Last week we talked about what studying is. In continuing our deep dive into studying, this week we are going to talk about how often you should study and what different studying sessions might look like.
So, without further ado:
How often do I need to study?
Good question. The answer is simple: study like you eat.
You wouldn’t sit down on Sunday night, gorge yourself on a week’s worth of food, and then not eat anything for the rest of the week. Humans need to eat 3-5 small meals every day. We aren’t snakes.
To keep your brain well-nourished with information, that is how often you need to study:3-5 small study sessions a day.
Sure that seems like a lot, but if you are actually studying 3-5 times per day, then you shouldn’t need to study in long sessions.
Each study session should be at least 1 minute and not run longer than 30 minutes, with a maximum total study time of 2 total hours per day. After spending 30 minutes on one topic, we stop paying attention and absorbing information. Take a break every 30 minutes.
It is also beneficial to switch topics after each break. Our brains like to remember things that are new and different. For maximum retention, follow your math study session up with something different, like history. Try to layer your study sessions so topics all feel very different from what preceded them.
Ideally, you would have 3-5 micro study sessions and one larger study session a day. Depending on the volume of information being conveyed, a larger study session may only be necessary every other day.
Remember, studying for all of your courses should not regularly exceed 2 total hours throughout the day.
What is a micro study session?
A micro-studysession, or a study break, is a quick review squeezed into a spare moment. These are generally less than 5 minutes long.
Use micro study sessions to go over flashcards, review charts and timelines you have made, watch YouTube tutorials, and re-read notes.
The best moments for micro study sessions are when you are waiting. If the teacher is passing out papers, take a moment to review some notes. When you are waiting for the bus, run through some flash cards. Stuck in the lunch line? Create test questions for the lecture you just heard.
These micro study sessions are best for trying to memorize new information. Because you don’t have a lot of time and all the information feels novel, the brain’s retention rate soars. Use any spare moment you have for a quick one minute study break and you will find you don’t need those long memorization sessions anymore.
30 minute study sessions
Every subject should get a 30 minute study session every few days. If you have 4 classes, you should be studying 2 classes for 30 minutes each day for 6 days a week. That is only one hour of studying a day if you have 4 classes.
What does this look like?
Let’s say you have the following classes that need study time:
- English
- History
- Algebra 2
- Chemistry
- Band
- Spanish 2
Your study rotation might look something like this:
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| English | Chemistry | English | Chemistry | English | Chemistry | Rest |
| Alg 2 | Band | Alg 2 | Band | Alg 2 | Band | |
| History | Spanish 2 | History | Spanish 2 | History | Spanish 2 |
That is only 90 minutes a day of studying and you have consistently studied every subject. Notice how I have separated the study sessions so similar topics aren’t back to back?
If your school has an alternating schedule, consider studying for the classes on the day you don’t have them in school. That way you see information for the course every day.
Use those 30 minute study sessions to create materials for the micro-study sessions and apply the study techniques we will cover in a few weeks. Set a timer, sit in a distraction free area, and work on organizing information and solving problems until the timer goes off. Â
When your time is done, take a break. Get a snack or go do something fun for 5-15 minutes. Then come back for the next study session.
Remember, 30 minutes is a guideline. If you get everything done in 15 minutes and your brain is just done, end the study session there. If you are on a roll and you are really enjoying it, go as long as it is still working for you.
Building the study habit is more important than sitting and doing 30 full minutes of work. Some days, 10 minutes is pushing it, and that is okay. Just sit down and do some studying to help build the habit.
You can fill a bucket one drop of water at a time. In fact, if you pour too much water too fast into a bucket, it sloshes over and you lose some. Studying properly goes in drops so you retain all everything in long-term memory instead of letting it slosh over into short-term memory to be forgotten.
Next week we are going to cover building a study routine. Follow me for more study tips!