You probably flinched at the word “study,” didn’t you? If you did, I completely understand. Studying isn’t fun—there’s no denying that—but there are ways to make it less painful. If you’re looking to earn a 4.0 this semester, here are some study tips you should follow:
It’s common for people to listen to music while they do work. While this isn’t necessarily a bad habit, music with lyrics can be distracting. I find that I’m more productive when I listen to instrumental music. Youtube has a ton of different Lo-fi stations; my favorite are the holiday themed ones. Lo-fi Halloween and lo-fi Christmas are absolute bangers. (Ignore that I just used the word “bangers”). Some people also work better to classical music, including myself. Make a playlist for those all-nighters at the library.
No, not “copy” as in “cheat off your friend.” “Copy” as in “look over your notes and write them down again, word for word.” Replicating your notes on another sheet of paper will make the information stick more. Even though it can be painstaking, I like to have two or three copies of my notes for class, just so I remember everything on them. Of course, you shouldn’t solely rely on your notes. Copy down other important information, like passages from your textbook.
Quizlet never fails to make me think of middle school. Does anyone else remember making Quizlet flashcards for their language class? Was that a universal experience or one that I just had? Anyway, I digress. Quizlet is extremely helpful for auditory learners, such as myself. To remember the information faster, I’ll press the audio button on each flashcard to have it recite what I wrote. I’ll play the audio a few times before I can recite it myself. Quizlet has study tactics for every type of learner. Kinesthetic learners can study through interactive games, while reading and writing learners can test their knowledge with the “LEARN” feature.
If you’re preparing for a big exam, it’s crucial to make a study guide. Treat your study guide as your master document: include relevant vocab words and definitions, key facts, diagrams, explanations of different concepts…in short, whatever you need to ace your test. Since I’m also a visual learner, I like to draw pictures to help me remember difficult bits of information. It sounds childish, I know, but it’s really effective. It’s important that you keep your study guide neat and easy to follow.
Color coding works wonders, especially for visual learners. Your brain will begin to associate certain colors with important information; color coding also helps stimulate your mind. Another benefit of color coding is that it improves your organization. You won’t have to scramble through your study guide to find what’s your looking for—the colors will give you a clue. And besides, who doesn’t want an aesthetically pleasing study guide? I feel more motivated to study when my work looks neat and bright.
You’re never too old for games. And with that, you’re never too old to turn your work into a game. Sometimes you need a change of pace from flashcards and study guides. Not only will you be more excited to learn, but the material will also stay in your mind. If you’re studying with a group, hold a Jeopardy or Kahoot competition. I swear, the Kahoot music is permanently ingrained in my brain. Jeopardy and Kahoot help test your knowledge when you’re under pressure. It’s important to prepare yourself for the testing experience, which includes being timed and answering questions quickly. You need to immerse yourself in a similar environment to your testing space beforehand.
A clear space leads to a clear mind. “Clear” in a good way, of course. I always find that my focus improves when my environment is tidy. There aren’t as many distractions to pull me away from my work, and I can use the empty space to arrange my study materials. Before I start any study session, I like to organize my desk. This process involves wiping down any surfaces (keyboard included), ensuring that I have proper lighting, and laying out my study guides and textbooks. It’s good to have pens, highlighters, and any other writing instruments at the ready.
Sometimes, it’s better to do work outside of your typical space. Switch it up and study someplace new. Though it might be a trial and error process of finding the right environment, when you land on one, you’ll notice a drastic improvement to your work flow. Libraries and coffee shops are the two most common places to study in, with college students having full access to both of them. Studying outside can be advantageous too, although you might run into more distractions.
“Stay hydrated” is good advice for any situation. It’s proven that drinking water helps raise your energy levels and mental performance. Staring blankly at a laptop is also likely to cause headaches. Water can assuage any headaches that occur when studying, as well as sharpen your memory. To play it safe, I follow the three beverage rule when I’m doing work. You need one drink for hydration, one for fun, and one for energy. Water, smoothies, and iced coffee are the holy trinity of desk drinks.
If you don’t take breaks during your study sessions, you’ll lose energy fast. Not only that, but you’ll become so overwhelmed with information that nothing will stick. Don’t overwork yourself—take breaks whenever you need to. Listen to your body and mind. You’ve got this, and you deserve to reward yourself.
Hopefully, now you won’t feel as overwhelmed with work. I understand and empathize with testing anxiety—it happens to the best of us. Though these methods won’t cure testing anxiety, they might alleviate the pain.
Feature image source: https://pin.it/3zjdPN8
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