LPN to RN

The challenge of studying at home

by Cindy Evans

Finding the right place to study is crucial to effectively absorbing new information, and being able to process the information in a manner that allows a person to retain it. Most of us will usually form some sort of habits, good or bad, when it comes to studying. Starting off by choosing the right place to study can help reduce the amount of bad habits we take on during the learning process.

Most of us will do the majority of our studying at home. It is the place we have the most “Free” time, and the place we sit down to relax in the evenings. Although studying at home is most likely the best alternative, it can also be a source of a large number of distractions. Imagine trying to absorb a detail oriented (and rather dry) chapter regarding physiology while the phone is ringing, the kids are fighting, and the dogs need out! As you can imagine, you probably won’t be able to recall much of what you read when it comes time to take that big test.

There are several things to keep in mind when deciding where to study. First off, you need to decide on a regular time of day to take on this task. Look at your schedule and try to find the time that is least probable to allow distractions. For example, most people don’t call after about 9 pm. The kids are usually in bed or at least winding down for the evening. If you are a busy person during the day then this time of evening could be ideal. For those of us that are busy of an evening, chose a time during the day when the fewest number of people are in the house.

Another big tip that will help you to be able to study with fewer distractions is to turn the ringer off on the phone and shut off the television when studying. This will prevent your concentration from being broken and your mind to focus more on the subject at hand.

Consider where you chose to study. Find a location that has the least amount of traffic in your household. The worst place to study is the living room as it has a multitude of distractions. It is usually close to the door, the phone, the television, and the other family members in your home. If you don’t have a home office or den, then take your books into the dining room or even into your bedroom to study. Words of caution though about studying in the bedroom…don’t allow yourself to “lounge” on the bed. You’ll quickly find yourself becoming tired and groggy and will not absorb as much as you would with a sharp and awake mind.

Finally, if you are studying mostly at home, expect some distractions but attempt to limit them as much as you can. If you do become distracted take a break for a few minutes to deal with the “distraction” and then return to your studying. But make sure to go back and read the last few paragraphs that you completed. This will insure that what you were studying when you first began to get distracted will be fully absorbed and keep you from missing any vital information. Make note cards with vital information on them during each study session and go over them when you have those few spare minutes between activities each day. Remember the more you see something, the more details you are able to recall!

Studying at home can be a challenge but with the proper techniques it can be done with great success! Follow these simple suggestions and you too will see an improvement in your memory retention.

About the Author

Cindy Evans is an accomplished Nurse Educator. She started her career in nursing as an LPN, and though online education, she has obtained her advanced nursing education through online classes. As an advanced practice nurse, she has recently obtained her Nursing Educator degree through The University of Phoenix.

If you are interesting in obtaining a degree in nursing education, request free information from the University of Phoenix.