As the semester goes on and the burnout builds, work for your classes may feel like the last thing you want to do (in fact, sleep might be the thing you want most—I get it). But most assignments are actually for the benefit of your own learning of the material, and studying is an inevitability. Here are a few ways to help you study smarter instead of harder:
Use a timer.
Whether on your phone, your computer, or a literal kitchen timer, having a set time where you will focus and reminders to take breaks is a huge productivity hack for studying, working, writing, or whatever else you might be doing. The Pomodoro Technique is a great outline for this: simply set a timer for 25 minutes of work, then when that’s done, set a timer for 5 minutes off. Every four Pomodoros, take a longer (15-30 minute) break before getting back to work.
You can even use this handy website that will set the timers for you. Just make sure to silence notifications, hide your phone, close your email app—whatever you need to do to stay focused during that 25 minute period. I’ve had serious success with this, and maybe you will too.
Take a couple of minutes to organize your desk.
Stack your papers, put your pens and highlighters in a jar, clear any trash, and make your desk space tidy before digging into your work. Might sound unnecessary, but researchers on office productivity concluded that employees with a clean desk found an increase of productivity and persistence by 84%.
If you study in your dorm, keeping a clean room will likely help, too.
Study somewhere new.
If you find that your usual space is too distracting, mix it up and study elsewhere. These places might include:
- Your campus or public library
- A local coffee shop
- Common area on campus
- An outdoor table or bench
The more you experiment with where you study, the better you will know what place is best for you and your productivity.
Make a detailed plan for your study session.
When you have five classes to study for, the stress of trying to figure out what to do first can lead you to study nothing at all. Make a game plan for when and how you will study for each of your exams, scheduling your time deliberately. Writing out a to-do list of everything you have to do might feel overwhelming, but budgeting your time will help make the long list feel manageable.
Study with a friend.
Studying with friends can be a slippery slope from working to just hanging out (I have many times been the victim and perpetrator of this), but body doubling, which is “just doing a task in the presence of another person” can be super helpful when studying. I’m a huge fan of this one, and when I can’t work in person with someone, I’ll often do work with friends over Zoom or Facetime with each of us muted.
Having someone there to keep you accountable is a great way to stay on task and make things happen.
Studying, unfortunately, isn’t going to go away while you’re in college, but it will get easier as you experiment with different techniques and find your own hacks! Everyone learns differently, so if one way of working isn’t feeling effective, try another until something works.
