Dear Learners,

We hope that you are ready and prepared for the year ahead. With a new year of study underway, we want to help you set yourselves up for success. It is important to start early when developing effective studying habits and take the time to test different learning strategies.

You may already have used some of these strategies, but now is the time to reflect on what worked and try new things. Sometimes a small change can make a huge difference in achieving your goals.

Here’s a list of useful tips to help find what works for you:

• Schedule your study in a way that works best for your focus and attention, whether it’s blocks of time with short and frequent breaks, or a longer session
• Highlight key information when you see it and take notes
• Break things down into manageable sections rather than an insurmountable whole
• Discuss what you have learned with another person, such as a friend, study mate, or family member, and put the information into your own words
• Make changes to your surroundings to suit your needs. Do you need a clean workspace? Silence or background noise? Do you sit still or need to move around?
• Read and reread as you go to help with comprehension and retention
• Think about how the material relates to you and your goals to give yourself a personal stake
• Be kind to yourself and take your time when you need to, which may mean that you take a break or make yourself comfortable

It is also important to look after yourself and your health to keep your mind in top shape. Make sure that you get enough sleep, stay hydrated, and exercise, even if it’s just by going for a walk.

Try some of these strategies today. Keep working hard and you’ll be able to achieve your goals.

Good luck and have a wonderful weekend, learners.