How to study for long hours? | A comprehensive guide

If all your life you have admired class toppers, thought about how to study for long hours, tried to emulate them, and failed miserably, you are not alone. There are thousands of bright and hardworking students who miss the mark because of unhealthy lifestyles and study habits.

The key is to study smart by limiting your sources and re-visiting them in a focused manner. Along with this and other small tips mentioned in the blog, your motivation and energy levels will soar through.

Let’s begin and learn more factors that will help you study effectively for long hours!

Prioritize difficult tasks early in the day

One of the biggest problems with studying for long hours is that students take up easy subjects or tasks they feel comfortable with early in the day. This gives them a false sense of accomplishment, but this is counter-productive. The key to ensuring productivity is to get tasks you find most intimidating done at the very outset.

Studying challenging subjects or those that require greater concentration on a fresh mind will help you retain what you have learned better. As the day progresses, your energy levels will lower, which is why getting some challenges tackled at the start of the day can benefit you.

If you study difficult subjects in the second half, not only will it take you more time to learn them, but you will also feel overwhelmed. Research has shown that students feel a greater sense of satisfaction once they get the daunting tasks done first.

Manage distractions

Life is full of distractions and getting carried away is never a good idea. Managing distractions becomes even more crucial when exams are knocking at the door and you know you need to concentrate on your studies. So what can you do?

To keep some common distraction sources at bay, here is what you need to do-

• Start your study sessions with a to-do list and keep checking it from time to time to see what you have accomplished from that list.
• Social media is one of the biggest distraction sources for people of all ages. Commit to staying away from social media till the time your exam is over.
• Learn to say no to your friends and families for long outings as the exam approaches.
• Keep your phone away during your study sessions and use calculators, watches, and stopwatches to lower your dependency on your smartphone.
• One of the biggest roadblocks to studying effectively for long hours is managing unnecessary and sudden thoughts. To prevent yourself from falling prey to fleeting thoughts, maintain either a digital notepad or a hard copy of a notepad and jot down your thoughts and forget about them. Later, when you take your break, you can refer to your thoughts and act upon them if necessary.

Eat for energy

One of the most important aspects of any exam preparation is to eat healthily and frequently after every 3-4 hours to avoid mental fatigue. Food gives you an instant kick of energy, and the key lies in not overeating or eating foods that might make you feel lethargic. To keep your mind sharp, here are a few diet tips on how to concentrate on studying continuously for long hours-

1. Breakfast

Research has shown that pupils who eat a healthy breakfast have better performance rates in exams. Eating a non-oily breakfast with a lot of whole grains will slowly release energy into your body over 3-4 hours. This will enable you to focus well on your first study session. Some foods to consider are porridge, muesli with fruits, granola with dry fruits, and whole-grain bread with peanut butter and banana.

2. Berries

Berries containing the compound anthocyanins will protect your brain health against inflammation, increase blood flow and improve mental performance. Be sure to gorge on berries such as strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries that are particularly high in the flavonoid, anthocyanin.

3. Eggs

Eggs are a universal favorite item for breakfast. They are extremely versatile and essential for cognition, memory, and motor performance. Eggs are rich in choline, selenium, and vitamin B12 is vital for muscle function and managing low energy levels. If you are wondering how to concentrate on your studies for long hours, a meal that includes eggs will help you achieve your target.

4. Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids

As it is widely known, omega-3 fatty acids are extremely important for ensuring brain health and improving memory function. One of the best sources of omega-3 is fish. However, if you are averse to eating fish, you can reach out for plant-based alternatives such as flax seeds, and chia seeds, and even consider taking a daily omega-3 supplement. Fish, particularly, is rich in selenium and vitamin B12, which goes a long way in proving why Japanese studies that have a high intake of seafood in their diet tend to have sharper memory and focus.

5. Cocoa products and dark chocolate

Who doesn’t enjoy eating chocolates? Cocoa and dark chocolate (having less or no sugar) contain antioxidants and dietary fiber, which help fight against mental fatigue, boost memory, and stimulate blood flow to the brain. If you ever feel tired, just break a few squares from a chocolate bar or grab yourself a hot cocoa drink and re-energize yourself to once again sit for long hours.

