Studying can be one of the most difficult parts of college. With only so many hours in the day, it’s difficult to find time to dedicate to studying, let alone doing your homework or reading textbooks. Here are 12 study tips and tricks to help you get through college without losing your mind or your GPA.
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1) Set Goals
Knowing what you want is crucial. If you don’t have goals, how can you measure your success? Goals allow you to succeed in everything else that follows, whether it’s college, a career, or entrepreneurship. Write them down and share them with other people so they can hold you accountable. When you know where you’re going and why everything else becomes easier. Don’t set too many of these at once—focus on one at a time and take each goal seriously. They will become less overwhelming as you accomplish them, leading to even more confidence for your future endeavors.
2) Get Organized
When studying, it’s important to have a place and time where you can focus solely on your coursework. It helps if you schedule time for study every day, so you don’t fall behind on assignments. Create a few flashcards and quiz yourself during study breaks—this will help commit facts to memory more easily. The more well-organized your study habits are, the easier it will be for you to learn in less time with better results. Good luck!
3) Use Your Computer as a Learning Tool
Start researching what you need to know before class. If there’s a lecture coming up that deals with cell biology, for example, learn more about cells by searching online or using other resources at your disposal—this will prime your brain with information so you’re not as nervous during class. Once you’ve gathered info from multiple sources, take notes and use a separate document to compile all of them into one cohesive packet.
4) Take Time Off
It’s often hard for students to take time off from studying and still do well on exams. But giving your brain a break can help you remember more of what you read because sleep helps consolidate memories. This means it’s important to get enough rest and keep your stress levels low during exam season. You should also schedule study sessions at times when you know you’ll be most alert, such as first thing in the morning or right after lunch. And don’t forget to leave some wiggle room in your schedule so that if something comes up—like an unexpected meeting—you have time to reschedule.
5) Take Notes
One of my favorite study habits is taking notes during lectures. It sounds simple, but I’ve found that a lot of students don’t actually follow through with it. If you’re one of those students, start today! Taking notes will force you to pay attention and focus your brain on what your professor is saying. Plus, you can always go back later and make sense of them if they aren’t clear. And even if they are clear, sometimes writing things down helps cement their meaning in your mind.
6) Structure Your Day
The average college student is busy—really busy. Between schoolwork, job responsibilities, and hobbies (or perhaps another part-time job), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed. But if you start blocking off time for each of your major tasks, such as studying or writing a paper, you’ll begin to see that you have more time than you think. Make sure not only that these blocks are in your calendar but also that they actually occur regularly.
7) Learn Through YouTube
YouTube’s great for more than just hilarious cat videos—you can also find a ton of instructional how-to videos. Try searching for your topic and see what pops up. You might be surprised! For example, when I searched for how to write a song, I found some fantastic advice from well-known musicians on how they wrote their best songs. Take some time to learn from these experts!
8) Prioritize your reading list
Set aside time every day for reading, and make sure you don’t fall behind on your work. If you’re having trouble managing your time, it may be helpful to study at different times of day—but try not to take too long; depending on your subject matter, you might need a good three hours or more a day to make some real progress.
Also Read: 6 Tips on How to Study and Remember Anything
9) Eating Nutrient-rich Food
Improve focus by increasing your intake of vitamins and minerals. As we study, our bodies require more nutrients, so make sure you’re getting enough from your diet. Make a point of eating nutrient-rich food that will help improve your concentration. Energizing foods like nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables are all good options. Try adding some to your breakfast or lunch. If you want to go further with it, try taking supplements such as fish oil or vitamin B12—both have been shown to boost brain function in healthy adults.
Conclusion
It’s not that hard to improve your study skills. Even though you may not realize it, it might only take a few small changes for you to become a better student. Incorporate one or two of these suggestions into your daily routine and you’ll start noticing how well your brain is absorbing information.