Studying is probably the most time consuming and unenjoyable part of university life. However, it is also the most necessary part in order to be successful. When I was in first year, I struggled greatly with this; spending more time avoiding it and making excuses on why I did not need to do it, rather than finding ways that helped me be successful. I quickly learned that this would not do me any good in the long run. After wasting a semester being unsuccessful and watching my grades suffer as a result, I started researching and experimenting on different ways I could make the most of my study sessions. These are the four biggest tips that would have probably saved me the most time, as well as made studying seem way less scary in first year.
Finding a Study Method that Works for You
When I was in high school my study techniques included cue cards and hoping for the best. I learned really quickly in first year that this was no longer going to cut it. When looking for different ways to engage myself in a study session that were actually effective, I was introduced to different time management techniques, something I wish was more widely talked about among students. These methods do not necessarily tell you how to study, but they do help you organize and lay out the time spent studying.
The Pomodoro Method is probably the most widely known method and is my personal favourite. In short, the Pomodoro Method consists of breaking down your tasks into 25-minute focused time blocks. Between each time block, there is a five-minute break. After four 25-minute time blocks, a longer break is given usually 15-20 minutes. This allows you to engage in long periods of study without seeming overwhelming. The added benefit is that it is such a popular method that Google offers a lot of free Pomodoro Method timers that break down the time blocks and breaks for you.
Writing Out Notes Versus Online Notes
While this varies from person to person, a lot of studies have been done discussing the benefit of writing out notes versus typing them. The main benefit consists in overall memory of the content being studied; writing notes by hand allows the material to be memorized better as it usually involves a more in-depth cognitive processing of the material. When typing, people are more prone to simply write down what the speaker says word for word. This is easy to do given that your hands are used to the repetition of the computer keys with the familiarity of the words being typed. However, when writing by hand, the process is not as fast or as easy as typing, therefore forcing the brain to be more aware of the words being spoken in order to compress them or get to the main point before writing. This amount of attention allows your brain to focus on the content at a much higher rate.
However, depending on the amount of content needed to be written down, as well as the level of attention needed, computers and tablets can be useful. Those who need more time to focus on the board and see visuals may prefer typing as it allows for notes to be taken more efficiently. The key is to explore both and find what works best for you and your level of study.
More Frequent but Shorter Study Periods Versus Less Frequent and Longer Study Periods
I am used to finding myself studying for long periods of time in one day, and then being burnt out, exhausted or just unmotivated the next day. On top of this, I can barely recall the information I studied the day before after the first half of my study session. This is because the brain operates in short-term (STM) and long-term (LTM) memory capacities. STM is being able to recall information that was just reviewed usually within minutes or from hours before. LTM is the ability to recall information after a distinct amount of time. When studying for long periods of time your brain burns through its ‘active’ phase quickly, usually within the first hour or two. Thus, leaving you with bits of saved information from the first few hours of study; as well as being able to recall the last bits of information at the end of the study (saved in your STM). However, all the content learned in the middle is basically unrecallable. Working in shorter study periods of one to three hours, for multiple days allows for your STM and LTM to work together to memorize information. Your ‘active’ brain saves information and allows your STM to recall that information the next day. As well, allowing your LTM to begin to memorize it by seeing that content on repeat.
Take Care of Yourself First
Probably the most effective study tip is ironically both the simplest and the most forgotten. Your brain needs energy and power in order to operate and effectively learn new information. This cannot be effectively accomplished if your brain is under stress or focused on other things your body needs. Little things such as getting enough sleep (eight hours), drinking water, eating and snacking and making sure you are working in a clean/stress-free environment can completely change how your study session goes. Your body is the most important to your brain, and while you may want to put your school and assignments first, your body will not. It will focus and spend its energy trying to force you to do the things it needs to be successful, rather than effectively process information. Make sure you are taking care of yourself first and setting yourself up for an effective study period.
Overall, studying is studying. It may not be the part of your week you look forward to the most but focusing on the ways you learn the best can make it less intimidating and more effective. Take your time, be kind to yourself and remember that it’s better to take more time doing things right than to waste time doing things ineffectively. University is stressful and you likely won’t get an A on every single assignment, but give yourself the best chance to be successful and allow yourself the room to improve.