Sure, you could read and take notes. You could highlight important passages in the textbook. You could do super helpful practice problems to prepare yourself for the first midterm. You could hire a tutor so you really get the material. But hear me out—what if you did something less boring instead?
Disclaimer: You should probably not do these things.
1. Study for 10 minutes and then watch 50 minutes of your favorite show.
Or, if you're really feeling productive, do 15 minutes of studying and then watch a 45-minute Vine compilation. You can't go wrong with Vines.
2. Check your phone every three minutes to see what your friends are up to.
Set a timer so that you don't miss a chance to stop studying. If your friends haven't messaged you back, just see what your acquaintances are doing on social media. It's really important to be social.
3. Take a study "break" by going out with friends for dinner...and dessert.
Grab some dinner at a dine-in restaurant, and then find an ice cream parlor. Maybe go see a movie, too. It's just a break, right?
4. Contemplate your theory of the universe for a while.
The Big Bang? Adam and Eve? Are we living in one of an infinite number of universes? Are we alone? Are there aliens? These are important, urgent questions. Maybe your brain will be more prepped for studying once you've spent an hour in deep thought.
5. Write critiques for each chapter of your textbook to establish dominance.
Just refute actual facts. You might forget which of your notes are actual textbook information and which are your ludicrous theories, but it's fun to pretend you know more than whatever expert wrote the book. This will build critical thinking skills.
6. Break all your pens and pencils so you have an excuse to go to the store.
You can't write down any notes if you don't have a writing utensil. Duh. If you're taking notes on your laptop, I guess you have no choice but to damage the keyboard. It's the only way to justify taking a long study break.
7. If you've been sitting for more than 30 seconds, be sure to get up and walk around.
Nothing cures boredom like walking around aimlessly for a while. A long while.
8. Set your notes on fire.
In a safe place, for sure. Do not set your notes on fire indoors. Or near dry leaves. Just toss them in a fire pit and enjoy the warmth responsibly.
9. Set your textbooks on fire.
This might not be a great idea if you rented the books, but you just have to weigh your options. Are you willing to pay the price for the euphoria of watching those incredibly boring pages burn?
10. Roast marshmallows over the fire you've created.
Yum, marshmallows infused with the essence of academia. Maybe eating them will help you learn the material?
11. Use these marshmallows for s'mores.
GiphyNo study session is complete without a nutritious, gooey chocolate snack. Treat yo self every day.
12. Look at pictures of dogs (and cats).
Of course this is studying. It's important to think ahead—you're going to want a dog someday, so it makes sense to figure out which breeds you like now, right? I mean, your future practically depends on this.
13. Read articles about studying so you can pretend you're being productive.
Isn't that why you're here?
14. Just don't study.
Think of everything else you could be doing. Staring at the ceiling, mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, watching some movie you've seen a hundred times already. The possibilities are endless.
Do all of this, and do it in the name of self-care. You deserve this. Bask in the glory of another failed study session—is it really "failed" if it helped you build character?
