It’s midterm season and we could all use some study tips. Studying is one of the most important things to help you get the best grades possible. One of my favorite ways to study is by using Quizlet. Breaking up your study sessions into 25 minutes of work and then 5 minutes of relaxing/taking a break is a great way to keep you focused and helps with burnout. Burning out is not great, especially when you need to perform at your best.
When studying at a location, having very little distractions is key to being able to lock in and focus on what you need to get done. I also find it helpful to go over my notes from class and write down on a separate piece of paper things that I think are important for me to review. You should not rely on cramming in your studying because this is extremely ineffective when it comes to long-term memorization.
Ideally, you should spread out your studying sessions over multiple weeks. Breaking up your studying for each class is also a good idea because then you can then focus more on specific topics when you’re studying. This way, you’re not spending multiple hours studying for only one class, but instead you’re breaking up your studying which allows you to study for other classes as well. Breaking up studying for different classes also helps lower the chances of burnout because you aren’t stressed over one class for long periods of time.
Study groups are something that can also be very helpful because you can work together and rely on each other. Everyone has their strengths, and working together can allow for you to get a better grasp on the subject. Another thing that can also be helpful is rewarding yourself after a long study day. Whether it is a sweet treat or a little drink, rewarding yourself can help motivate yourself to be more productive.
Another tip is having specific goals when studying. Having specific goals in mind can help you organize your thoughts and work. With specific goals, you can focus more on certain ideas or topics in one study session than another. Making sure that you cover all the topics you need is important, so having not only a goal but a plan/schedule for each topic is important so you are fully prepared.
Everyone is different when it comes to understanding how you best learn, whether it is visually, orally, written, or a combination. Working to understand how you learn best is extremely important because this can help you better understand material and allow you to study better and excel.
Not everything will work for everyone, and while something works for your friend, it might not work for you. Understanding this is extremely important because if you beat yourself up over not being able to be efficient in the same way someone can, it can break your confidence and make you lose focus. Not comparing yourself to others is extremely important as well because not one person learns and studies the same.
Best of luck studying!