Along with the excitement of the new year comes a feeling that isn’t so good: the dread that accompanies the next semester of school. It’s sometimes difficult to get back into the groove of a student schedule, so here are some tips that could help you to improve the way you study.
1. Clean your surroundings.
Sometimes the clutter in our study environments can resemble that of our academic organization. If you study in your bedroom: clean it, make your bed, dust off your bookshelf and organize your workspace. Open your shutters and light a candle or two — anything to increase the ambience of the space. Cleaning up may help you feel less overwhelmed.
2. Make a list.
If you have a lot to do, your tasks can get muddled inside your head, and you may forget one or two of them. In order to prevent this, make a list! No matter how small the task, just write it down so you don’t lose track of it. This will make you feel so much more relaxed and ready to work because you aren’t juggling the tasks around in your head.
3. Turn off your phone.
This is the most obvious of all study hacks, but it is the most difficult to master. We never like to admit that we are perhaps a bit too dependent on our phones and social media. This can prove to be an extreme distraction. Concentrate all of your willpower and turn your phone off.
4. Schedule your time realistically.
In between periods of time where you don’t feel like doing anything, you might have bursts in which you feel extremely optimistic and productive. You may feel as if you can tackle a million things at once. Though this is a great mentality to have for small things, it is not ideal for long-term productivity. Take each task on at a time, and divide your tasks over a long period of time, if possible. In other words, be realistic about it.
5. Give yourself small rewards.
If you have a difficult time staying focused, give yourself incentives to work. If you like a T.V. show, work for half an hour and then allow yourself to watch 10 minutes of an episode. This tip requires a little bit of discipline and fighting off the want for instant gratification, but that is helpful to have in all aspects of life anyway. Finishing a certain amount of work will go by much quicker and more efficiently if you’re yearning to do something pleasurable after studying.
6. Try (or at least pretend to be) interested in the subject matter.
Psychology has proven that intrinsic learning (learning because of one’s own interest and not an external incentive) creates a much more efficient mindset when studying. Try and understand what you’re learning at a different level than just the fact that you have to complete an assignment or study for a particular test.
7. Associative Learning
Associative learning is also a studying technique that is particularly effective for memorization. Create a short story or a silly joke that you associate with the facts that you have to memorize. That way, it’ll be easier to remember the facts when you need them.
8. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
This isn’t directly a study tip, but hydrating definitely increases your efficiency. The better your health is, the more efficient you are. Drinking a lot of water will help you focus better, especially when studying!
9. Talk to yourself.
This sounds odd, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not. Reading your material out loud and explaining it to yourself can increase your understanding of the subject almost exponentially.
10. Turn on relaxing music — but with no words.
Music at times can be distracting, but not when you play soft, quiet music that has no words. With pieces like Erik Satie’s Gymnopédie No. I and Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata Mvt.I, you can really set a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, ideal for studying.
11. Exercise and stretch often.
As I’ve said before, your health can be connected to your efficiency. You’re most healthy when you’re moving. Exercising a little bit can really get your blood pumping, and this is extremely helpful especially when you’ve been sitting for long periods of time.
12. Start with easier concepts, and then slowly move up.
If you’re stuck on concept and you don’t know what to do, consider going back to simpler concept that you know you will understand. Start on that type of problem, then ease your way into problems that are slightly more difficult. This way, you’ll refresh your memory on basic concepts.
13. Know when to stop.
If you’re exhausted, then you’re exhausted, and there’s no getting around it. Know when to take breaks, and know that all-nighters aren’t necessarily the best thing for you to do to retain information. Be wise about studying, but don’t prioritize it over your physical health.
I hope this advice helps you! Get studying!