Tag Archive for: SMART

How to Keep Studying, Even in the Summer

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studying in summer

Summer is here, the sun is shining, and who wants to be stuck inside? Unfortunately, the seasons don’t pay attention to our responsibilities. Studying can be a challenging and sometimes frustrating experience, especially when the weather is calling us to go do other things. It can be difficult to focus for extended periods, retain information, and stay motivated over time. However, with the right strategies and mindset, you can improve your efficiency and effectiveness as a student.

Here are some specific strategies that can help you become more efficient and effective at studying:

  1. Set clear goals: Start by setting clear study goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). This will give you a clear sense of direction and purpose as you approach your studies. (Check out our blog on exactly this topic!)
  2. Plan your study sessions: Create a study schedule that fits with your daily routine and breaks down your study goals into manageable tasks. Use tools like calendars, planners, or apps to help you stay on track.
  3. Minimize distractions: Find a quiet, well-lit space with comfortable seating and minimal distractions. Turn off your phone or other devices that may pull your attention away from studying.
  4. Use study aids: Experiment with different study aids like flashcards, diagrams, or mnemonic devices to help you retain information more effectively.
  5. Take breaks: To avoid burnout and maintain focus, take regular breaks every 30-45 minutes. During your breaks, do something relaxing like taking a walk or stretching.
  6. Stay motivated: Keep yourself motivated by rewarding yourself for achieving study goals, visualizing success, and surrounding yourself with positive support systems.

To become more efficient at studying, it’s important to develop strategies that address these challenges directly. For example, planning your study sessions and breaking down large goals into smaller, manageable tasks can help you stay focused and motivated. Creating a conducive study environment and using study aids can help you retain information more easily. Finally, taking regular breaks and staying positive can help you avoid burnout and stay motivated over time.

Ready to stay motivated this summer?

Give our question banks a try- FREE- using our Free Trial! Or if you’re ready to take the plunge, check out our Question Banks and find the perfect fit for you! Or, contact us with any questions you have so we can get you on the right path today!

The Myth of New Year’s Resolutions

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Every year when New Years rolls around people get a new spurt of ambition to suddenly make themselves better. They make New Year’s resolutions that they’re going to exercise more, drink more water, study more, get that promotion at work…the list goes on and on. But a few weeks later, the vast majority of those people haven’t made any strides toward those goals, and they seem to have lost their motivation to try. Why? Are New Year’s resolutions destined to fail?

Last Year’s Resolutions

Going into 2022, the top resolutions were focused around becoming healthier. On the coattails of the corona virus, that’s not super surprising. The better question, though, is how long do these resolutions last?

Top U.S. New Year's resolutions for 2022

Not super long. After 1 week, about 25% of people give up. And that number continues to drop as time goes on.

Do resolutions really help?

Not all resolutions are a waste of time. Recent statistics show that after 6 months about 46% of people are still holding on to their resolutions and working towards them. Roughly 16% will make it through the whole next year and/or fulfill their original resolution. Imagine if a higher percentage of people could follow through and achieve their goals!

The issue arises when the goals being made are too vague, too hard, or unsustainable over time. Or the person just gets bored with the whole thing. That’s a recipe for disaster! So how can we help make these resolutions stick?

Make SMART resolutions

The acronym SMART can help! And we all know that you’re a smart cookie, so that should be easy to remember 🙂

S- Specific

M- Measurable

A- Achievable

R- Realistic/Relevant

T- Timely

Your goals should be specific. As seen above, the top resolution was “to exercise more”. This might seem SMART, but it could actually be better. A SMART resolution would be “to complete 300 pushups in 90 days”. This resolution is specific in the type of exercise (so there’s no waffling at the gym), it’s measurable by counting the number of pushups done each time exercising is done, it’s (probably) achievable if done in safe increments, it can be broken into realistic segments (maybe 30 pushups a day!, and it’s timely in that it has a deadline (you can’t put it off indefinitely).

Make your 2023 resolutions SMART!

We want to help you stick to your resolutions! Need help coming up with SMART goals? Contact us with any questions you have so we can get you make a plan to tackle 2023 and make it your year! Want to make a goal to study more? Check out our Question Banks and find the best option for you! You’ve got this, and can definitely achieve whatever resolutions you put your mind to!