10 Study Habits to Avoid

10 Study Habits to Avoid As you continue to move up in your educational career, its essential that your study skills grow along with the complexity of your studiesand youll learn that there are certain study habits you should avoid. If youre struggling in subjects that used to be second nature, or feel like youre underperforming, take a critical look at your study habits. Some poor study habits to avoid include pulling all-nighters and using distracting study spaces, but below we delve into a more comprehensive list. The following are 10 study habits to avoid: 1. All-night cramming sessions If theres one habit to eliminate immediately from your study repertoire, its cramming. An hour a night for a week leading up to a test will likely be much more effective than staying up all night the evening prior to your test. A full nights sleep can serve you incredibly well on test day, far better than anything you may have managed to review while staying up until the crack of dawn instead. [RELATED: How to Make a Smart Study Routine] 2. Multitasking Certain studies have shown that multitasking does not have good effects on productivity. What youre really doing is task-switching, which often results in wasted time and poor efficiency. Focus on completing one task at a time in order of importance, and youll spend less overall time studying and do so more effectively. 3. Studying with music or the TV on In the same vein as above, distractions like TV or music with vocals can impede concentration. If you feel you must study with some sort of background noise (which can work for some people), try switching to classical music, or move your study spot to a caf or library. However, if you find you are one of the many who needs silence, ask family members or roommates to help accommodate you with designated quiet hours around your living space. 4. Studying with friends Somegroup study sessions can be beneficial, but only if youre on task and not primarily socializing. Take an honest look at whether the members of your study group are helpful or just distracting, and reprioritize accordingly. 5. Poor organization Not being able to find your notes, study materials, or list of assignments can both discourage you and just make studying plain difficult. Make sure you have a separate notebook for each class, and staple any syllabi, assignment instructions, or other loose papers inside. Make use of an online calendar or planner to note homework due dates and test dates. 6. Procrastination Its true that some people work better under pressure with deadlines, but often, procrastinators dont leave enough time to complete the project, leading to less than ideal work. Make an effort to read through the assignment as soon as its received and properly estimate the time and materials needed. To really tackle procrastination, break the assignment down into small chunks and assign artificial deadlines for each chunk to ensure you complete the final product on time. [RELATED: Top 5 High School Study Tips] 7. Poor in-class engagement Sometimes, the root of poor performance is failing to absorb the material in the first place. Time spent learning during a class you have to attend anyway is free time you save later. Learn to take good notes by restating the lecture and reading materials in your own words as you write, and review notes nightly. Make sure you ask questions during class as wellthis will help you clarify things ahead of time that you may otherwise get confused by later. 8. Avoiding issues with difficult subjects Even the most gifted student will eventually face a subject that doesnt come naturally. But successful students dont give up the first time they experience difficulty. Claiming youre just bad at math wont get you an A, but admitting youre struggling, asking for help, and putting in the extra effort might. Identify the best form of assistance, whether that be online tutoring, practice tests, or stopping by to meet with your instructor outside class. 9. Not using active study strategies One of the most common ways students study is by re-reading notes and texts and highlighting them. Unfortunately, doing just this and nothing else isnt necessarily the best tactic. Consider supplementing this strategy with more active ones: quiz yourself on topics, rewrite your notes and reading assignments in your own words, write trial essays, and find other ways to actively engage with the material to help retain it better. 10. Poor environment When all else fails, try changing your surroundings. Make sure youre comfortable and have good lighting. Keep water and snacks nearby. Eliminate distractions like social media or non-school related to-dos. Sometimes the stress of physical discomfort or other responsibilities can interfere and make focus impossible. Finally, try to keep your desk clean and organized. Here are some things you might want to keep on your desk: highlighters post-its index cards extra pens and pencils all necessary folders and notebooks If youve recognized any of these poor study habits in yourself, do what you can to eliminate them and replace them with more effective alternatives. Learning how to learn is often half the battle in reaching your potential. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Accommodation in Morocco

