Studying Throughout the Day

Being prepared.

Before you can even begin to make the most of those little snippets of time throughout the day, you have to be prepared. One way to prepare for quick moments of study, make up flash cards of information you need to memorize. The flash cards could also have important notes highlighted from your text book.

Another suggestion is to keep a tape recorder with you when going over your course work and take oral notes.

If possible, carry a small notepad and writing utensil with you so that you can write down any ideas or discussion points for class, outline assignments, or plan a project.

Keep your note cards in your pocket when you are running errands.

Whether it is the bank or grocery store there is a good chance you may have to wait in line. Flip through your note cards and you will be getting a little studying done and you will not feel as impatient waiting in line.

Keep your items close at hand.

Store all of your studying supplies in a backpack. Just because you are taking online classes does not mean a backpack is not useful.

Keep your school books, notes, tape recorder, flash cards, highlighters, and any other studying essentials in your bag so it will be easy to grab and go.

If you should find yourself waiting longer than expected at the doctor's office, you can pull your book out of your bag and make good use of this time.

You may already own a sturdy tote bag that you like. If that's the case, then use the tote instead. Whatever your preference, keep your study supplies nearby.

Take advantage of personal audio technology.

Listen to your tape recording of your notes while riding in the car. Did your instructor post a podcast of this week's material? Add it to your MP3 player or burn a CD and listen to that.

Most people spend many hours a week in the car driving back and forth to work or running errands. Instead of cranking up the tunes, pop in your recording of oral notes or lectures.

This can have the same affect as being in a lecture hall. Just make sure you are not so distracted that your driving suffers because of it.

Divide your time while waiting for the kids.

Do you have to sit through one hour of your daughter's soccer practice? Are you carpooling this week with the neighbors and waiting for rehearsal to finish up?

Study during your child's practice.

Simply have your trusty backpack with you, and you can get an hour's worth of tonight's homework out of the way.

(Just make sure you pop your head up from time to time to cheer your child on!)

Quiz yourself while doing chores.

Have your spouse quiz you while you cook dinner. There is no reason you can not answer school-related questions while stirring the spaghetti sauce.

Being quizzed while you are doing activities that do not take much thought like cooking, cleaning, and folding laundry can help you get ahead in your studies and make those tasks go by faster.

Get ahead during your lunch break.

Use your flash cards on your lunch break.

Instead of eating at your desk, browsing the Web, or playing solitaire, make the most of this time. Pull out your trusty flash cards and memorize some of your school work while you fill your stomach.

If you are uncomfortable working on course work in the office, take a walk to a local park, library, or even sit in your car do get through a few pages of reading or studying.

Play school with your kids.

If your kids are begging for you to play with them, instead of pulling out Life, Candyland, or Monopoly, suggest a game of school. They get to be the students and you can be the teacher.

What are you going to teach them? What you are studying for school, of course!

They will not be able to fully comprehend your course material, but by being creative and enthusiastic, you can make it fun for them. The additional benefit of this activity is that this is a good way to see if you really understand what you are studying.

Read your assignment out loud at bedtime.

Is it time to read to your baby? If your child is an infant, go ahead and pull out your textbook instead of Good Night Moon.

You baby is not going to understand what you are saying anyhow. Just be sure to add variations to your voice to keep your child engaged.

Use bath-time as study time.

Read while your children are taking a bath.

As long as your kids are older and they are begging for a little extra time in the tub to play, you can go ahead and pull out your notebook. Just make sure you are still close enough to the tub and not too distracted in case someone slips under the water.

Or how about yourself?

Study while soaking in the bathtub. Relaxing amongst the bubbles, getting clean in the tub and studying all at once; now that is multitasking! Plus since you will be doing something relaxing at the same time studying may not seem like such a chore.

Do some of your best thinking…

Grab a text book when you need to use the bathroom.

If you are one of those people who needs to read for a while when you use the restroom then make the most of this time. Take your text book in with you instead of the latest issue of People magazine.