It's starts off calm and then comes the storm. Last minute study sessions due to the aftermath of weeks worth of procrastination. You begin to lose sleep as well as your sanity, while you wonder if any of this will pay off in the end. But hear this, do not give up hope because this can be achieved in the long run. I'm not going to lecture you on why you shouldn't wait until the last minute. What good will that do? You're already at this point and the choices you make will lead you to new opportunities to achieve. Here are some ways that will help you overcome situations like these and help you stack up on some B's rather than the average "C's get degrees" outlook.
1. Breathe, Organize, Set a Goal
Let's start off with what you're dealing with currently. Right now, you're probably con-jumbled with a bunch of your rented textbooks that you barely use. You even highlighted anything that looks important. I mean, this is a good way to start but what you should do is organize what may seem important from first to last.
Take a look at your syllabus and read it thoroughly. Find the sections that you wrote about in your notebook and compare it to what is on your course timeline. Your textbook will have everything you need once you organize your thoughts on where to start. Final exams contain everything you've learned thus far and knowing the main points will help u set a goal on what to do first.
2. Stay away from Google
Trust me, it's tempting and seems easier. However, I found that by trying to look up something from the textbook that you wanted to learn without having to read it, will make you even more confused than you were before. Like in the first step, organize what you want to figure out first from your textbook and notes. Read your textbook, take that time to interpret what you read and if anything, check your index to find what you really need to know.
3. Rewrite, Rewrite, Rewrite
This may seem tedious but rewriting your notes on a separate notebook will help you understand it better than before. You begin to memorize it much faster as well. I've done this many times when I needed to remember vocabulary words, or different formulas. This method is my favorite because it kept me busy by writing and thinking without distracting myself. Once you set your mind to this task you achieve so much more.
4. Multi-task
Sometimes when you work on one task you either get sidetracked, bored, or even more confused. It's important to not stop there. By trying out another course you can complete some of another one and get back to the one you were working on before.
5. Take 5
It's important to take little breaks in between studying. It's good to recharge after studying for an hour because you're able to get more things done and understand it better.
