How to Stay in ‘Study Mode’ (Nearly) All Summer Long
After a winter that many of us would frankly rather forget, summer seems to be with us at last, even if travel restrictions, social distancing, and limitations on gatherings make it a season that’s distinctly different from previous years (2020 excepted). So it’s fair to say that most of us are adopting a decidedly cautious approach to warm-weather plans and trips away.
Nonetheless, whether you are heading off on holiday or not, the summer heralds a change of rhythm, routine and weather: the promise of a different pace of life.
For many, it means a change in working regime and schedule. Family life also shifts gear as children are off school. And, of course, it’s important that you enjoy your summer and make the most of the many opportunities it offers to draw breath, relax, recharge batteries, and perhaps take stock. It’s certainly a precious time of year.
However, equally, if you have exams on the horizon, you don’t want to lose your study focus completely over the warmer weeks and months. This can happen all too easily in the long, hazy days of summer when nothing seems desperately urgent. But if you yield to the temptation of taking an extended break from your books, this will make catching up far harder when September rolls around again – which it will do all too quickly.
Summer offers an ideal opportunity to try out new study techniques, to focus on the areas that have previously challenged you the most, and to consolidate what you’ve learned this year so far.
Here are a few tips to help ensure you stay motivated:
1 – Stay cool
It may sound obvious, but take care not to get overheated as the mercury rises. Fill a bowl with ice, then point a fan in the direction of the area you want to cool down and put the bowl in front of it before switching on. Replace the ice as it melts.
Open windows and doors so that the air circulates; keep yourself well hydrated (always have a water bottle on or close to your desk), and wear loose-fitting cotton clothing too. This will help you stay as comfortable as possible for as long as possible.
2 – Change where you work
Summer can open up more possibilities than other times of year for working in different places, especially if you want to focus on doing a lot of reading. Pick a park bench, outdoor café, riverside spot or grassy patch under a tree and get stuck in for the afternoon.
Alternatively, if you’re staying put at home, make sure you work in the coolest room of the house.
3 – Change the time of day you work
Again, this may sound obvious, but it really does make a difference. Early mornings and evenings are clearly going to be more comfortable times to work. Moreover, if you have children at home over the holiday, they may well still be in bed if you study either first thing or in the evening. There’s no school or packed lunches to worry about, and studying early or late means you have more time at other points in the day to enjoy family life.
Here are a few tips to help stay motivated to study during the summer months. Share on X
4- Have a schedule – and stick to it
Even if your summertime schedule is different, make sure you do have a structured timetable in place. Work little and often, and incorporate regular revision sessions dedicated to the topics you have found hardest previously. Now is your chance to really make sure you’ve got your head around the toughest challenges.
Remember that your timetable doesn’t have to be set in stone. Allow enough flexibility for spontaneous trips if, for example, the weather suddenly takes an unexpected turn for the better!
5 – Work your contacts
The change of season shouldn’t mean losing touch with the contacts who have encouraged you in the past, from online forums to those following the same courses as you. Keep in contact and check in with each other over the summer to offer mutual support and encouragement.
And, finally, while it’s admirable to study … don’t spend the whole summer with your head in a book or laptop! Make sure you enjoy plenty of quality time with those closest to you, so you can create happy holiday memories together. You must take the opportunity to rest and recharge wherever possible. Aim to have at least one week completely free from work so you can return to the fray invigorated and refreshed.
