Stress Levels: 1000
As the semester starts to wrap up and finals start to flood in, I know all our stress levels are slowly rising. The burnout is so real.
But we also all know that we cannot get caught slacking when all the projects and tests start piling up. Unfortunately, we all must pick it up and power through what the next 4 school weeks will bring us. At least for me, those grades will either lead to a very good or very not fun conversation at the table when I go back home for the holidays.
However, while grades are of course important, keeping your mental health in check is even more important. So I’m here to give you some study tips to help cruise through the rest of the semester.
Eliminate Distractions
Sometimes, I can have such a hard time getting myself to actually sit down and study. Sometimes, being in my apartment just is not going to cut it. Being surrounded by all of my things, near my bed, and with my TV never seems to lead to a very productive study session.
For me, I like to find a cute local coffee shop to go sit down and get work done at. Being able to get in a new environment and focus with the bustling. Besides, nothing that a hot latte and café food can’t fix.
My favorite coffee shops in TTown to study at are Just Love Café and Five Java (which is the coffee shop of Five Bar in downtown)!
If you are a quiet studier, then the libraries on campus are the perfect option for studying. The upper floors of Gorgas are silent!
Take Breaks
I have a hard time letting myself to breaks when I study. Once I get in the groove, I get hyper focused in and will not stop until I am done. Although productive, this never ends up being a good way to study.
However, other times I will let myself take a break from doing something and will never get back to it until I have no time left. I will have deep cleaned my whole apartment before thinking about studying again.
Clearly, neither of these are very healthy study methods.
The Pomodoro Study method is a great one to look into if you are looking for a good break/study system that emphasizes the importance of those breaks. Say you plan to study for an hour, you study for 25-minute periods and put 5 min breaks between each 25. This is a great way to ensure that you are allowing yourself to take breaks, but also still staying on a schedule to study. You can break it up however you feel fit.
Join a Study Group
Group Me is a great tool to get involved with people in your classes and start study groups with them. Often, you’re not the only one in a class that may be struggling and often people who are doing well will be willing to help out.
Even if you feel ok about a class, a study group is a great way to bounce back ideas between people and make sure you all have an understanding of the topics.
So, do not be afraid to send that message in a group me about finding a study buddy or starting a group. You all can rent out a study room from you campuses library and get to work!
Start Studying Early
I am a major procrastinator, so I often catch myself not picking up my books to study until the day before or day of my tests. This leads to a lot of cramming and potential late nights to make sure I get all of the information in.
Although I’ve learned how to make this work for me, it is not a good study method or beneficial to my sleep schedule.
It is important to start studying a week, if not two, before the day of your test. Spending even just 30 min a day recalling the information from your notes or making flashcards or study guides is a great way to make sure you keep the information fresh. Recalling is one of the best study methods you can do for yourself.
So do yourself a favor and take at the least 15 min to go over your class notes for your upcoming test.
Reward Yourself
When you have finally finished studying and you feel ready to take on that test or final, it is important to reward yourself for the hard work you have put in. Whether that is getting your favorite food, making your favorite dessert, or even going out with friends, it is important to balance your schoolwork with things you love.
Your brain will thank you.
Get to it!
All in all, don’t fret this finals season. Getting grades and taking tests can always be stressful, but there is a lot more to life than just grades. Life still goes on and grades can be made up.
Take these tips and apply them to your next study session and see how it changes your flow!
Happy Studying!
