Study Skills for Former Gifted Students

Introduction

As a former gifted student, you might have breezed through your early years without ever needing to buckle down. As time went on, workloads increased and the material became more challenging, you found yourself struggling to keep up. You're not alone in this; it’s a challenge many people face when they haven't had to build strong study habits early. Don’t panic! It's important to approach this situation with patience and a growth mindset. In this article, we will discuss practical advice for getting back on track.

Early Success

As a gifted child, you no doubt received praise for your intelligence and accomplishments. Because you were doing so well without much effort, teachers and parents probably didn’t think you needed to work on your study skills. As a result, you may have never learned how to tackle tough subjects or manage your time effectively. Now that the material has become more difficult, you might feel frustrated and internalize these feelings as failures. But let’s be clear—you are far from incapable. You just need to work on a few key areas: Discipline, Study Skills, and Time Management.

Building a Foundation

This would be a good time to put on Linkin Park’s Breaking the Habit and get ready to make some changes. What you’ve been doing has worked up until now, and that’s okay—but it’s time to shift gears. Here are the core things we need to address:

• Discipline: Committing to a structured approach to academic success may feel unfamiliar, but it’s exactly what many of your peers have been doing all along. You might have heard the saying, “you can’t outwork a bad diet”—well, the same principle applies here. How you spend the vast amount of time outside of class has a significant impact on your success. You’ll need to study more diligently, ask deeper questions, and yes, it’s going to eat into your free time. But this delayed gratification will pay dividends in the long run. Getting into a new groove will take time, but remember—showing up is often the hardest part. So, apply yourself!
• Time Management: Taking control of your time is crucial. It’s about setting priorities, breaking tasks into manageable steps, and sticking to a schedule. By doing this, you’ll reduce the stress of last-minute cramming and feel more in control of your workload.
• Study Skills: It’s time to refine how you approach studying. Instead of just going through the motions, find techniques that genuinely help you learn. In the next section, we will delve deeper into specific methods we find highly effective.

Practical Study Tips

1. Realistic Goals: Start small and build up. Instead of aiming to study for hours right off the rip, start with short, focused sessions. The Pomodoro Technique is particularly effective: study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Giving your mind time to process new information is an often overlooked aspect of learning. Repeat this cycle and make gradual changes to the times to see what works best for you.
2. Active Learning: Passive reading is rarely effective. Engage with the material actively by summarizing what you've read, asking questions, and looking up answers as you work through the material. This technique not only reinforces your understanding but also keeps you interested.
3. Environment: Create a study environment that minimizes distractions or find a comfortable place like a bookstore to relax in a nook. Turn off your phone, use website blockers, and pop in your noise-canceling earbuds and turn on your favorite music for productivity. Consistency in your study environment can signal to your brain that it's time to focus.
4. Methods: Experimenting with different study methods such as flashcards or mnemonics is important and definitely subject dependent. You’ll likely end up using a diverse methodology for self-learning, but it’s still good to take a learning style quiz if you’re just getting started on developing your study skills.
5. Planning: Rome wasn’t built in a day. Develop a study schedule that breaks down your tasks into manageable chunks. Prioritize your assignments and set deadlines for each segment. Use planners or apps to stay organized and on track.
6. Wellness: Balance is key. Don’t let the pendulum swing too far in one direction. Covering everything is sometimes an impossible task, and mental health is important too. When you are filling out the planner, don’t forget to add some time for activities that refresh your mind. Reward yourself for completing study sessions or reaching milestones. Exercise and good sleep can do wonders for your motivation as well as your memory!
7. Team up: You may have been able to handle things solo up until now, but remember that people are always stronger when we work together. Finding a study group or a buddy can make all the difference in identifying weaknesses, staying motivated, and holding yourself accountable.

Conclusion

The transition from being considered a gifted child to a student facing academic challenges isn’t easy, but don’t be too hard on yourself. With the right strategies and mindset, you can develop the study skills necessary to regain your confidence. Remember, growth happens outside our comfort zones and you are a highly capable individual. Just keep swimming!

I hope this article has inspired you and provided you with a clear starting point. If you’re eager to dive deeper into specific study techniques, be sure to check out our other articles below, where we explore effective strategies and how to apply them.