A structured study routine is critical for online learning success because it’s generally very flexible. It’s easy to not have a routine at all when you don’t have to physically go into class or have scheduled study hall time. 

You can customize your study time based on your learning style so you receive greater benefit from your efforts. There are a variety of models for identifying your learning style, but they can all be summed up with three of your senses: hearing, sight, and touch. Think about how you best remember something. Is it from listening, seeing, or doing it? This is a good way to identify your learning style. 

Once you understand the importance of having a structured routine and know what your learning style is, you can put together your study routine. We’ve written another blog on this topic in the past, which you can read here, but the main things you need to consider are:

• Setting goals for yourself
• Putting together a schedule to manage your time
• Preparing your materials
• Designating a space conducive to studying
• Implementing your plan

How Can I Create an Effective Study Schedule? 

High school is busy, and you may be wondering how you’re going to fit studying into your schedule. It can be hard to make the time, but you’ll be glad you did. 

Before you start something new, it’s always a good idea to see what you currently have on your plate: 

• School
• Extracurricular activities
• Work
• Community service
• Family commitments

Is there anywhere in your schedule that you can naturally fit in study time? Odds are, you may spend an hour or so scrolling through social media before bed or when you wake up in the morning. You could replace this activity with a quick study session. Experiment with different times of day to see what works best for you. Do you feel like you get more out of an early morning study session or some dedicated time in the afternoon or evening? Optimal study time varies from person to person.

School should be one of your main focuses while you’re a student, but incorporating leisure into your schedule can actually lead to better academic performance, lower your risk of burnout, and help you enjoy life to the fullest. One of the easiest ways you can incorporate some fun is by taking intentional breaks from studying. Plan to use your break time for an activity you enjoy, such as playing video games or going for a walk with a friend. 

If you aren’t sure where to start, technology can help you create a study plan that works with your lifestyle. Simple tools like Google Calendar can help you visualize your schedule so you can see where you may be able to incorporate study time. It’s also helpful for setting reminders so you don’t forget about your goals. ChatGPT can give you a more detailed study plan tailored to your schedule and learning style. 

What Study Technique Is the Best for My Learning Style?  

Earlier, we discussed the importance of understanding your learning style for building effective study habits for online learning. Let’s take a look at three common learning styles and the study techniques that work best for them: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.

Visual Learners

Visual learners retain information best when they are able to see it. Visual aids like flash cards, mind maps, or videos can be incredibly helpful for students with this learning style. You could also try rewriting your notes, color-coding your notes, or taking your notes and turning them into images like venn diagrams or charts. 

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners do best by listening. You can record your notes and listen back to them, listen to educational videos, or use text-to-speech features with other digital learning resources so you can hear them instead of see them. Mnemonics are also incredibly useful for auditory learners. Mnemonics use things like poems, rhymes, songs, or acrostics to help you remember concepts.

Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic learners have to do things to learn them. Hands-on experiences and movement help these learners retain information. Try pacing or walking while studying, take regular breaks, and find ways to incorporate movement and activity into your study sessions. 

A note to remember about all learning styles is that you should try different things. Even if you learn best by listening, you may benefit from visual or kinesthetic study techniques, so don’t rule them out just because they don’t align with your primary learning style. 

How Can I Include Breaks and Leisure into My Study Routine?

If you’ve watched any study videos online, you’ve probably seen marathon study sessions filmed with a time-lapse. While you may have days when you study for a long time, it’s really important to take breaks. 

Breaks can boost your mood, overall well-being, and performance capacity, according to an article from the American Psychological Association. Focusing on something for too long, like studying, can wear you out and actually harm your performance. Taking breaks, even short ones, can help you stay engaged with your tasks and build effective online learning habits. 

One popular time management method for incorporating breaks into your study time is the Pomodoro Technique. Here’s how you do it:

1. Set a timer for 25 minutes (one Pomodoro).
2. Study without distractions for the full 25 minutes. 
3. Take a 5-minute break after each Pomodoro. 
4. After completing four Pomodoros, take a longer break of 15-30 minutes.

There are lots of ways to maximize your break time. Popular activities include exercising outdoors to get some fresh air, tidying up your study area, having a conversation with someone, eating a healthy snack, or practicing meditation and deep breathing. These are all quick things you can do during your short breaks that will make a big impact on your productivity and mood.

Leveraging Technology to Enhance Study Efficiency 

Today’s students have access to more study tools than ever. There are some great apps out there that make it easy to organize your notes, make flashcards, find exercises, and more. Here are a few of the most popular apps for studying and learning.

Evernote

Evernote is a top-tier note taking app that you can use across devices. It’s great for students because it has some organizational and search features that make it easy for you to organize your notes and search through them by keywords or dates.

Quizlet

Quizlet is a great tool for studying and test prep. You can create digital flashcards, and Quizlet uses the information you provide to gamify your study experience. Study with traditional flashcards or try one of the games. 

DuoLingo

DuoLingo is one of the best apps for language learning on the market. No matter what language you’re learning, you’ll probably be able to find it on DuoLingo. While the lessons on the app won’t line up with what you’re learning in class, they are a great supplement and help you strengthen your vocabulary and grammar. 

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is an excellent resource for finding practice exercises, lessons, and study guides. This site covers a variety of subjects, so you should be able to find resources for most classes in your course load. 

In addition to these study and note taking apps, there are also some great time management resources out there. Google Calendar is an essential tool for scheduling your study sessions and managing your time. 

New apps and tools are being created each day, so if there’s something you think you could use some help with, do a quick internet search for resources to help. 

What Are the Best Study Techniques for Exams? 

When you have an exam coming up, you’ll want to adjust your regular study routine to help you prepare. If you have been keeping up with a regular study routine, you should be well on your way to acing your exams. 

Your teacher may provide you with a study guide or topics that will be covered on your exam. This is a great place to start for gathering your study resources.

You can also incorporate some changes into your routine, such as group study sessions. According to Oxford Learning, study groups can be beneficial because:

• Discussing concepts with others tests your comprehension
• Groups can help clarify questions
• Groups can motivate you to study

What Are Some Ways to Stay Motivated in Online School? 

Staying motivated and managing stress while going through your study routine for students can be challenging, and it requires self discipline. Here are just a few things you can do:

• Set goals for yourself
• Live a healthy lifestyle
• Stay organized and on schedule
• Try to be positive
• Avoid stress triggers and learn to manage your stress

These things require a significant amount of self awareness and discipline, so don’t beat yourself up if you have days where you feel stressed or lack motivation. If there are certain things that cause you stress, take note of them and try to avoid them or work through them as they come up. 

Stress is hard to manage, even if you’ve been doing it for a long time. We talked earlier about the importance of taking breaks, and that’s a big piece of reducing and managing stress—don’t skip your breaks! You can also practice mindfulness, exercise, seek support from family and friends, and make time for activities you enjoy. 

Key Takeaways For Successful Online Study Habits

When you know your learning style, have a schedule that incorporates breaks, leverage technology, and work to stay motivated, you’re well on your way to a good study routine. One of the biggest things to remember is that consistency is key. You can create the perfect set of flashcards or have the most beautiful notes in the world, but if you don’t study them consistently, they won’t do you any good. 

About The American Academy

The American Academy is a 100% online accredited private school. At TAA, you can earn your high school diploma online or take individual courses. Whether you want to complete high school from start to finish or just take some classes to catch up or get ahead, we’ve got you covered. 

Sources

American Psychological Association, "Give me a break"

Oxford Learning, "Studying In Groups Vs. Studying Alone: Which Is Better?"