Study skills

Everyone is different. How you study best will be individual to you. Here are some suggestions you might find helpful if you’re trying to find what works best for you.

• Set up a routine. Routines help us develop good habits and can help us feel more settled as we know what we need to do and when we need to do it.
• Try going to bed at roughly the same time each night and getting up at roughly the same time each morning. Try and aim for between 7 & 9 hours sleep per night.
• If you’re studying at home, find a space where you can set up a work area. A desk or table is helpful as you can use this for a laptop, computer, device as well as any textbooks and notebooks.
• You might find it helps to put your phone in a different room if you’re not using it for schoolwork. It can be really tempting to respond to notifications when you’re trying to work!
• Set up a timetable. If you’re working at home during the day, try dividing your time into chunks of about 45 mins. Then plan what subjects you need to study each day.
• Take breaks during the day – it will help you concentrate better.
• Give yourself a finish time. You might want to stick to school hours if you’re studying at home during the day.
• Some people find a school planner or a timetable template helpful. You can find timetable templates on the internet and planners can be bought from shops such as, WH Smith and Waterstones bookshops. You can also find them in online stores.
• At the end of the day put away or tidy your workspace. This can help you feel more relaxed when you’ve finished studying.
• Remember, it might take you a little while to find the best routine for you. Try things out and change them if they don’t work!

Feeling worried about exams is very common. A certain level of stress can help us focus. However high levels of stress over a long period isn’t helpful. 

Why does it happen?

• Lack of control – exams bring a level of uncertainty and this can make us feel uncomfortable.
• A lot to learn – some types of exams like, GCSE and A levels rely on us learning and remembering lots of information. 
• High stakes – the results of exams are often important for what we want to do after school or college. 

Some things that can help during this time. 

• Perspective.  Right now exams feel like the most important thing in the world, it will not always feel this way.
• Sleep. Getting enough sleep can make a huge difference. Find a good night time routine (take time to relax before going to bed, try to have an hour screen free time before bedtime and aim for 8-10 hours sleep a night.)
• Nourishment. A balanced diet and keeping hydrated are important for staying physically healthy, this is also true for concentrating and remembering information. 
• Physical Activity & Relaxation.  Physical activity can bring positive mood changes. Relaxing and doing something enjoyable can help your mood and help calm the mind. Mindfulness techniques can also help with feelings of stress and anxiety.
• Revision strategies. Find what works best for you when you’re revising. There are lots of techniques, so try things out and make a plan. Feeling in control can often help when there is a lot to learn and remember. You can find lots of suggestions on BBC Bitesize
• Young Minds have some really helpful information on managing feelings during revision and exam time as well as some revision tips. 

We study best when we feel healthy.  Sometimes it’s easy to forget to do the basic things that help us stay fit and healthy. We might be busy or not feel motivated. It sometimes helps to build activities into our daily or weekly routine. Here are just a few things you can try that can make a difference to how you feel.

• Try to set regular times to eat. Aim to eat a healthy combination of foods. You can get more information here.
• Keep hydrated. That means, drink regularly. Water is best!
• Get some fresh air. Go outside every day if you can.
• Exercise! Go for a walk, a run, play a game with family or friends, such as football or basketball.
• If you like swimming check out your local pool.
• If you’d rather exercise indoors online classes such as Joe Wicks can be motivating and fun!

We all have mental health as well as physical health and it’s important to look after both. We can study better when we feel mentally healthy.

There are some things we can all do to help us look after our mental health.

• If you’re feeling unhappy, worried or stressed talking to someone about how you feel can help.
• Not everyone finds it easy to talk about how they feel. If that’s you, you might find it better to write things down or express your feelings in a different way. The important thing is to find a way to communicate, so that others know how you’re feeling. That way, the people who support you will be better able to understand how things are for you.
• Try to be honest about how you are feeling. Sometimes it feels easier to say you’re fine, even when you’re not feeling fine.
• If you’re struggling with your schoolwork, with deadlines or organising yourself, tell someone you trust. This might be a teacher or someone you live with. They are there to help you.
• Take some time away from your phone or other devices to give yourself a break.
• Mindfulness, yoga and relaxation have been shown to help some people who are feeling stressed or anxious. Some young people find Apps such as Calm and Headspace helpful.
• Self-care is what we can do to look after our own mental health. The Anna Freud Centre has lots of suggestions of things that others have found helpful.
• You can find more information on looking after your mental health here. 

We all need a break from studying! Most people have family or friends they like to spend time with. We’re not all the same, some people like to spend lots of time with other people while others prefer to spend most of their time alone. Many people like a mixture of both! Whatever you prefer is right for you. Try not to compare yourself with your friends, do what feels right for you.

• If you can’t see your friends in person, try and keep connected in other ways. Social media can help you stay connected, using Zoom, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat or Facebook can help. But remember to use these things safely.
• If you feel lonely or left out, then try talking to someone you trust about how you’re feeling. They may be able to help you with ways you can safely meet people or get involved in activities with other young people.
• Youth services such as Space here in Devon have opportunities to meet people and do a wide range of activities.
• Spending time on hobbies or relaxing by playing games, reading or creating something are all good ways to take a break from schoolwork and studying.
• Check our resources section for organisations and online links.

Young Devon can help you develop new skills and to get some qualifications

The NCS is a summer scheme for 16-17 year olds that can help you meet people and learn new skills.

Online courses in digital and programming skills.

Short online creative arts and media courses.

Online music courses

Subject Resources to help with home learning.

Information about the 16-19  Bursary Fund