Studying Tips

Although college is full of fun activities, getting your degree is the main reason you’re there. Developing good study habits is important for your academic performance and helps keep your stress levels down. Everybody studies differently, so it’s important to learn what works for you and what doesn’t. I’ve learned some study tips over the years that have helped me a lot through college.

My first study tip is to try studying somewhere other than your room. I like going to the library or the study rooms in my apartment, but other options include a park or a coffee shop. This helps me because it puts my mind in study mode. If I try to study in my room, I get distracted too easily or too tempted to lay in my bed and take a nap. When I go to the library my mind stays on track and I use my time more efficiently.

My second study tip is to write down what you need to remember. Re-reading to study helps but writing things down is proven to help you learn it better. Studies have even proven that writing things out helps you memorize things better rather than typing on a laptop or a phone. I like to write out review guides or write flashcards. I also like to use highlighters or colored pens, because color coordinating my notes helps the information stick in my head more.

My final study tip is to begin studying a couple days before your test instead of the night before. This significantly reduces your stress, and studying over the course of a couple days helps you actually learn the information instead of just memorizing it. I like to set time limits for myself, such as studying for 30 minutes every night and an hour the night before the test. This way your mind doesn’t get burnt out and the information is reinforced multiple times. There are so many different ways to study and I hope the ones I shared can help you, but if they don’t there’s always another way!