Studying, without the Stress

1. Create a study regime

   Make a daily schedule to optimise your study time. Ensure that you include rest breaks and activities that you enjoy throughout the day. This gives you something to look forward to, making it less likely that you'll get on your phone and procrastinate during your study time.

   
   

2. Whitelist/Blacklist apps and websites

   Creating a whitelist/blacklist gives you control over what apps and websites you can access during your study time, increasing your study focus by eliminating your ability to access distracting sites.

   
   

3. Work out how you study

   Everyone has different techniques that help them learn. It's important that you try a few different methods until you know what works for you. If one technique isn't working, try something else. Feel free to get creative with this. Some suggestions are:

• Writing out notes

• Reading through materials (textbooks, webpages, worksheets, notes)

• Teaching someone else, like a parent or sibling.

• Working through problems.

• Writing exam-style questions and then writing answers to them.

• Listening to a podcast / audio recording.

• Watching videos.

• Creating a song / rap / podcast / video that teaches core concepts.

  
  

  Maybe you study best using a combination of these. For example, you might combine note taking with working through problems and exam style questions. If you need to step away from the desk, you might go for a walk and listen to an audio recording of yourself reading your notes out loud.

4. REST

   While the lead-up to an exam is stressful, and you feel like you need to spend every spare second with your head in the books, skipping the rest pause would be a mistake. Brains are like muscles. They get tired and stop retaining information. You also need to take care of your health and your sleep.

   
   

   For every 50 minutes of dedicated study, allow yourself at least 10 minutes of rest. Make sure you also take at least 30 minutes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Eat a proper meal, and go to bed at your normal bedtime. Staying up late studying is not a good idea. A full night's sleep is worth more than the minimal content knowledge you will retain while tired. Being sleep-deprived during an exam can also lead to fatigue and brain blocks.

Happy studying! And if you want further study tips, keep an eye on our blog or get in touch to see how we can help you. Tutoring offers a consistent study routine, and we can coach you in exam and assignment strategy.