If you can learn how to study efficiently, it can alleviate a lot of stress during your college years. Effective studying will help you achieve the grades you want and gain a solid foundation on which to build your future, all without compromising your mental health. If you’ve never had much luck with studying, or if you find it to be grueling and unenjoyable, then it may be that you’re not prioritizing well or studying in the right ways. This guide will help you with that.
Why is Studying Important During Your College Years?
Studying is a key skill that isn’t just used in education. It’s also used in your day-to-day life. It helps you to build knowledge and it also gives you an understanding of a particular subject area. Good study habits prepare you for your future, whether you are trying to advance your education or whether you are embarking on a new job. Generally speaking, having good study skills will help you in your future endeavors, as they cause you to develop strong research skills. These traits are often something that a lot of employers actively look for when recruiting.
Studying also helps to build personal skills. If you are effective at studying, then this will help to build personal skills, confidence and self-esteem. It also helps to reduce anxiety around exams and deadlines.
Best Ways to Organize Your Study Habits
If you need some help studying, then one thing you can do is know when your closest exam is. Knowledge is power, and there’s little point in studying for exams that are months away if you have one next week. By prioritizing your closest exams first, you can limit the amount of studying you need to do, while making sure that you are always making the most out of each session.
Another thing you can do is identify the topics that the exams will likely cover. This will help you in building out your studying approach.
Which Classes Do You Find the Most Difficult?
Spend more time studying the harder concepts in your classes. Put this down as being a high priority in your exam planner, and take the time to speak with your professor. You can also consult with a tutor if you continue having difficulty. Remember, it’s their job to help and guide you through your classes, so use their knowledge and availability to your advantage.
A lot of people find flashcards to be very useful when trying to study on the go, especially when it comes to tougher subjects. If you spend all of your time flipping endlessly through textbooks, then you may find that you end up not absorbing any information, because it’s not in a format that is easy to revise from. Making flashcards also exposes you to the same information, but in a different format. This can be a new and original way to train your memory, so make sure to not overlook it.
Use Digital Tools
Once you’ve identified your priorities, you can then use a spreadsheet or even a calendar app to plan out when you are going to study (and what subjects you’re going to focus on). Again, this should be done on a priority basis. Don’t be tempted to study more for the subjects you struggle with, even if you have an impending exam for one you’re seemingly confident in. Studying for the exams you feel good about is just as important as studying for the ones that cause you panic, because it’s easy to forget information as you learn, and the last thing you want is to go blank on the day of the test.
Another thing you can do is set digital reminders so you can stay on top of upcoming or existing tasks. One of the many benefits of using technology is that it can help you keep track of all the things you have to do and stay organized. Don’t be tempted to just set a reminder to study for your science exam, either. Set actionable goals, detail the modules you are going to focus on, and plan how long you intend the study session to be. If you can do this, then you may soon find that it’s easier for you to get the results you want.
Take Care of Your Mind
Exams are stressful. It doesn’t matter how much you prepare for this, because you will probably experience some anxiety on the day. If you want to help yourself here, then one thing you need to do is take care of your mental health. Make sure that you aren’t studying for hours on end without a break and relax from time to time. Quiz yourself or ask a friend to quiz you on the material before the exam too. Mock exams are a fantastic practice tool and ones you should certainly be using to your advantage. By doing practice tests, you can find out where your weak points are and gauge if you’re adequately prepared. By doing this, you can also pinpoint holes in your study routine, so you can stop them from impacting your final result going forward. If you have friends who are going to be taking the same exam as you, then make sure that you host group study sessions and ask them if they have any weak points. By supporting each other, you can help increase accountability and knowledge beforehand without becoming overwhelmed.
Remember, you need to spend time with your friends away from studying as well, if you can. If you don’t, then you may find that you end up becoming less efficient in your studying and that you burn yourself out. If this happens, it might show up in your exam results.
If you are looking for flexible student housing this semester at BYU-I, then American Avenue has what you need. You can take advantage of a lot of different amenities, so you can be both focused and relaxed as you go into your exams.