The key to becoming an effective student is learning to study smarter, not harder. This becomes more true as you advance in your education. While some students make it through college with minimal fuss, the vast majority of them struggle to keep up. College is full of destruction and for some strange reason there is not enough time to do everything you want and especially study. There are simply not enough hours in the day to complete all your studies and also engage in extracurricular activities, especially if you don't know how to study smart. Studies have shown that there are particular study habits that, if mastered, can help you succeed in college. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay So if you want to become a successful student in college, don't be discouraged, don't give up, just work on developing each of the study habits below and you'll see your grades go up, your knowledge increase, and your ability to learn and assimilate information improve. 1. Optimal time management: If you want to have time for everything, you need to figure out how to fit everything into your schedule. A key part of time management for students is studying effectively. You need to make sure that the time you spend studying counts. Create a timetable for all your subjects. Consider spending at least one or two hours studying for every hour spent in class. Have a schedule that makes sense and include free study time, things may occur that can interfere with the set schedule. This open time will fill in those gaps you missed. A good schedule will ensure you don't spend too much time on your favorite topic to the detriment of others. Be strict about sticking to your schedule and make sure you stick to it. 2. Organize your space: Designate a specific area for studying. Try to work at your desk or table, not on your bed or in a comfortable chair that might encourage napping. Don't put anything else in this space except study materials. This way you won't have any distractions around you. It will also limit time wastage as you won't have to waste precious time locating study material under a pile of trash or clothes. 3. Study effectively: You need to study smart and not hard. Hoarding and studying for hours is not what you need. Try reading the chapter before going to the class lesson on the topic. It's helpful to know what the professor is talking about before you get there. This will also help you better understand what the professor is talking about since you will already be familiar with the topic of the discussion. You can also ask for clarification on points that you did not understand clearly while studying on your own. 4. Know when it's time to take a break: There comes a time when we all hit a wall while studying or working on an assignment. Taking a break when you feel frustrated really helps a lot. Try taking a 15-minute walk to distract yourself. Even a short break will help you move forward. Consider finding a short exercise routine to do during this time if you don't feel like leaving your room. Take at least a 10-minute break for every hour of studying to make it easier to study for longer periods of time. This little break is very necessary as it will help you refuel and regain your energy. You can also have a healthy snack during this little break just to give your mind something else to think about. 5. Reward yourself when you deserve it: If you have difficulty studying regularly like most do.