Whether you are a full time or part time student, we all study for exams for our classes. I find focusing can be hard to do if you really don’t want to do it. Over the years at the University Of South Florida, I have found some tips on staying focus to pass my classes. Here are some ways to help you in your quest for studying better.
Do:
1) Eat Smart.
Most people including myself love to snack while studying even though many of us can forget about how the junk food will hurt our body in the end. Apples are a good choice of snack while studying. Not only do apples boost your immune system, that also give you the energy and vitamins that you need, and the fact that they are low in calories is a plus. Here’s a complete list of healthy foods that can help you focus more while you studying!
2) Exercise.
I recommend taking time out of your day to participate in exercise; walk a mile, jog around campus, or even do some stretches at home. I like taking Zumba classes in the middle of day. Not only does exercise help you focus but it can also make you happy. I find that I have a better attitude towards going to classes and taking exams, after I exercise. If you feel that you’re a bit out of shape, I recommend starting small by stretching or try out the Par Course on campus near Holly and Sycamore.
3) Use a Timer.
I find the using a timer is extremely helpful. Many people told me that the best tactic for a timer is to do everything in 30 minute intervals. For example, you would spend 30 minutes doing homework, then 30 minutes doing something else, like being on Facebook. I would suggest to you to find intervals that would best help you. I normally use 30 to 40 minutes of study time then 20 minutes of free time to do what I want so that I don’t feel that my life is being chained down by exams. I find that time management is key to studying as well as balancing my college life.
4) Study in a Clean Room.
I find that a clean organized room actually makes me more focused than I would a messy room. A messy room can clutter your mind. If your bedroom is messy and you don’t have the time to clean it, I recommend finding a nice clean room to study in. If you’re on campus, I recommend the library or even a study lounge in the Marshall Student Center.
5) Rant.
I know this seems really odd advice but it actually works when you have so much going on in your life and it is affecting your studying. You can rant to your journal, a discussion board or even to a friend. Although I would ask the friend if they would be willing to listen to a rant because sometimes friends are just as busy. Once you’re completely done ranting and have gotten everything off your chest, you can now solely focus on studying with a clear mind.
6) Have an Air Freshener.
I find that a fresh smelling room is not only great to breathe in but also it is great for the mind to relax after a long day of studying. Trust me, buying a 99 cent air freshener is worth it when it comes to a fresh environment for a fresh mind.
7) Make a Detailed To-Do-List.
More than likely, you have heard this one countless, but do you know how to make an effective to-do-list? I find for beginners that you should start on the weekend and write down everything that you need to do for the week. Then, I would write the due dates for each item and label them with when you need to get them done by. Highlighting is best for this. I write everything on a to-do-list on my computer, and I also put the to-do-list for the day on my whiteboard in my room.
8) Take a Deep Breath.
This might be the simplest piece of advice I will ever give. By taking a good breather, you can simply imagine everything going through your mind and imagine it going away when you exhale. It is quite refreshing.
Don’t:
1) Play Video Games.
I know for all of you that are gamers that this is going to be the hardest to avoid. This was one of my problems freshmen year. As much as those video games and role playing games are calling out for you, just say to yourself that you WILL play them once everything you need to do is done. Video games can be used as part of your free time if you follow the timer tactic (see Do # 3) but make sure that it isn’t a long game that could ruin your time management in the end and affect your studies.
2) Procrastinate.
We all secretly love to wait till the last minute to get our homework done. From the movie, He is Just Not That into You, Alex once says, “You love it because you feed off that drama. You all love that drama…So you never wait until the last minute on a deadline or a phone bill…because secretly you love the drama…of not knowing whether or not you’re going to make it.” This can be applied to studying. If you can avoid procrastination, I would avoid it. When you procrastinate, do you not only have the time to do the studying or homework but you also have all the time that you worry about the homework. It is best to do it as soon as possible and have all the time in the world to do other things.
3) Watch Television.
I am completely guilty of this one, but it is one of the most important ones to avoid. Using the excuse that it is only on for background noise can no longer be your excuse. You know that once the television is on that you would be watching it and trying to make excuses to study in between commercials. TURN IT OFF! Not only do you save energy by having the television off but you also don’t have it on to distract you from your studies.
4) Have Cell Phone on Vibrate.
That’s right. Turn your cell phone on vibrate and/or put your cell phone in a place you won’t be able to reach it. Cell phones are distracting. I don’t tell you to turn it off because I know you might need it on in case of an emergency phone call from your job or family member. Not only do we use them for calling and texting our loved ones but we also use them to browse the internet or play games. Save your cell phone battery and avoid it like the plague. I admit that it is hard to be away from any technology in this day and age but it is a must to be able to succeed in school.
5) Multitask.
I know this tip may seem strange considering multitasking can be useful in some occasion but in studying it is not. If you multitask while studying, you will be distracted and not remember anything that you just studied. Just focus on one subject at a time and go on from there. If you can, try to focus on one subject then focus on a contrast subject. For example, try studying for one of your history classes then go study for a math test then study for another history class if you have it. Classes can blend together if they are similar in material, so don’t study for one course and then study for a similar course. It doesn’t help.
6) Skim.
The skim is so easy to do but it will not help you in the end when you need to take a test on the material. Spend the time to read and reread the information on each page. If you don’t have the time, I recommend writing the important information down and study your notes on what is important later. Writing everything down will help you remember the information now and later on.
7) Listen to Music.
Many of you would probably try to prove me wrong on this one but in reality you will study slower than you would with no noise. Experiment this one if you want but from what I learned, I find myself focusing more on the music than my studies. It’s been said that classical music increases cognitive functioning.
8) Drink Large Amounts of Energy Drinks.
For all the energy drink drinkers, I am not telling you to stop drinking them but don’t overdo it. Energy drinks are not only bad for your heart but they are creating worse sugar crashes than eating straight up sugar. If you’re planning on staying up all night, I recommend drinking coffee or soda instead of this option. I found that once you’re done with your high on an energy drink, as soon as you crash, all you can think about it\s getting it back to where you can focus. Remember you need all the time you can get for studying, so think about your drink option before getting started.
9) Blame your Job or Club Meetings.
Many students will use the excuse that all their time is being used up by their job, internship, or even a club meeting. None of these are excuses if you have proper time management. Time management is important. You will find that when you organize your day, you can fit more things into your schedule.
10) Study in the Dining Hall.
Even though this is last on my list, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t as bad as the others. Many Orientation Team Leaders on campus tell the incoming freshmen that you should study and eat at the same time in the dining halls, so that it is easier on your dining money. It may be easy for your money but it is hard on your focus and your belly. I could never focus in the Fresh Food Company in Argos because there was a lot of noise from all of the other students. Like Do #1, food plays a huge big factor in studying. Again, snack on something healthy. If you don’t want to gain the freshman 15 or 30 pounds then avoid studying in the dining halls, instead buy snacks from the P.O.D Markets or Walmart.