It’s an academic girl fall. Don’t let the stress of hard courses or an insane workload stop you from putting your best foot forward this semester.
Here are some of my favorite study hacks that I’m using to stay on track.
Learn yourself
If you notice you’re struggling, you can’t expect that the studying methods that the person next to you uses are going to work perfectly for you. Whether it’s visual, hands-on, auditory, or something else, it is so important that you understand how your brain works and what type of studying will be the best for you. If you aren’t sure, take a quiz! There are hundreds online to take the first step in understanding your brain.
Don’t study where you sleep
I am 100% guilty for doing my school work in bed. I’m sure most of us are. But when the schedule gets busier and the academic guilt gets bigger, your bed should be a place of calm, not a place for you to wonder about the other 50 assignments you could be doing. Instead, find a place you’re comfortable that allows for a purposeful, non-distracting study session like your desk, the library, or even a nice place outside.
Don’t procrastinate
I know this is easier said than done, but when an assignment/study material sits untouched until last minute, the dread and anxiety can cloud the actual studying process. Starting early allows for a clear brain and a calm heart.
Classical music
This may sound crazy to some people, but this is a hack I have SWORN by since high school. No one likes studying in silence. Everyone listens to music while studying, but the lack of lyrics and peaceful music allows for a type of focus that I don’t get with any other background noise.
Take breaks
This is probably the most important piece of advice anyone can give you in college. Courses can get extremely difficult and the amount of schoolwork can become beyond overwhelming. It is so important to allow yourself moments to breathe and remember that you are more than the flashcards or homework in front of you.
Turn the phone off
I can guarantee that some of the biggest obstacles faced in a study session involve picking up the phone. I find myself checking a notification and then snapping back to my work 15 minutes later completely lost on where I was before. Allowing for a disconnect with your technology allows for a true connection to the material you are trying to learn.
Pavlov yourself
Now this one may sound a little odd. If you’ve ever read about the Pavlov experiment, you probably immediately think I’m crazy. Like, hey, we aren’t dogs, we are college students. But I swear, starting my freshman year, I bought myself a vanilla iced latte every time I was studying for something important. Now, the second a vanilla iced latte hits my hands, I feel wrong if there isn’t study material in front of me. It’s basically a cheat code into forcing yourself to feel productive.
There’s nothing wrong with feeling stressed and anxious walking into a new semester and feeling the heat. The important part is what you do when the pressure hits that really matters. Finding new ways to focus can be the first step in finding yourself if the chaos that is college.
Study hard, take care of yourself, and remember, you can do anything you set your mind to.