Finals are coming, the library is packed and your to-do list is pretty much a to-do mountain. Horrifying thoughts of hours of caffeine-fueled cramming in the library with your nose in a book come flooding back and you start to wonder just how bad it would be if you just skipped exam week and worked at McDonald's for the rest of your life.
But studying doesn't have to be traumatizing. This semester, make studying a bit less of a nightmare with some ways to shake up your studying. You're welcome.
1. Break out the markers!
The good ole days of high school when your teacher would give you a study guide are long gone, but that doesn't mean you can't make your own!
Go grab your colored pens and markers and write down only the most important concepts, theories and formulas. You'll get a chance to look over all your notes, consolidate the information and make it look so good that you'll want to look at it!
I did this to study for finals in high school and managed to fit a year's worth of European history on five sheets of paper.
2. Smell your studies.
No, I'm not suggesting you find scratch-and-sniff stickers to help you remember standard deviation, but you can use smell to help jog your memory when you sit down for the exam. Studies have shown that smell is one of the strongest senses we have and we can use that sense to ace our finals.
Put on scented Chap Stick or hand sanitizer when you study each of your subjects. Then, when you walk into class for your test, bring out that smell again and "poof!" It'll seem like you're right back in your room looking at your notes.
3. Get artsy.
It's been shown that giving your mind a break and getting the creative juices flowing is a great way to get you out of your studying slump.
Start sketching, painting, coloring, or (if you're awesome like me) decorate your door for Christmas. You'll be happier and come back to your books more refreshed.
4. Change the scenery.
If you sit in the same place in the library for hours every day, you eventually start to hate it which means you dread studying which means you spend less time thinking about the material and more time wishing you could be anywhere but here.
Well, make your wish come true! Grab a friend and study off campus at a local Starbucks, Panera, or some other quiet place that looks like anything but your usual spot. If you can't get off campus, try studying in a room or building you don't normally spend time in.
My roommate and I head to Barnes & Noble when we can't stand to be in the library for one more hour and it makes all the difference to shake up the scenery.
5. Form a study group... with people you don't know.
Yeah, it's awkward, but sometimes your best friend isn't the best study buddy.
Try asking that guy across the room from you (you know, the one who always has the right answer) and see if he'd be willing to study with you. Talking to people you normally ignore is a great way to get some fresh perspectives on the material and maybe fill in some information you missed.
And who knows? You might make a friend or even find "the one."
And by that, I totally mean "the one" who will keep you from retaking the class next semester.
6. Play musical books (which is only slightly less fun than the classic version).
Yes, you might be old enough to drink your way through finals week, but games from your childhood can actually help you pass exams.
Pull out your notes for all the classes you need to study for and put on a playlist or set a timer for half an hour. Study one subject until the timer goes off, then, in your head, give a brief summary of what you studied and switch to the next subject.
This idea is based on research that suggests mixed studying is more effective in long-term memorization than spending hours trying to master one subject.
By taking a break from one set of notes and coming back to them, you strengthen your ability to recall information which is what will keep you from blanking out when the exam is placed in front of you.
7. Reward yourself.
...especially when you have a lot of material to get through. Put a gummy bear or other kind of candy on every paragraph to reward you for the work you've already done and to motivate you to keep going!
So yeah, studying for finals still sucks, but at least you can make it suck a little less with some of these tips. Good luck!
