With the last couple weeks of school coming up, papers and exams are starting to pile. However, it’s easy to get distracted and lose track of time when you have a lot of things going on. Here are some tips that should help you maximize your study time.Â
Try different study spots
Try to study in a place that is different from where you usually study. If you study at home or in your bedroom, chances are it might be harder to focus since these are places where you are conditioned to relax. If you study outside of your home, but are still struggling to focus, maybe opt for a study spot you don’t usually go to. Finding a study place with plenty of light can help wake up your brain, and a place that is different from where you usually study may provide a new environment where you are more likely to lock in.Â
Start with just five minutes
Feeling overwhelmed with all the work you have to do which makes it hard to start? Aim to try to do just five minutes of a task to start. You can tell yourself “let me try to work on this for five minutes” and see how far you go. Starting is always the hardest part, so breaking up your work by just telling yourself to do a small amount can make it feel much more tolerable. Additionally, you can switch between tasks or assignments if one starts to feel overwhelming.Â
Phone jail
Do you find yourself reaching for your phone while you are trying to study? Try to keep it away from you while you are studying, whether asking a friend that you’re studying with to keep it by them, putting it in another room, or placing it far across the table. Not having your phone in close proximity may help keep you from grabbing it excessively.Â
Accountable spaces
Study in places where you feel like you will be held accountable! Studying in quiet spaces, especially with friends, will prevent any extra chatting that may distract you, and being surrounded by people who are also working hard will create an atmosphere that will help you lock in.Â
Pomodoro Technique
Last but definitely not least, my absolute favorite, the Pomodoro Technique. This involves studying in intervals and allotting break times. For example, you may set a 25 minute timer to study followed by a 5 minute rest. You can alter these time slots so they work best for you, such as studying for 30 minutes and taking a 10 minute break instead. The Pomodoro Technique helps me really stay locked in while also not overworking my brain by providing built-in rest time.
Whatever assignments or exams you have coming up, you can totally crush them all and try these techniques to enhance your studying experience and make it more efficient!