An important strategy is to arrange specific times to study and follow through with these scheduled times. According to the How-to-Study website, delaying studying is a form of "procrastination," which leads to bad study habits and poor time-management skills. Setting up specific times to study creates a routine for students and is important in developing good study habits for school or work.
Tackling the most difficult assignment at hand, when the mind is fresh, is an effective way of completing difficult tasks. Often the hardest assignments will require the most effort and mental capacity, so completing them first is an effective way to get them done and still have room to finish off the easier tasks, according to the How-to-Study website. Often the anticipation of a really tough task following some easier homework diminishes the quality of studying or work being completed, so it is important to remove this burden of stress and complete the best work possible.
Some of the best studying is done in short intervals, when the mind is fresh and absorbing as much information as possible. The biggest flaw of studying is trying to cram too much information into one study session, and not leaving time for breaks and reflection of material.
Friends and phone calls can be distracting during study times. The How-To-Study website explains that this causes two problems: First, the work being done is interrupted and it makes it difficult to continue concentrating on the task. Second, the conversation often is unrelated to the studying being done and could be lengthy, taking up the time designated for studying. It is best to reserve study times for completing assignments. Turn off the phone or find a quiet location, like a library, where cell phones are not allowed.