 We all have unique ways of learning. Some of us study best in total silence. While others like to listen to music, you might prefer making extensive summaries or you like to create mind maps. It's essential to figure out how you learn most effectively. But how do you go about this? The answer is self-regulation, understanding how and where you learn best and what you need to give yourself the optimal learning experience. You know what you are and what you're not good at and you know which way of learning suits you best. You plan your tasks and keep track of your progress. When necessary, you change or improve your study process. All this may sound like a lot of work, but good preparation is half the battle. Once you have mastered this skill, you'll benefit from it for the rest of your life because the more efficiently you learn, the greater the chance that you will perform well. Do you often postpone tasks because there's something more fun to do? Then you need to limit distractions and set deadlines. Do you need silence to concentrate and find a quiet environment to work in? Can't concentrate for long periods of time? Start on time and schedule enough breaks. And if you're dreading a difficult task, start with that first. Then you've got that out of the way. Keep track of which ways of learning work for you for a few weeks. Think about what works when and what doesn't. Want to get better at self-regulation? Click here.