As we approach reading week, many of us are getting slammed with midterms either before the break or in the weeks following. Here are some tips that encourage you to have some fun while studying without disrupting your productivity!
1. Quiz Yourself with Kahoot! or Flashcards
I always enjoyed playing Kahoot! in class during high school. Not only is it an effective study tool for revisiting content, but it’s a really fun game to play with friends. Round up all your friends studying for the same midterm and find/create a game with all the important terms and concepts. You’re bound to have more fun studying with other people than by yourself so try to change things up with a more interactive study strategy.
Photo from Ed Tech Digest
2. Listen to Music
Music is a great way to lift your mood and can be a good stress reducer for long hours of studying. I typically like to listen to less lyric-heavy songs while I study so I don’t lose concentration, but it’s up to you to decide what kind of music you’d like to listen to. There are some great Spotify playlists specifically for studying that you can jam out to; one of my favorites is Brain Food, an electronic playlist with relaxing and chill instrumentals.
3. Use Cute Stationary for Handwritten Study Notes
What’s more satisfying than using pretty stationery and creating aesthetically pleasing notes to look at? Pull out your coloured pens and sticky notes and try making handwritten notes instead of typing them up on your computer. It’s proven that writing out your notes helps you retain information better and develop a stronger understanding of the subject matter.
4. Watch a “Study With Me Video” on Youtube
I’ve seen a lot of these types of videos in my recommendations and they’ve become more popular over the last few years. These videos have gained a large following because they motivate and inspire students to concentrate more on their studies. Next time you have a big test, try putting on one of these videos in the background and you’ll be surprised by the results; I tend to be less distracted while watching someone else studying alongside me.
5. Change Your Surroundings
Sitting at your desk or in the library can get boring sometimes; a change of scenery can do wonders. Try studying in a cute café – there’s a ton in Waterloo that you can check out! My favourite is Brch Social located in Uptown Waterloo, it’s one of the cutest spaces to study in the city. I love the interior design and the abundance of natural lighting.
Photo from Brch
I hope that these tips were helpful and that you guys decide to try out some of these fun ways to study for midterms! Good luck on all your midterms Golden Hawks!