic

5. Highlighting Everything

Some students make the mistake of highlighting too much. While it’s important to know which parts of your textbook are the most important, you can go too far.

What to do instead:

Instead of just highlighting, write down notes in your own words, summarize what you’ve learned, or try teaching it to someone else. Active recall, or testing yourself on the material, is one of the most effective study techniques.

Related: How To Memorize When Studying

6. Ignoring Sleep

Sleep is important for so many reasons, but if you want to be a good student, you need to get enough of it. Sleep deprivation affects your ability to focus and retain information, so if you’re not sleeping enough, you’ll have a hard time keeping up with your studies.

What to do instead:

Get enough sleep, and don’t skimp on it. Make sure you get 7-9 hours of sleep every night, and don’t sacrifice it the night before an exam.

7. Only Studying the Easy Stuff

It can be tempting to just focus on the material that you already know or the topics that you find easiest. However, this is one of the most effective ways to make sure you don’t fully understand everything you need to know for your exam.

What to do instead:

Do the hard stuff first. Spend more time on the topics that give you the most trouble, and come back to the easy stuff later. This will help you ensure that you know everything you need to know before the exam, not just the parts you’re already comfortable with.

8. Passive Learning

Passive learning is when you read or listen to a lecture but don’t do anything else. While it might feel like you’re getting work done, passive learning isn’t as effective as when you engage with the material.

What to do instead:

Engage with the material. Ask questions, make mind maps, or take notes. Try to relate what you’re learning to real-world examples or come up with ways to explain it to someone else. The more you get involved, the more you’ll be able to remember.

9. Not Reviewing Your Material

Reviewing your notes is one of the most effective ways to ensure that you’ve got everything you need to know down. However, some students make the mistake of only going over their notes once or twice before an exam.

What to do instead:

Review your notes regularly. Don’t wait until the night before an exam to go over everything. Instead, review your material weekly or bi-weekly. This will help you ensure that you understand everything you need to know.

10. Studying by Yourself All the Time

Studying by yourself is fine, but sometimes you need a little help. Group studying is a great way to get extra help, and it’s also a great way to make sure you understand everything you need to know.

What to do instead:

Study with others. Form a study group with some classmates, or talk to your professor or a tutor. Discussing material with others can help you understand it better, and you might be able to help them understand it better too.

11. Ignoring Your Physical Health

It’s easy to forget to take care of yourself when you’re busy studying, but it’s important to do so. Your physical health affects your ability to focus and retain information, so if you’re not taking care of your body, you won’t be able to do your best.

What to do instead:

Get some exercise, eat right, and drink plenty of water. Take a walk, do some stretches, or grab a healthy snack. It’ll help you stay energized and focused when you’re studying.

12. Setting Unrealistic Goals

Big goals are great, but they can be hard to reach if you set them too high. It’s important to be ambitious, but if you set your goals too high, you’ll likely feel discouraged and give up.

What to do instead:

Set realistic goals. Make sure your goals are achievable, and break them down into smaller, more manageable goals. This will help you stay motivated and on track.

Final Thoughts

Study smart, not hard. There are a lot of ways to make mistakes when studying, but if you avoid these 12 common ones, you’ll be on your way to becoming a better student.

You’ll also be able to focus more on the things that are important, which will help you do better in school. And, as a bonus, you’ll be able to get more done in less time, which means you’ll have more time to spend doing the things you love.

So next time you’re about to sit down to study, take a minute to think about what you should not do and make sure you’re setting yourself up for success!

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