A Guide on How to Study

With all the improvements of technology, many of the students today have been exposed to countless choices of things from food to lifestyle. A type of gadget can have multiple brands to choose from. Anyone can choose their own hairstyle over the Internet. You can choose different entertainment channels. Everything today can give you myriad of choices which makes it impossible to choose correctly. Despite all these, some things never change. One of these is the way we SHOULD study.

1. Is my Study Place available to me whenever I need it?
   
   
   The most important thing in studying is of course, having a place to study. You'd better be off to the library if you don't have one.
2. Is my Study Place free from interruptions?
   
   
   It's not enough that you have your own private study place. It should be a place where you will not be disturbed by anyone around you for some petty things to do or pay attention to. It should be a place where no one will come in and tell you to do something else and just get back to what you are doing after. However little things these interruptions are, it will take time before you can get your focus back on your study.
3. Is my Study Place free from distractions?
   
   
   Research shows that most students study best in a quiet environment. You can have your own room and table, but have a TV or Radio on. You may say that you study best with music, but your brain can only function that much. Focus is never simultaneous. Other distractions come in the form of an Internet connection to your PC or laptop where you are able to surf those social networking sites and read updates from your friends. You cannot concentrate on your studies when you are too eager and excited to read about the lives of others. 
4. Does my Study Place contain all the study materials I need?
   
   
   Among the things needed are pens/pencils, paper, and reference books. Sometimes, our references are not enough. This is why we make use of a computer to surf the net. However, the danger in this is that you might have been surfing for two hours and still not find what you are looking for. If you don't know how to use Google or Yahoo, then don't use the computer at all. It will only transform into a form of distraction for you. These tools are called Search Engines, where you have to be knowledgeable in using keywords related to your topic of interest. You cannot ask these Search Engines the way you ask your teachers or any human being. Your textbooks and your notebook are still the best reference you can use. Using the web is like looking for a needle in a haystack and identifying whether it is indeed a needle or just a pin. 
5. Does my Study Space contain a large enough desk or table?
   
   
   It is important to have a desk that is large enough to contain everything you need. If you don't have something like that, or if your table is small, then you have to have no things on top of that table except the one you need to read. Only ONE. You cannot read two books at the same time. However, if you have a large table, then make sure that you only have ONE material to read in front of you. Put the other materials in sequence at the other corner of the table. 
6. Does my Study Place have enough storage space?
   
   
   Storage can come in the form of a notebook, or a digital media. I recommend using the notebook. Make sure that you have a separate notebook for each of your subject matters. If not, then make sure that you have divided your notebook properly. If you cannot find the designated notebook for a particular subject within 30 seconds, then you have not created an appropriate notebook. Why do I recommend a notebook despite the existence of other forms such as laptop, iPhone, or any digital media? Well, one thing about a notebook is that you write to it. It's like putting what you have read in application. A notebook will not give you distractions more than what those digital media can. Can you play solitaire or chess or poker in a notebook? I don't think so.
7. Does my Study Place have a comfortable chair?
   
   
   Choose the right chair to sit in. Not too high, not too low. Something that will not let you feel sleepy. Something that has a foam to make your butt comfortable, but doesn't contain too much of it like a couch where you can slouch and fall asleep. 
8. Does my Study Place have enough light?
   
   
   Not enough light in your study place will stress out your eyes sooner than you expect. Your eyes will exert more effort in trying to identify the characters in what you have been reading in a dim light compared to a well-lit place. Too much light is also not good. It will still stress your eyes. You will be feel sleepy with too much light. 
9. Does my Study Place have a comfortable temperature?
   
   
   If your Study Place is too warm, you might become sleepy. If it is too cold, your thinking may slow down and become unclear. If you are in an air-conditioned room, make sure that the temperature does not fall below what you are accustomed to. A room with a temperature of 16 degrees for me is not good, as I am from a tropical country--not used to cold weather.