Studying is difficult. It takes up a lot of time, it’s hard to focus, and it can become extremely stressful. Especially if you feel like there’s way too much information you have to memorize in a short amount of time. But maybe there’s a way to study more efficiently. In fact, I’ve learned a lot throughout my time in high school about useful studying methods. Here are my top three tips to study in the least stressful and most effective way possible based on personal experience.
Location
Where you are when you study can impact your level of focus as you study. You may be able to understand and memorize information significantly better in a quiet space rather than a loud and crowded space. It’s easy to get distracted in a noisy environment where conversation spirals around you. I learned this when I had a phase of completing my homework in the kitchen. My parents and siblings often walked in and out, starting up conversation with me while I tried to study. Unsurprisingly, I never got much work done. However, this year I began working in my room. I’ve found that I complete way more homework than I ever did when I worked in the kitchen by avoiding distractions. Try finding a quiet place to work and see if your studying improves; you may be surprised at how much more homework and studying you can efficiently complete.
Plan ahead
I’ve tried to study one day in advance for a test, and long story short, it didn’t go too well. However, every time I start studying at least three to five days in advance, the outcome is always much better. I encourage you to plan your studying time ahead, even if you just read over your notes a few times each day before the test. My study schedule usually goes as follows: take two days to create a quizlet for the test or quiz material, two days to write notecards based off of that quizlet, then one day to focus on complete memorization and deep understanding of the material. Yes, it seems like a lot of work, and it is, but I always feel way more prepared after a week of studying than a ten o’clock cram session the night before the test. The preparation is totally worth it to avoid stress and circumvent feeling unready for the test ahead.
Timing Yourself
At the beginning of the year, I downloaded an app on my computer called Be Focused. Once you download it, a little timer icon will appear on the toolbar of your computer screen. You can enter your to-do list into the given slots, and the app will designate twenty-five minutes to each task. Between each task, the app provides you with a five minute break. This studying method is also known as the Pomodoro Technique. For me, the technique has been a lifesaver and a time saver. Usually, each homework assignment is completed in two twenty-five minute intervals rather than just one, but it nonetheless prevents me from spending way too much time on one assignment. It also encourages me to work faster and stay more focused by setting a goal to complete an assignment within a certain amount of time with a break to look forward to at the end of the task.
These techniques are just a few of the many methods that can lead to a more effective and structured way of studying. They may take a bit more effort and time, but you may find that increasing the amount of time you spend on studying will actually reduce long and short-term stress levels. Find what works best for you and stick with it, and most importantly, keep working hard. Studying may be difficult, but it’s always beneficial in the end.
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