Hello everyone! I have been following the theme of college life over the past few blog posts I have written, and I decided to continue with that trend for this week. With school in general, students find themselves having to study, whether that is for tests/quizzes/quests/exams, or for doing homework. Everyone has a different way of studying that works best for them, but I wanted to share some general study tips that help me, as well as other tips I have learned from my peers that could interest some of you guys as well.
1. Study in a place where you know you will get work done - Whether this is a noisy or silent place, find an area where you know you will focus the best, and be the most productive in getting your work done. Many students find it is easier for them to study in a library where there are other students studying as well, others enjoy studying in their room or by themselves, and others focus better in areas where there is background noise, such as a cafe. Whatever your preferred area of studying is, make sure you spend time there working on your studies, and focusing.
2. Snacks - A lot of people find that studying becomes less of a tedious process when they have something to drink or eat. I fall into that category. By having water, tea, coffee, or something that is easy to eat like trail mix, sliced fruit, or crackers, I am able to focus better, and get more work done. This strategy does not work for everyone, but snacking on healthy foods is like having "brain food" which will give you more energy and allow you to focus for longer periods of time.
3. Take breaks - Take a break in between studying different subjects. By taking a 10 minute break in between history and calculus for example, your brain will be refreshed when you start the next subject, and not be dwelling on the one you just worked on. Also, by taking a quick break, you can eat a quick snack, re-energize yourself, and relax before getting started on the next subject at hand.
4. Don't cram all your studying into one session - When doing homework or studying, don't cram all of your studying for all your different topics into one day. By doing this, you will end up spending the majority of your day studying, and it will be a LONG day. You do not want to be the student who is up at very late hours, struggling to stay awake while reading a chapter from one of your textbooks. By creating regular studying hours and planning out what days you will study each subject, you will be more successful and not have to cram everything into one day.
5. Get rid of any distractions - This connects back to number one, but this point refers more to technology. When working, silence your cellphone, and put your computer away if you do not need to use it. I have found that even when keeping my phone on vibrate, I still become distracted from my studies when my phone vibrates, and I end up answering text messages and scrolling through social media feeds, which causes me to lose focus on my studies. By distancing yourself from electronics and other forms of distraction, you will be able to focus solely on your studies, and get more work done in a shorter amount of time.
1. Study in a place where you know you will get work done - Whether this is a noisy or silent place, find an area where you know you will focus the best, and be the most productive in getting your work done. Many students find it is easier for them to study in a library where there are other students studying as well, others enjoy studying in their room or by themselves, and others focus better in areas where there is background noise, such as a cafe. Whatever your preferred area of studying is, make sure you spend time there working on your studies, and focusing.
2. Snacks - A lot of people find that studying becomes less of a tedious process when they have something to drink or eat. I fall into that category. By having water, tea, coffee, or something that is easy to eat like trail mix, sliced fruit, or crackers, I am able to focus better, and get more work done. This strategy does not work for everyone, but snacking on healthy foods is like having "brain food" which will give you more energy and allow you to focus for longer periods of time.
3. Take breaks - Take a break in between studying different subjects. By taking a 10 minute break in between history and calculus for example, your brain will be refreshed when you start the next subject, and not be dwelling on the one you just worked on. Also, by taking a quick break, you can eat a quick snack, re-energize yourself, and relax before getting started on the next subject at hand.
4. Don't cram all your studying into one session - When doing homework or studying, don't cram all of your studying for all your different topics into one day. By doing this, you will end up spending the majority of your day studying, and it will be a LONG day. You do not want to be the student who is up at very late hours, struggling to stay awake while reading a chapter from one of your textbooks. By creating regular studying hours and planning out what days you will study each subject, you will be more successful and not have to cram everything into one day.
5. Get rid of any distractions - This connects back to number one, but this point refers more to technology. When working, silence your cellphone, and put your computer away if you do not need to use it. I have found that even when keeping my phone on vibrate, I still become distracted from my studies when my phone vibrates, and I end up answering text messages and scrolling through social media feeds, which causes me to lose focus on my studies. By distancing yourself from electronics and other forms of distraction, you will be able to focus solely on your studies, and get more work done in a shorter amount of time.
