Last time we talked about how to motivate yourself. This time we will consider the importance of finding the right time and place to revise.

Finding a good place

However spontaneous you are, we are all creatures of habit. To work well, it is a good idea to find a place which, when you go there, suggests the idea of successfully, quietly studying.

The qualities of your ‘good place’

You should be away from distractions – find somewhere where you won’t be tempted to leave your studies and do something else. Some people like a busy place, like the kitchen table, where life can go on around them. Some people like a quiet place, like their room, where they can be alone. If you are very easily distractable, a good tip would be to use a place where you can’t easily do anything else but study, like a school or public library. Find out what suits you. What suits you is not what you find most pleasant – it is where you do most work!

You should be comfortable – A good chair, a desk with enough room to work, these things probably make it easier to study. But whatever you feel comfortable with will help you stay working for longer.

You should be consistent – It’s a good idea, if possible, to use the same place each time. It will create the link in your mind between the place and the activity, which will make it easier to get on with your work.

I appreciate that each of these things is dependant on the privilege of having a stable and appropriate environment and not everyone has access to that. If you are struggling to find a good place to study, a public library is a good option. If there isn’t one available near you, then your school should have facilities where it is possible to study. Ask someone (your teacher, your parents) if you can’t see an easy solution.

Finding a good time

Making study a habit is the key to being successful. So, studying at the same time in the day is a good idea if you can manage it. There should, if possible, be a trigger that reminds you it is time to study. For example, you could study straight away when you get home from school, or as soon as you have finished your evening meal, or when you have finished walking your dog.

Whatever you choose, bear these things in mind:

Be consistent – try not to make exceptions to your rule. The more you stick to your study time, the more you are likely to stick to it in the future.

Be realistic – there is no point in telling yourself you will study every evening when you get in from school if you are always exhausted and starving. You would be better to eat and rest, then study.

Be aware of your existing commitments – there is no point telling yourself you will study for two hours every night if you have badminton on a Monday, swimming on a Tuesday and always meet your friends for a coffee on a Thursday. Plan your study sessions around your commitments.

The key is to find a time and a place that suit you and stick with it.

This is the second in a series of short pieces on How to Revise. Click here to see the first and watch this space for more.