Article: One way to succeed when you study is to have a solid game plan before each study session. This will ensure that you’re focused, that you meet your goals, and that your sessions are productive. Block off your studying in 15 or 30-minute chunks of time and write a list of what you will do during each time period, whether you’re studying flashcards, reviewing your notes, or taking practice tests. This will keep you from feeling overwhelmed or unmotivated. Having a list that you can check off will make you more motivated. You’ll feel accomplished and focused as you check each item off your list. Another important method for succeeding in your studies is to make sure that you have a planner and that you block off study time in advance. You should make sure to make time for studying most weekdays and even on the weekends, when it’s necessary. Though you don’t want to bite off more than you can chew, you want to avoid filling your calendar with social events and extracurricular activities and ending up with no time to study.  If you make a point of blocking off time to study, then you won’t end up planning social events during that time, which will keep you from studying. You may not even realize that your social calendar is booked until you try to make time for your studies. You can even set a monthly schedule to make sure you take your material week by week, especially if you have to review for a big exam. There are different types of learners out there, and not every type of learning, such as using flashcards or taking thorough notes, is best for every type of learner. It’s important to be aware of your learning style so that you can best tailor your studying to suit your needs. Many people are actually a combination of different learners, so multiple styles may appeal to you. Here are some of the most common learning styles and some tips for studying:  Visual learners. If you’re a visual learner, then you learn by using images, pictures, and spatial understanding. Charts, diagrams, and color-coded notes may work best for you. When you take notes, flow charts or even some relevant drawings may be more effective than large blocks of words. Auditory learners. These types of learners learn best by listening. Try recording your lectures and repeating them, or really honing in on your teacher's words and taking some notes later. You can also repeat your notes or the course materials to yourself or talk to experts or participate in group discussion to study more effectively. Physical or kinesthetic learners. These learners learn best when they use their bodies, their hands, and their senses of touch. You can learn by tracing words to reinforce the subject matter, memorizing notes by walking, or by using any activities that make you move around or touch things while learning. You may be surprised to find that breaks may be the key to your success. No one can study for eight hours straight, not even that one person who is super driven or has an IV of coffee steadily pumping in his veins. In fact, breaks are crucial for successful studying because they’ll allow your mind to rest so that you can return to your studies feeling motivated and energized. Plan to take a break every 60 or 90 minutes, and do something that will allow you to rest your eyes, have some nourishment, or get some fresh air.  Taking breaks help to break down the data you have remembered into chunks. You may do the following during your break: Listening to music. Reading a book. Having a nap. Take a shower. Play video games. Surf on social media.   Successful students know when they need to rest. They can sense when they’re getting tired or when studying is no longer productive. Don’t think it’s lazy for you to take a break and remember that it’s really the best you can do for your studies. If you want to study as successfully as possible, then you need to be able to avoid distractions when you get ready to study. This can mean avoiding studying with an unproductive friend, turning off your phone, or making sure you only use the Internet to help you study, not to check up on your celebrity gossip. Though it can be impossible to avoid distractions entirely, you can make an effort to minimize them before you even sit down to study, which will help you focus and not get off-track.  You can even disable your Internet if you don’t need it to study to keep yourself from being distracted. If you really don’t need your phone, you can turn it off, too. If something is worrying you, then devote time to figuring it out and then get back to your studies if you can. If you feel bothered all day, then you won’t be able to get your work done. Your study environment can be crucial to your success as a student. However, everyone is different. Some people like to study in their bedrooms, with absolute silence. Others like to study on a blanket outdoors, blasting their favorite music. Some people like to study on their bed. Some people like to study in the library or in a coffee shop, where they are surrounded by other people doing the same. Try a variety of different studying environments to see what works best for you. If working in a loud coffee shop hasn’t been going well lately, then try studying in the quiet of your room or even at a park where you can feel alone. Another way to get the most out of your study sessions is to make sure you use the resources that are available to you. Talk to your teachers, your librarians, and your knowledgeable friends to get help on any materials you don’t understand. Use your library and your online resources to supplement your studies; check out the extra problems in the back of your textbook to get a deeper understanding of the material. Do what you need to do to take advantage of all of your resources to succeed. Successful students are also creative. When they can’t get all the answers they need from a textbook, they look for other people, places, or online sites that can help them. Some people do even better in school when they have a study buddy or a study group. Working with other people can help you feel motivated and like you’re not so alone in your studying efforts. You can also learn from other people, and can even learn by teaching others what you know. Though working with a partner or a group doesn’t work for everyone, you should give it a try to make the most of your studies.  Not everyone is a social learner. You can test the water by studying with a friend and then inviting more students to join in. Make sure your study group is directed and organized, so you don’t end up getting off-topic too much. If you feel the group is getting off-topic, don’t be afraid to kindly say something. Though it may sound like fun is beside the point when it comes to being a successful student, it can actually be the key to your achievements. Just as taking breaks during a study session can help you focus more on your studies, taking breaks from studying completely to do yoga, hang out with your friends, watch a movie by yourself, or just to relax can help you regain the energy you’ll need to really succeed in school.  Having fun doesn’t keep you from being a successful student. In fact, making time for fun allows you to study better when the time comes. Making time for your friendships will also let you relax a bit more about getting an imperfect grade. If your studies are your only interest, then you’ll be putting too much pressure on yourself.

What is a summary?
Create a game plan for each study session. Plug your study sessions into your schedule. Find a studying method that suits your learning style. Take breaks. Avoid distractions. Pick the best study environment. Use your resources. Get a study buddy or study group. Remember to have fun.