College is back in session which means tests, homework, and lots of studying. If you're anything like me, school doesn't come easy. It feels like no matter what you do, you're always struggling to stay afloat. There are plenty of articles telling you how to study and how much sleep you should get to "improve your brain function." If you ask me, I say I could sleep for 10 hours and still not be productive. If you struggle with studying, I have some actually useful tips that may help you be successful.
1. Leave a food trail.
Leaving a piece of candy or some other snack at the end of each paragraph/topic while reading and reviewing will help keep you motivated to continue reading until you get all the way through the material.
2. Highlight, highlight, highlight.
When you're going over your notes or reading a chapter of your textbook, designate a color to each category of the things you need to know. It helps keep all the things you need to know organized! Too many colors could be confusing, but a couple to remember the difference between that definition and that really long quote could be really helpful!
3. Re-write your notes.
When you take your sloppy, speed written notes and change them into pretty, organized notes, studying actually becomes fun, if not satisfying. Plus it gives you a chance to organize all of your thoughts and put them in an order that makes sense.
4. Use Post-Its.
When you use post-it notes in your textbooks and notes, not only does it make it easier to find the spot you wanted to take notes for, it makes it more fun to look at! Post-Its are my personal favorite study tool.
5. Take 15 minute breaks.
Our brains can't process when we give it too much information. Every hour or so, you should get up and change the activity you are doing. Go for a walk, stretch, or clean something. Then come back with a refreshed view on the information.
Bottom line is that studying sucks. We struggle to stay afloat in school and if we really take a look at what the root of the issue is, whether that be the way we study, the motivation to study, or studying too much, we can really buckle down and be the successful adults we have always aspired to be.
