Are you starting to get organized to prepare for your competitive examinations? If you establish a daily schedule, the next step is to have an effective study routine that will mark the day-to-day preparation of the selective process that will open the doors to get what you are looking for: your dream job.

Having an effective study routine will give you the best guarantee of success both in a face-to-face and distance learning system. It is especially valuable for those who practice distance learning, as there are more external distractions around them every day.

How to make your study routine more effective?

The answer lies in three simple words: organization, habit, and perseverance. The success of a proper study schedule to prepare for any exam rests on these three axes. Working and acquiring a routine for your daily college preparations does not respond to the usual meaning of this word, which means something boring, monotonous, or uninteresting. On the contrary, a proper routine will provide us with the necessary order to study optimally, with more profit and guarantees of a better final result. But how can one develop this routine?

• Plan and develop a study system. As mentioned previously, the first thing to prepare for competitive examinations, or studies in general, is organization. First of all, you should know the exam details you will take: requirements, syllabus, theoretical and physical tests, and formalities. This will probably make you think about what study system you want to follow: either on your own or with the support of a tutor. This will undoubtedly influence the routines you will put in place throughout the preparation of your competitive examinations.
• Set up a timetable. The competitive examination is a long-distance race. To pass it well, you must manage your schedule, decide how to have an effective study routine, and adapt your timetable to suit your needs, ranging from a minimum of three to a maximum of eight hours a day. Try always to respect it and make the most of it, for which you can start using different study techniques based on the most optimal use of time. In the first days, you can introduce the search of bibliography, articles, or a trusted essay database related to the subject you are studying as one of the parts of your work. Make use of the internet or go to libraries. It is all part of your preparation.
• Avoid distractions, especially mobile phones and social networks. In these times that we live in, it is necessary to control the use of mobile phones and social networks to make the proper use of time when studying. Avoid using your phone during study time, put it on silent, and do not use social networks. Save it for your moments of rest, and it will help you to distract yourself.
• Keep an eye on your diet. Adequate nutrition is essential for the good progress of your studies and should be part of the routine of a competitive exam candidate. Strictly adhere to breakfast, lunch, and dinner schedules and try to share them with your family or partner. Don’t get carried away and try to finish a topic or a summary. Disconnect. Eat leisurely and take advantage of these moments to relax. Set up mini coffee or snack breaks, but try to avoid escaping to the kitchen as much as possible during the working day.
• Remember about physical exercise. When preparing for your competitive examinations, whatever formula you choose: studying at home, online, in a library, or at an academy, you will spend hundreds of hours sitting in a chair. You will need to maintain or start a period of time dedicated to physical exercise in your routine. If you enjoy going to the gym, set aside an hour for it at least three days a week. If you prefer to do it at home, spending 20-30 minutes a day walking or playing sport will ease your anxiety, improve your concentration and performance.
• Respect your breaks and leisure time. Don’t overdo it, and don’t let yourself get carried away. Getting the recommended eight hours of sleep is highly recommended in this case. Don’t forget to take a short nap before restarting your day if your body asks you to. Don’t change your habits. Read, watch TV or listen to music. All this is also part of a correct routine and time distribution.

Your workspace also matters

The place you choose to work during your studies and preparations should meet several conditions. Your habits and way of working will be adapted to this space so that you will achieve the right performance here day after day.

This place or workroom should have the following characteristics:

• Placed and set in your own way. It should be a regular place with your work tools and furniture placed as you like. This will create the ideal environment for study, which will become part of your effective study routine over the days.
• No armchairs or beds. It is necessary to be both comfortable and organized. It is advisable to have a place to study on your own, and the larger, the better. But you should not study lying down on a piece of furniture or a bed. This will get you into bad posture and lose concentration. You should have a desk with a comfortable chair instead.
• The place is ventilated. Our study place should have good ventilation to the outside. It is necessary to open the windows before and after studying to get the best atmosphere in our environment. If we regularly renew the air through good ventilation, our study performance will be better.

If there is no suitable workspace, go to a library.

The study habits of each candidate are a determining factor in developing an effective study routine. Setting your workplace at home is not always possible because you do not have a suitable space to establish it as a fixed place of work for a long period, or you may conclude that you do not achieve the necessary productivity.

These are some of the advantages of preparing for your studies in a library or an academy:

• Adequate furniture and quiet environment. you will have tables, all the necessary didactic material and proper silence.
• Possibility of using right bibliography and computer resources. this will allow us to obtain all the materials necessary to complement the contents of the upcoming exam or lesson.
• Possibility of studying in groups. By this, you will be able to count on other students with whom you will share the same objectives and establish common study groups. But you should be careful not to turn your study day into a social event.
• It gets you out of your comfort zone. Studying at home may be more comfortable. But you will have to understand studying as a working day and preparing for your exam outside your immediate environment will force you to leave your room and develop a different routine.

As you see, the secret to tackling your competitive exams is proper organization. Following a strict study routine will give you a good chance of success in achieving the result you are aiming for. There is only one question left: what are you waiting for?