Let's talk life - How can I study more effectively?

Yvonnie Bailey- Davidson, Contributor

• How can I study more effectively?

Dear Counsellor,

I would like you to give me some tips on studying and academic success.

-Melody

Dear Melody,

The ability to study effectively and efficiently has to be learnt and practised. One of the skills that you need is to be an independent learner. You need to be able to take your textbooks and practise essays and mathematics. You will need to read your textbooks often and quiz yourself. Some students are very hard-working and so do very well at school or college. School is about hard work and making good use of your time. The goals of students are to pass examinations with excellent grades. Keep your goals on a piece of paper and keep looking on it to remind you that there is work to be done. Practise, practise, practise. When you attempt questions, you will find out about your weak points. Ask your teachers or parents to help you with your weak areas. You may need tutoring to pull you up. One-to-one tutoring is an excellent idea as the tutor can motivate you and teach you study skills.

As you go through each day, you will need to review work done in the classroom. Make yourself a timetable for revision and try and follow it. Allow yourself two hours of revision each day. Think of questions that the teacher may ask and prepare the answers. If the teachers have time, then you can show them a few of the essays. In correcting the essays, you will get ideas how to answer test questions. External examinations come with a syllabus and past papers.

If you are doing history, social studies or religious knowledge, you should research the topics using an encyclopaedia or the Internet. Some people learn a lot by researching topics that were taught. Have a special place at home for your books and use a table to study on. Reduce time spend watching television and speaking with friends on the Internet. You need to monitor yourself as to your pace of work. Think positive at all times, be confident in your abilities and do a little each day until you are at full speed.

• I can't sleep at nights

Dear Counsellor,

I have a problem that seems to be getting worse. I get only four hours of sleep each night, and I am tired and sleepy in the day. This has affected my performance at work and I am easily irritated.

- John

Dear John,

Sleep is necessary and without it we become non-functional. You need to have a sleep ritual each night. Go to bed at the same time each night. Aim to get eight hours of sleep each night. Remove the television from the bedroom. The bedroom should not be your office. Play soothing music in the bedroom and have nice sheets and pillows. No drinking of liquids in the night or else you will have to awake and go to the bathroom.

Do you work on a shift system? People who work on shift tend to have problems with their sleep patterns. A sleep history is important as well as assessing the stressors in your life. There are a variety of reasons why you are not sleeping through the nights. It is important to get a medical check-up as to determine the cause of your sleep problems. You may be depressed and this is causing the sleep problem. Your doctor may refer you to a sleep specialist or a psychiatrist.

Email questions and feedback for Dr Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson to yvonniebd@hotmail.com or call 978-8602.