#StudyWell

We’ve reached week two of our Wellbeing Month. Hopefully you’ll have taken a look at last week’s article about how the library can help you. If you haven’t, why not take a look now: https://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/blog/view.html?id=26

We asked the staff in our libraries to share their study tips.

Writing assignments:

• Use the Harvard guide on the library website and follow the examples to have make sure your references are accurate.
• Attend a Study Skills Plus session or work through the online resources if you can't make itto campus: https://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/studyskillsplus/index.phtml.
• Writing things down helps you remember more information (rather than just copy and paste). 
• Be in the right frame of mind to study by getting rid of distractions like social media, eat lunch/dinner first, take regular breaks.
• Ask a friend or family member to read through your work to check that it is readable and that the grammar works.
• Read ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell whether you know how to study or not.
• Always note anything down what you read so that you have a record of where ideas and information have come from.
• Set yourself a goal before each study session exactly what you want to achieve.
• Take some time to look through the Academic Skills guide on the Study Skills Plus webpage.
• Back up everything! - Keep a copy of you assignment on your university account and one on your home PC – don’t have your only a copy on a memory stick.

Handing in assignments:

• Use a wall planner to plan a revision/study timetable to remind you when your deadlines are.
• Organise yourself around deadlines and make sure you leave enough time for formatting, proofreading, binding, etc.
• Ensure you can log into Turnitin and are clear about what to do several weeks before handing in.
• Avoid submitting your assignment in the hour before it’s due in case of problems.
• Give yourself time to go away and come back to your work a few days after you have finished it. This will help you to spot any problems or poor grammar.
• Make sure you know what you need to include when you submit your work. Don’t leave doing this until the last moment!

Revising for exams:

• Get a good set of headphones and go to the following site: www.simplynoise.com - it blocks out external distractions and makes it easier to concentrate.
• If you know you have a particularly tough revision session ahead of you, plan a treat for when you finish.
• Use different coloured pens, pencils and stationery while studying. It could make things look more interesting and might help you to remember things more easily.
• Take a look at past exam papers - you can access some of them online through the library website.
• Maximise your study by making the most of your commute – train and bus journeys can provide you with precious time to read through notes and textbooks.
• Double check where and when your exams are being held – make sure you know where you need to go, what time you need to be there and what you need to bring with you.

Taking a break:

• Have some time away from the computer and take at least an evening off from studying each week to do something enjoyable.
• Take time to eat meals away from the computers.
• Make sure you take regular breaks away from your screen. It’s a good opportunity to take a walk outside and get something to eat.
• Do something completely non-studying related and away from a screen. For example, run up and down the stairs a few times, go for a walk, make a cup of tea, make a phone call, read a magazine.
• Try and do some kind of exercise, even if it’s for 15 minutes, before or after you study.
• Don’t sleep in the library – go home to bed to get proper rest!

Now it’s over to you – share your study tips on the displays in your library or tweet them to us at @arulibrary using #ARUStudyTips