Rule No. 1: Find a regular place to study
The best place to study is at a desk or table with a comfortable chair. Find a place where you can leave your materials set up and not be disturbed. We recommend a desk as the best place to study because there are important ergonomic factors that you need to consider when studying. Ergonomics is the study of how surrounding physical environments impact on humans.
For example, repetitive and prolonged use of a computer, keyboard and mouse, or reading and writing can lead to muscle aches and discomfort. Posture and the position of the components in a workstation with respect to the placement of your body can help create an environment that is ergonomically beneficial and highly productive. If you follow these tips you could avoid eye, neck and back-related muscle stress and strain.
Rule No. 3: Have a specified purpose
Once you have established a weekly schedule, set up a timetable for the whole course. According to your Order of Studies and the number of modules in your course, determine how many lessons you want to finish in a period of time, say a month. Once you begin, you may find the goals you have set yourself are unrealistic. If so, review your timetable and reschedule to a more achievable timeframe. Having a realistic study plan will help you to organise your time and achieve your goals. You will feel less stressed about your studies and this will make the time you spend enjoying yourself guilt-free. Remember; it is just as important to your studies for you to have time to relax. Keep your completed assignments all together and make a list of the completed modules as you go. Pin this up next to your timetable to keep you motivated and focused on your achievements!
Rule No. 2: Follow an effective study plan
Before you start studying, establish a daily or weekly schedule that you know you will be able to follow. You may not be able to study each day of the week, but try to find some time for studying at least two or three times a week. A good way to organise your study time is to firstly create a list of all your daily activities. Next, organise these daily activities into a weekly plan, allocating time for each specific task. Always be realistic with your time so that you do stick to your study plan. Here is an example of how to set out a colourful weekly planner.