Accommodation in Morocco Where Can You Stay When You Visit Morocco? ChaptersCamping in MoroccoYouth Hostels in MoroccoHotels and Riads in MoroccoRenting a Private Apartment in MoroccoStaying with a Family in Morocco“The impulse to travel is one of the hopeful symptoms of life. ” - Agnes RepplierIn 2018, 22,100 nights were booked in Morocco. An increase of 14% in comparison to 2017.During your stay in Morocco, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation whether you’re travelling with your family, as a couple, or on your own.Whether you’re opting for an all-inclusive luxury trip or a bespoke trip, we’re going to look at all your options for accommodation in Morocco. HalimaArabic Teacher £13/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KotaibaArabic Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SoledadArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NancyArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaouesArabic Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DinaArabic Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AbrarArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UsamaArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsCamping in MoroccoIt’s very easy to camp in Morocco. There are plenty of campsites all over the country. In Arabic, the term is “mukhayyam”. Why not go camping in the Atlas Mountains? (Source: sosinda)Keep in mind that wild camping is illegal in Morocco. However, you can ask the landowner if you can camp on private land. They may ask for a fee for you to use the facilities. There are tonnes of official campsites with electricity and running water. Many, particularly those in the north, even include a bakery, restaurant, pool, etc. Others are more basic with some rocky ground, a bit of shade, access to showers, and latrines.Generally, a campsite costs between 10 to 20Dh per person per night with a fee of 10 to 20Dh to pitch a tent. If you want to use the electricity, you’ll be looking to pay between 10 and 15Dh (around £1.50) and you’ll pay between 5 and 10Dh for warm water (around £1) but given how it is, you probably won’t want warm water.In the south of Morocco, the campsites are usually taken up by campervans.Even in the cities, you can camp, even though these campsites are far from the centre and quite rudimen tary.  That said, there are guest houses, youth hostels, and hotels where you can sleep on a mattress on the roof for between 30 and 50Dh a night, not including breakfast. This is a good option if you want to stay in the city but without breaking the bank.You can also enjoy the souks, pick up a pair of babouches, and bring back some argan oil as a souvenir.Make sure you check the weather in Morocco before you go camping there.Find out the best time to visit Morocco.Youth Hostels in MoroccoYouth hostels aren’t very common in Morocco. There are around a dozen listed on Hostelling International. You can find them in the main cities: Casablanca, Rabat, Fez, Meknes, Essaouira, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Tetuan, Asni, Azrou, Chefcaouen, and Layoun. If you're on a backpacker's budget, you can always stay in youth hostels. (Source: motamid2006)They’re not all available on sites like Hostelling International. Generally, you’ll pay between £5 and £15 for a bed in a dormitory and it should be noted that, if you’re travelling in a couple, the dormitories aren’t mixed. You can stay in any youth hostel and there’s no age limit. Just because it’s a youth hostel, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be young. There are youth hostels in cities like Marrakesh that are generally more luxurious but they also tend to cost more. At a certain point, you may as well just pay the money for a hotel.Check out our guide to visiting Morocco. HalimaArabic Teacher £13/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KotaibaArabic Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SoledadArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NancyArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Taoues Arabic Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DinaArabic Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AbrarArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UsamaArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHotels and Riads in MoroccoYou can also stay in resort hotels or regular hotels. There’s a whole range of prices depending on the type of hotel you pick. They’re obliged to include their prices at the reception but you can always try to negotiate a bit, especially if the hotel isn’t full. You can stay in European-style hotels or more traditional riads. (Source: olafpictures)Generally, you’ll need to put your passport and visa number in the register upon