It’s the most wonderful time of the year… in a way. The season of joy, fun, and festivities is right around the corner, but wait. I know there’s something you’re worried about. We are in the last few weeks of the semester, the sun sets at 5 PM, the days are all blending together, and motivation to study is at an all-time low for most of us, including myself. How unfortunate is it that all of this catches up to us mere days before finals season. Being a university student is not at all easy, I’m sure all of you would agree. If you’re like me, and you desperately need to lock in, I am here to give you a few study tips and tricks to help you stay on top of your work even when your motivation is slowly dying.
- . SET SHORT-TERM GOALS
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This is something many of us are taught in the early years of elementary school and is drilled into our brains throughout grade school. Growing up, I always found goal setting to be a very tedious task that I deemed unnecessary because I would never feel the urge to actually achieve those goals. I now realize this is because the goals I set were very long-term. For example, they would always be something like “by the end of the semester, I will….” Now, I have made a habit of setting short term goals to help me meet deadlines and actually get things done. Instead of saying “by the end of the semester,” say “by the end of the day.” Setting extremely short-term goals helps me stay focused on the tasks that need to be done, as they feel more achievable, and it leaves me feeling accomplished after I have hit those goals.
- . VISUALIZE YOUR WORK & DEADLINES
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Keeping a calendar or to-do list was never something I saw myself doing because I thought that I would just end up never checking it. I was wrong. Once I began inputting all my deadlines into a calendar, I realized how much clarity it gives me. There’s also something so satisfying about checking off each task as you go. I have gotten much better at managing my time around my deadlines, as visualizing it helps me see how much time I actually have.
Setting reminders for assignments, exams, and other deadlines also helps, but I think having a visual of the entire month is much more effective. This makes it feel less overwhelming and allows me to plan out how much time to give to each assignment every day.
- . START THE ASSIGNMENT
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This may sound very simple, but it does help me a lot. Even if the deadline is a month away and doesn’t seem that urgent, start that assignment as soon as possible. Even if that means simply writing your title page or formatting your document, start it early because that assignment will not get done if it does not get started. The earlier you start, the more time you have to get it done, and the less time you will spend ignoring it. Starting my assignments early sets out a reminder in my brain that tells me I need to get it done soon. Once you start, it’s much easier to keep going. Stop putting it off and saying, “the deadline is so far away, I don’t have to start it now.” Starting it now will save you from the last-minute chaos.
- . THE POMODORO METHOD
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If you’ve ever taken a psych course, you’ve definitely heard of this method. Lock your phone in a drawer, set a timer for 20, 25, or even 30 minutes, and just focus on your work for that time. Then, when the timer goes off, set another one for 5 or 10 minutes and take a break.
I’ve started using this method more often recently and have been pleasantly surprised by how much work I can get done by simply dividing my time into 30-minute increments. This works because breaking work into short intervals makes it feel less overwhelming.
- . TAKE BREAKS!
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This ties in with the Pomodoro method, but I highly recommend taking regular breaks while studying. While it can interrupt my flow, taking short breaks, every 30-45 minutes, helps me come back to my work with a clear head and makes it seem much less overwhelming.
Taking breaks has also prevented many headaches, which has helped me get work done much quicker and easier. Remember to take breaks but keep them short and mindful so you don’t go completely off track!
- . LIMIT NOISE
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Studying while listening to music is very common; you probably do it too. As a music lover myself, the one thing I look forward to when studying is listening to my study playlist. However, music can be VERY distracting. I’ve found that it takes me much longer to get my work completed when I am listening to music, even if I feel that I am working efficiently, because the lyrics pull my attention away. But, it’s also difficult for me to focus on studying while in total silence.
Therefore, instead of music I listen to light noises such as rain sounds, typing sounds, or fireplace sounds. I’ve noticed these to be less distracting, while also drowning out all unwanted noise from my surroundings.
- . LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!
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Finals season may be fast approaching, but that means the holidays are too! Think of your exams and final assignments as hurdles you have to jump over to get to the finish line. Once you face the challenges, there will be a reward waiting for you on the other side. Whether that be the winter break, attending holiday dinners, getting good sleep again, or whatever helps pull you through! Studying does not have to feel like a burden if you shift your mindset to the amazing things waiting for you after that assignment or exam finally gets turned in.
I hope this list gave you some motivation or ideas for new study strategies! If not… my sincerest apologies. Good luck and happy studying!