As we slowly creep up on our first exam week of this semester, it’s time to do some weird and desperate tricks for studying. Here are some of my kinda strange and borderline insane studying tips to get you through your midterms.
1. make flash cards your best friend
My number one tip I give to anyone who listens is to make the fattest stack of flashcards ever, genuinely add any and every concept you need, and then bring it everywhere you go. Make the stack synonymous with your phone; even if you aren’t studying the cards 24/7, you are still thinking about the materials, which is sometimes better. Bring the stack into the bathroom with you, every club meeting, every sports practice. I’ve brought my flashcards into the shower with me….
2. play mario Kart music
There are plenty of playlists on Spotify or Apple Music that are just straight Mario Kart music. I usually put on Rainbow Road and Coconut Mall and speedrun my assignments. The fast-paced songs make homework/studying absolutely fly by.
3. force my friends to listen to me
Everyone knows that reciting concepts out loud helps you retain the information. BUT my tip is to force my roommates to listen to my lecture, and you have to go all the way. Make the slideshow, have them take notes, make activities, and even let them ask questions if they are confused. Doing this makes sure you can explain the concepts to someone who has never heard of anything you are talking about, while also making sure you are comfortable answering questions.
4. Make yourself work for it
While the reward for studying is getting a good grade, make the reward quicker and what you want. If you want to make this a little more evil, place whatever you want in front of you while studying. For example, I make myself dinner, then once I’m done, I force myself to complete an assignment or study for 15 minutes before I can eat. While this can be pretty hard, it also teaches you discipline and delayed gratification.