Hydrate yourself

Dehydration causes lethargy and makes your mind feel clouded. To ensure your overall health in the long run and nail your exam preparation in the short run, keep at your disposal 2-3 liters of water at all times and keep sipping from time to time. If it helps you can also consider having energy drinks to perk up your dipping concentration levels towards the latter part of the day.

Keep your body active

Exercising regularly stimulates mitochondrial development within your brain cells, which will give you more energy to physically challenge yourself, boost your mental output, increase focus and ensure productivity during your study sessions. So, no matter how tight your study plan may be, if you want to know how to study for long hours, you need to include 30-45 minute exercise into your routine daily.

Don’t neglect sleep

You may have been studying hard the entire day and still have to complete a few chapters, so you are probably wondering whether to pull in an all-nighter. Though all-nighters can in rare cases help you pass an exam, there are more sustainable ways — prepare ahead and allow yourself 6-7 hours of restful sleep every night. This will help you retain whatever you learn throughout the day and keep your mind alert. Additionally, it will safeguard you from suffering from a compromised immunity and a horde of lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol in your later life.

Take short breaks

Take short breaks to prevent mental fatigue and frustration, and have better energy levels. Breaks that can range from 15 to 30 minutes after every 2 or 3-hour study session. Some things you can do during this time are-

• Go for a power nap, it works!
• Meditate
• Listen to a quick podcast
• Tidy and clean your room or desk
• Grab a snack
• Go for a walk in the garden/balcony/backyard
• Have some tea with your family members
• Play with your pet(s)
• Go for a short walk in the neighborhood to prevent muscle stiffness and joint pain from sitting in the same position throughout the day

Reward yourself

• If you are worried about how to maintain focus and study for long hours, the principle of rewarding yourself can help. For example-
  • If you finish your goals faster than you anticipate, you can reward yourself by watching a movie or playing your video game.
• You can also motivate yourself to finish a particular task within the assigned time by later rewarding yourself with chocolate or that favorite cake of yours from the bakery.
• If you have been studying consistently for long hours for the entire week, you can reward yourself by going on a lunch or dinner date with your family or best friend. These are some small yet effective ways to ensure how to make yourself study for long hours.

Key takeaways

• Completing difficult subjects in your first study session will give you a greater sense of accomplishment and will ensure better long-term memory retention.
• Eat frequently and in small portion sizes to keep yourself energized and full.
• Exercise every day to boost your memory and perform better in your exams.

That’s all for now! If you have any more questions about which program to choose, you can drop a comment below on reach out to us.

Liked this blog? Read More: 8 smart study tips used by toppers

FAQs

Q1. What are some study tips I can adopt to get more tasks done in a day?
Answer: Some ways you can ensure that you get maximum goals accomplished in one day and do it effectively are as follows-
1. Make a study plan a day ahead or right after waking up to be clear about what you need to get done. The more detailed your study plan the fewer chances of you running around like a headless chicken.
2. Make short notes of whatever you are studying to ensure better knowledge retention and break the monotony.

Q2. What are some practical study techniques I can follow to ensure greater productivity?
Answer: Some study techniques that students around the world follow for productivity are as follows-
1. Pareto principle: It is also known as the 80/20 rule. It states that 80% of the outcome comes from 20% of factors or causes. This means that 80% of your exam outcome will be dependent on 20% of your study time or 20% of your resources.
2. 52/17 rule: This rule states that people are productive for roughly 52 minutes at a stretch. After 52 minutes their attention starts to falter. So, you should aim to do a focused study for 52 minutes. Then take a break or switch off for 17 minutes.

Q3. How to keep me motivated to study for long hours?
Answer: Here are a few things you can do-
1. Watch comprehensive and short biographies of inspirational figures.
2. Listen to motivational poetry.
3. Meet your friends once or twice a week.