9. ❶
Research shows that how you
approach a task is just as
important as how you do it. If you
can flip that switch in your brain
that takes you from “ugh,
studying…” to “hey, look at all this
stuff I get to learn!” you’ll set
yourself up for studying success.
11. ❷
Where you study is extremely
important. Don’t sabotage your
study time by trying to do it in a
place that’s not conducive to
focusing (a.k.a. in front of the TV).
Find a quiet area like a nook in a
library or quiet cafe. Try out a few
different spots until you find
something that works. Come back
to this place often to be able to
jump back into good concentration
flow.
13. ❸
Be deliberate and work significant
chunks of study time into your daily
or weekly routine. Then repeat.
Eventually, you’ll reach a point
where it feels natural to study at a
certain time and unnatural if you
skip it. With a regular and frequent
study time, you’ll find it’s actually
easier to learn in the moment and
recall memorized information later
on.
15. ❹
This seems like an obvious one,
right? But honestly, how how many
times have any of us actually turned
our phones off to study? Well, it’s
time to start! Your friends and
family will understand if you go
AWOL for a couple hours. (Just
make sure you let them know
beforehand so they don’t freak out
when you’re not responding.)
17. ❺
Yes, even Facebook. Resisting the
urge to check social media and email is
really difficult, so don’t even try.
Instead, close out all your open tabs
before you start studying. You’ll be
amazed at how much easier it is to
think about one thing at a time and get
tasks done.
19. ❻
Don’t be afraid to spice up your
study life. If your eyes start to glaze
over as you stare at practice
questions on your screen, mix it up!
Make some flashcards to help you
memorize or have your friends quiz
you on important information.
21. ❼
Your brain can only take so much.
Give yourself time to relax and
refresh every so often to come
back to your study material with
fresh eyes. While you’re breaking,
eat a healthy snack (like nuts and
dried fruits!) and watch that funny
cat video your friend sent you
earlier. Don’t feel guilty about it —
taking brief breaks will actually
help you in the long run.