With finals approaching, a sense of dread and panic can set in as you realize just how much information you have to learn before your exams. My default in moments like these can be to just sit in my worry and not do anything productive. However, different study methods can help make studying not only feel less daunting, but also help you study more efficiently.
All about environment
I have found that the location for my studying is one of the most important aspects of being productive. Personally, I have completely given up on studying in my dorm. My favorite spots are: the stacks in Paterno Library, study rooms and the new part of Willard on campus.
Having a spot you can condition your brain to focus in is so important. Along with that, make sure the environment you are in is conducive to studying.
For this, noise-cancelling headphones are a must. I listen to music, ocean sounds or nothing at all, but having a barrier between you and the world around you is crucial to best focus.
Further, completely and totally put your phone away when you are studying. Turn Do Not Disturb on and put your phone all the way in your bag, or behind your computer, where it is completely out of your sight. When you can see your phone, you’ll naturally have the urge to use it, causing you to never fully concentrate.Â
When you have an environment more conducive to studying, it can feel a lot less unbearable to begin studying.
Studying Methods
No matter how good a study setup you have, it’s important to study smarter, not just more. Finding techniques that work for you is crucial to this.Â
Pomodoro Method: My tried-and-true method is the Pomodoro Method. This is perfect for when you feel like you simply cannot focus, and doing anything feels like too much.Â
The Pomodoro Method includes having 25 minutes of work and then a five-minute break, repeated four times, and then taking a longer 15-minute break. There are many variations with 30 or 45 minute work blocks, but I find the 25 is the best when I simply cannot focus.
Active Recall: The holy grail of studying is Active Recall. This can begin by going through notes, textbooks or lecture slides, and making a list or flashcards of everything you need to remember from that. For more data-based classes, this can be the steps to solving a problem or equations, and for other classes, it can be definitions, dates or biographies.Â
Once you have your list, use whatever method is best to quiz yourself on the material. This can include practice problems, vocab flashcards, writing all the material out on a whiteboard and many others. As long as you are actively making yourself remember the information, you can find whatever technique works best for you.
The Feynman Technique: The Feynman Technique is a great way to test your knowledge after reviewing notes or going through a strategy like active recall. This involves trying to “teach” the content you need to know for the exam.Â
If you are unsure about some content, you will never be able to explain it to someone, so testing if you can explain a concept simply is a great test to see how well you understand it. Friends or study groups in the same class can largely help with this.Â
The biggest lesson when it comes to finals is NOT to try and cram. Not only is cramming studying less effective, but it will also increase your stress levels more than necessary.Â
Finals are a tricky time in the semester, but if you study early and smart, you can easily set yourself up for success.