By Rosie Harper
Study Tips for the End of the Year
How to Stay Sane and Be Productive
March has come to a close, the weather is warming up, and Spring Break has come and gone. This time of year signals two things: 1) finals are fast approaching
2) students are all juiced-up with spring fever. Not a great mix. The biggest tests of the year are about a month away, and yet most of our brains are clogged with daydreams about summer, our bodies are itching to ditch the desk and go outside, and our brains have about negative five levels of motivation.
It’s a universal problem, but luckily there are some easy solutions. I’ve compiled a list of simple tips that will help you make the most of your study time without experiencing burn-out. Let’s get to it.
Study or work on homework outside. It can be easy to grow tired of staring at the same walls all the time as you do school on your bed or at your kitchen table day after day. So mix up your surroundings! Take your books outside (front porch, back deck, swing set, park, creek). Studies show that being outside reduces stress, improves your concentration, and makes you happier. I’ve started doing school outside recently, and it honestly just makes my day better. It’s hard to be mad at your textbook when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing in your face :)
Block scheduling and breaks. Make a schedule for each day. Plan out “blocks” of your day where you will spend an hour, maybe two hours, working hard and concentrating on a particular assignment or subject. Then take a fifteen minute break. It’s easier to focus on the work in front of you when you know that once you are done, you can take a rest. Also, studies show that short periods of studying with short breaks in between improves performance.
Be intentional with how you spend your breaks. It’s so easy to just open up Instagram or Pinterest and scroll mindlessly (and lose track of time), but that’s not good for your brain. Your mind won’t feel refreshed and rested after the break. It will probably be distracted thinking about that TikTok you just watched. Instead, take a quick walk, empty the dishwasher, eat a snack, have a dance party in your room, take a power nap, play a board game with your siblings, shower, make a playlist, or listen to that song you’ve been meaning to check out.
Throw your phone across the room. Not actually. But do put it somewhere that you can’t see it or reach it easily. You can’t get any studying done if you’re constantly checking your notifications. So store your phone on the other side of the house, and check it during a break.
If you’re frustrated, walk away. This is something that I have to come to learn this past school year. If the Lit book you are reading or the Chemistry worksheet you are filling out or the Algebra problem you are (trying!!) to solve is driving you crazy, walk away. My tendency is to try to push through the frustration because I think, “I have so much to do, I have to finish this assignment right now; I don’t have time to do it later!” But the truth is, you’re not going to be very productive if you’re mad anyways. It’s worth it to take a little break, do something that calms you down (like listening to your favorite song), and come back to the assignment once your heart rate is back to normal :)
Find a study method. Have you ever opened up Google Classroom and the only homework that you have for a particular subject is to study? And you just think… “Yeah, but like how?” Because same. It can be quite overwhelming when you have a big test coming up and you know you have lots of studying to do but you don’t know exactly how to go about the studying. I usually find myself just staring at my notes and hoping they sink into my brain.
There are much better methods.
a. Writing is a great way to learn information. You may consider rewriting your notes from class or your reading. If you don’t have any notes, now would be a great time to make some. Go back through the chapter and define any bold words or big concepts.
b. Create a one-pager! I have had to make a lot of these for AP Human Geography this year, and they are honestly amazing. For a one-pager, you basically sum up the entire chapter or unit onto one piece of paper, adding lots of colors, pictures, and charts. It helps the information stick and it engages the creative side of your brain.
c. Teach the information to someone, or explain it out loud. Line up your stuffed animals on your bed, grab a whiteboard, and explain the material like you were telling a friend or teaching the class.
d. Use online resources! Watch YouTube videos that summarize the material, make a quizlet, or take online practice tests.
e. Make your own practice test or make physical flashcards.
f. Write a song to help you remember the information that you need to know.
6. Take deep breaths. This seems like such an obvious thing. But I’ve begun to realize that, when I’m stressed, I forget to actually breathe and instead just pull oxygen into my lungs. Finals can produce boat-loads of anxiety, so it is important to remember to really, deeply breathe.
Remind yourself that everything will be okay. Actually say it out loud: “I am going to be okay.” You’ve got this :)
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