Structured Study – A Guide to Success
A structured study plan can be fantastic for helping people to achieve their goals.
By setting aside specific time to study, you can increase your learning potential.
Your plan doesn’t need to be set in stone; it can be adapted as you progress through your course of study. For example, you might find that a particular time of day works best for you and switch your study sessions around to reflect that.
A study plan can be particularly useful if you’re an online student, as you’re responsible for managing your own time, and therefore a structured plan can help you achieve your goals in the timeframe you aspire to and give you a sense of achievement.
As well as offering face-to-face training, we also offer virtual online OSCE training, which you can do from the comfort of your own home. It is a self-study course with demonstration videos and example paperwork, and an MNL workbook and practice pack, which are sent straight to your home.
So, whether you’re learning with us in person, or learning remotely, a great way to approach the course is to create a structured study schedule that works for you and gives you the best chance of timely success.
Here are some tips on how to create and implement a structured study timetable:
1. Figure out your learning style.
Everyone learns in a different way; what works for one person won’t necessarily work for someone else.
Take this quiz – http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml
And once you know your learning style, it will be easier to create a plan.
2. Prioritise
We all have busy lives, and finding time to study can be hard. Get yourself a diary and carefully write down all your commitments, that way it will be easier to know how much time you can realistically devote to studying and can add it into your diary.
3. Be Realistic
Don’t overcommit and set yourself up for failure. Be realistic about how much time and energy you have for studying. Give yourself daily or weekly goals, and enjoy reaching them, rather than setting yourself impossible objectives.
4. Study Consistently
If you stick to your schedule and study every day, it will become a habit and will become easier to stick to.
5. Take Breaks
It’s important to step away from your study every 20-30 minutes, and take a short break.
This will help refresh you and increase your ability to concentrate. You could try:
- Stretching
- Getting a snack or drink
- Go for a walk and get some fresh air
- Sit outside in the sunshine
- Meditation
6. Study With Someone
Sometimes it can be disheartening to spend hours studying alone, so why not connect with nsomeone else on the course and arrange some study sessions together? You can encourage each other and help one another to stay motivated. Sometimes all you need is someone to cheer you on.
7. Know Your Distractions
Try to notice what distracts you from your studying. Do you find yourself scrolling through social media, or watching Netflix when you are meant to be studying? Being aware of these things can help us prevent them from pulling our attention. For example, if the television is too tempting whilst studying, move to a room without a television in it. Or switch your phone off during study time.
8. Get Enough Sleep!
When we are tired it is so hard to concentrate and function, let alone study. Try to establish a healthy sleep routine, so you feel rested and ready to learn.
Read this article for tips on how to nurture a healthy sleep routine:
https://hr.wustl.edu/creating-a-sleep-routine-6-steps-to-better-sleep/