Studying from home has become the new normal, but it’s perfectly natural to feel a little out of sorts. Everything has been turned on its head over the past two years, and that can take a significant toll on your VCE results if you're not actively managing the situation. That's why we've put together these tips for studying at home to help you achieve the best ATAR score possible.

Two Heads Are Better Than One

Because access to teachers and other assistance is limited at the moment, so too will be your ability to gain clarity on any issues you may be having with your subjects. While you could seek help from your parents or peers, it makes much more sense to turn to someone who has been there, done that and got the t-shirt (or, in this case, qualification).

VCE tutoring in Melbourne can be accessed virtually, so there is no need to worry about travelling or any of the associated risks. It can be a simple and effective way to help improve your study efficiency and scores.

Create a Calm Study Environment

All the help in the world won't be super useful if you don't have an appropriate environment in which to study. Your study space should be comfortable and tailored to your unique learning needs while still providing structure for both the area and your day.

Consider setting up your desk with everything you need for your study session in a room other than your bedroom if at all possible. Set a calming mood by making use of natural light, a comfortable, ergonomic desk chair, and an aromatherapy oil diffuser pumping out your preferred calming (or brain function boosting) scent.

Don't Neglect Household Chores

When you're trying to do everything from home, it can be easy for things to get a little messy. Given everything else you’re dealing with at the moment, chores are probably the last thing on your mind, but our mental states reflect our surroundings (and vice versa), so it is important to get general tidying and other household chores out of the way before settling into studying. Fail to do so, and your brain will be distracted by your environment.

Get Enough Sleep

Another pitfall of doing everything from home is that if you're not careful, your ability to shut off at the end of the day may become compromised. This can prevent you from sleeping properly, leading to a self-perpetuating cycle of always being "on" and trying to catch up on tasks or subjects that weren't completed earlier in the day.

While you obviously still need to do your best to get everything done, it is vital that you find a way to disengage at the end of the day and get a good night's sleep. You could consider creating a bedtime routine, moving your study area further away from your sleeping quarters, or even simply switching out the scent in your aromatherapy diffuser to help create a calm study environment. What you choose isn't important, but sticking to it is.

Studying for your VCE at home is admittedly harder than studying in the classroom, but that doesn't mean you have to let it impact your grades. Follow the tips in this article, apply yourself to your subjects, and go easy on yourself if you need a break. Everything else should fall into place. Good luck!