5 Tips to Help You Study Better
A mini-guide for students who are struggling.
As a student myself, I know what it’s like to struggle while studying. I would procrastinate for days because the mountain of workload looked so intimidating. Sometimes, I would ‘study’ but I got distracted and would use my phone instead. For content-heavy subjects such as Biology, information overload was bound to happen and I couldn’t understand anything. In other words, those hours spent on studying were fully wasted.
I’m pretty sure that all students, if not most, can relate to this. It may seem like a neverending struggle but I’m here to tell you that it’s not. It’s something that takes time plus trial and error. In this article, I’m going to tell you some study tips that may help you overcome this difficult process.
#1: Study less.
Back in my secondary school days, I had 7 to 8 subjects to study for my GCE ‘O’ Levels and it was traumatising. I was cramming at least 4 subjects every day and trying to absorb as much information as possible. Papers were strewn all over my table and I was such a mess, physically and mentally.
To study less, it means that you slow down your pace and take more breaks. Instead of studying 4 subjects like I did, try studying 2. Cut down on the number of topics that you’re studying as well. This way, you’re more focused on the specific topics rather than having all topics covered but with no information retained in your brain.
Moreover, taking a quality break is important. Watch TV for 30 minutes. Get outside and start jogging around your block. Play with your dog. Just do anything that distracts you from thinking about school stuff. Breaks are not meant for you to practise how much you’ve memorised or how fast you can solve a sum mentally. Just stop and take a breather. You can schedule 2 to 4 breaks in between your studying. But remember, your breaks can’t be too long as well.
#2: Have a study buddy.
This may not apply to everyone but it does for me. My best friend lives a street away from me so during my studying period, we would always study together. Those were the most memorable times we had. We had brunch together at the same place, we would sing songs in the middle of studying to relieve stress and the best part is that we would help each other with our work. For example, I helped her edit some grammatical errors and she helped me with my essay structure.
Many people say that studying with a friend can be distracting. However, you have to be discerning to find the perfect friend to study with. If that friend is someone who plays on their phones while he or she is supposed to study, then that is not the right friend for you.
Studying with a friend helps because you won’t feel alone in these stressful times. It’s also encouraging to see your friend study hard so you’ll feel motivated to study too. Furthermore, it’s more enjoyable having a companion by your side. You can also ask each other questions when you’re stuck in a topic.
#3: Start studying early.
I would always start studying at least a month before my exams. There is just so much information to absorb and I want to process it slowly so that I can understand it better. By studying early, I allow myself to take more breaks too since I have the time to do so. I’ll feel less stressed and more in control of my work. I won’t spiral into crisis mode and panic about the lack of time.
Sorry procrastinators, this is essential. Studying early helps you to cope with the stress and it gives you a nice, comfortable pace so that you won’t feel that you’re suffocating.
#4: Print out your notes.
This may be due to personal preference, but I truly believe that it’s beneficial for everyone. Printing out your notes can eliminate the possibility of you getting distracted on your phone or your laptop. Studying the physical copies also allow you to ‘get physical’. You can highlight important keywords, write down any additional information or helpful acronyms, draw diagrams, etc. Having that physical connection helps you to understand the topic better. Staring at digital copies of your notes seems like staring at a blank wall to me. I would zone out or end up surfing on Reddit or something.
#5: Sleep well.
Sleep may be at the bottom of your to-do list but I’m here to tell you to bring it back to the top because sleep is very, very important. You may not have the luxury to sleep 8 hours but I want you to get at least a good quality sleep. It helps you to feel more energised the next morning so that you can push through another round of studying. Your brain also works better which helps you to retain more information and solve more Math problems.
So, get a weighted blanket or an eye mask. Sleep better, even if it is just 4 hours. You’ll be thankful.
All in all, studying sucks, but it can suck less. You don’t have to see it as a torture session but rather a challenge which helps you to grow and progress as a student. With good grades, you’ll have better qualifications but also you’ll feel great mentally and that’s more important to me. So, good luck!
