How to Study

Use “nonprime” hours for the easiest tasks. When your
energy and motivation are at their lowest levels, should you
really bore in on that project that’s been giving you fits? Or
merely recopy some notes, go over your calendar, or proofread
a paper? When you’re least creative, least energetic, and least
motivated, why would you even consider tackling your most
challenging assignments? Don’t be like many businesspeople 
I know who schedule their time backwards: In the morning,
when they’re raring to go, they read the paper, check their
email, and skim trade journals. At the end of the day, when
they can barely see straight, they start on the presentation 
for the Board of Directors’ meeting…tomorrow’s Board of
Directors’ meeting. 
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Schedule study time immediately after class or, if that’s
not possible, immediately before. This is most pertinent
for college and graduate students, who may have significant
free time between classes. Your memory of a class is, not 
surprisingly, strongest immediately after it, so allocating an
open hour after class to go over notes, think about the lecture,
and complete that day’s assignment is the best way to spend
that hour. 
If that isn’t possible, then taking the time to study immediately before
class is an excellent second option, especially if you usually need that
time to complete your assignments!
Chapter 2
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How to Organize Your Studying
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Evaluate Your Study Area
Whatever location you choose as your study base, how you set 
up your study area can affect your ability to stay focused and, if 
you aren’t careful, seriously inhibit quality study time. Sit down 
at your desk or study area right now and evaluate your own study
environment:
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Do you have one or two special places reserved just for study-
ing? Or do you study wherever seems convenient or available
at the time? 
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Is your study area a pleasant place? Would you tout it to a
friend as a good place to study? Or do you dread it because 
it’s so depressing? 
■
How’s the lighting? Is it too dim or too bright? Is the entire
desk area well lit? 
■
Are all the materials you need handy? 
■
What else do you do here? Do you eat? Sleep? Write letters?
Read for pleasure? If you try to study at the same place you sit
to listen to music or chat on the phone, you may find yourself
doing one when you think you’re doing the other! 
■
Is your study area in a high-traffic area? How often are you
interrupted by people passing through? 
■
Can you close the door to the room to avoid disturbances and
outside noise? 
■
When do you spend the most time here? What time of day 
do you study? Is it when you are at your best? Or do you
inevitably study when you’re tired and less productive?
■
Are your files, folders, and other class materials organized and
near the work area? Do you have an effective filing system in
place for them? 
Set up a “future” drawer in your filing cabinet. When you find ideas,
research material, and so on (from magazines, books, newspapers,
websites, whatever) that you think may be important sometime in the
future, write a pertinent note to yourself and file it. The time you take
now will be a mere fraction of the time you save in the future. 
How to Study
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