It’s that time of the year when finding a spot at Cabell feels like you’re in a Where’s Waldo book. Before you know it, 30 minutes have passed and you give up and decide to try your luck and study at home. You get to your room, pull out your notebooks…and now you’re napping. Sound familiar? Now that finals season is upon us, here are six useful tips on how to make the most out of studying in your room.
1. Have good lighting.
The brighter your environment, the more alert you are. Help your body out by either opening windows or turning on more lights!
2. Don’t study on your bed.
Ever since you were in a crib, your body has been conditioned to associate your bed with sleeping. No matter how hard you try, sitting on your bed is going to make you tired faster than sitting in a chair at a desk. No desk? Try using the kitchen table or a counter! As a last resort, you can sit on the floor but against the wall to prop yourself up.
3. Face away from distractions.
How many times have you said you were going to study and you ended up putting away laundry or doing dishes or adopting an elephant? (Yes, it’s happened before and I couldn’t love him more!) Solution? Look the other way! You can fake eliminating your distractions. TV tempting you? Study with the TV behind you! Laundry needs to be put away? Throw a sheet over it! Dirty dishes? Don’t study in the kitchen!
4. Turn off your Wi-fi.
If you can help it, eliminate the temptation of going online more than necessary. If studying doesn’t require using the internet, turn off your Wi-fi or if you’re feeling like you need to — turn off your router. If you do need to use the internet, download useful apps like StayFocused for Google Chrome to keep yourself off of social media. If all else fails, find a friend you can trust and ask them to change your password for you.
5. Make a schedule for yourself.
Set a concrete plan of attack for studying and follow through with it! Don’t forget to schedule time for napping, eating, cooking, cleaning, painting your nails, or anything else that might tempt you while you’re studying. Writing down a specific time to do these things will help keep you focused while you’re studying. Don’t make your schedule too strict that it stresses you out, but rather something that’s realistic. Plus, crossing things out will make you feel accomplished and better about yourself.
6. Set a timer on your phone and put it away.
Keep up with your schedule by setting a timer on your phone, and eliminate temptation by putting your phone in a different place from where you’re studying. It’s killing two birds with one iPhone!
7. Keep a light snack beside you while studying.
Try not to have a full five-course meal by your side, but a light snack instead! Snacking will help prevent you from getting the itis, but also keep your brain focused and blood flowing.
8. Stay positive.
Exams are tough, but you’ll come out tougher. Just a couple more weeks, friends! All your hard work will pay off, and then we can all sleep.