arrival. Taxes and fees that usually cost around 35Dh.If you’re staying near a mosque, expect to be woken around 4 or 5 in the morning by the muezzin as he invites Muslims in for morning prayer.Only the higher-end hotels have heating so be careful as the nights can be quite cold in the south of the country in winter.Find online Arabic lessons London.Budget HotelsIn most large cities, you can find very cheap hotels. Generally speaking, the facilities are shared and you can’t guarantee the cleanliness. Don’t hesitate to ask to see the room before you pay for it. There may not be warm water as Moroccans often wash in a hammam and the hotel staff will be happy to point you in the direction of the nearest one.In the south of Morocco, you can also rent a Berber tent in a hotel for 25 to 30Dh.Moderately-Priced HotelsT here are average hotels (2 stars) that are usually decent. There are Western hotel chains like Ibis or even local independent hotels.  At this price, you’ll generally get a shower to yourself and in the south of the country, you can get these types of hotels for a very low price.High-End HotelsPullman, Marmara, Sofitel, etc., you can find high-end hotel chains in Morocco. There are plenty in Agadir, for example, and they tend to include a pool, golf course, clubs, and restaurants.  This is the option if you’re staying as part of your honeymoon!Luxury Riads, Dars, and CasbahsA riad is an old home built around a garden with trees and found in the hard of the medina. They’re regularly bought and renovated by westerners, particularly the French. You won’t be enjoying an authentic Moroccan experience in them but if you’re looking for luxury and a location in the city centre, these are the ones to go for.Marrakech is home to more riads than any other city in Morocco; there are h undreds of them. Fez, Meknes, Essaouira, and Rabat also have a good number of them.Riad is the generic term for a house built around an interior courtyard. A casbah, for example, is a former citadel that’s been converted into a hotel. The rooms tend to be darker and less charming but are also quite cool in the summer.If you want to stay in a riad, dar, or casbah, you’ll want to book ahead. The rates are similar to that of 4- or 5-star hotels and most will display their rates in Euros rather than in Dirhams.So how much should you budget for Morocco?Find out the cost of visiting Morocco.Renting a Private Apartment in MoroccoYou can also rent private accommodation which is a great option if you’re travelling as a family and want to save money.  You’re more likely to find private rents near Agadir, Taghazout, Essaouira, Asilah, and the touristy cities on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts.You can find them on rental sites like Airbnb. Make sure you search for the entire prope rty and not just a room in a property. In any case, plan so that you have time to find what you want.Be wary of touts offering apartments and flats as you get off the bus. These are rarely a good deal.Check out our tips for visiting Morocco.Staying with a Family in MoroccoIf you want to get the most out of Moroccan culture, you can also stay with a host family and some businesses can put you in touch with a Moroccan family. If you stay in a guesthouse or with a family, you'll probably be treated to meals. (Source: TheUjulala)You’ll be welcomed directly into a Moroccan family's home where you’ll undoubtedly enjoy some authentic Moroccan cooking. Families are usually chosen for their hospitality and kindness towards tourists and there are generally three main types of accommodation:Rustic: where you stay with the family and live as they would. You’ll have a room to yourself but you’ll probably sleep on a divan and won’t have access to warm water. The facilities will be shared with the family.Average: you’ll have a private room and a shared bathroom with warm water. You can even get rooms with private bathrooms in some cases.Comfortable: you’ll get a western-style room with a private bathroom.Usually, these are half-board but you can get full-board for around £6 or £7 more each day. Generally, you need to opt for at least 3 days with the family to stay. They tend to cost around £20 to £40 per day per person depending on the level of comfort and how many people are staying.So what type of accommodation will you opt for in Morocco? Whether you're staying near the Sahara desert, the High Atlas Mountains, Tangier, Chefchaouen, the Atlantic Coast, or the Mediterranean Sea, make sure you get the right accommodation.Before going to Morocco, you should consider learning some Arabic. Fortunately for you, there are plenty of talented Arabic tutors on Superprof. There are three main types of tutorials available: one-on-one tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. Each type of tutorials has its pros and cons so choose the right type and right tutor for you.Many tutors on Superprof offer the first hour of tuition for free so consider trying a few different tutors before settling on the right one for you.