How to study

It’s March! It’s also, technically, spring break for me, but that doesn’t really mean it’s time to party, as my last exam week before finals is coming up! With that in mind and while I’m at it procrastinating, I thought I’d make you a list of tips on how to study…

#1 make a to-do list

Make a list of everything that you need to know for your tests, derive from that a list of things you need to do (in order to know everything), see how much time you have to do it and divide the work up so you have little bits to do each day. That way everything will seem a little bit more manageable and you will be able to take it one day at a time.

#2 make time slots

Be honest with yourself and realize that there’s no way you’re gonna be able to work for hours on end without losing your focus. Make time slots for yourself of 45-60 minutes (or whatever works for you), have 5-15 minute breaks in between those slots (and a longer one for lunch) and try to get out of your seat in that time.

#3 move it!

Continuing from the previous point: move that body! I’m no biologist and I can’t give you the exact data, but research has shown that exercise sharpens the mind. That makes sense to me! So try to walk a bit, have a little dance party by yourself, or maybe even do some more serious exercise (needless to say, that is gonna take you more than 15 minutes, so keep that in mind when scheduling!). Anything that is not continuing to sit in the same position you have been sat in for the past hour works, really.

#4 designate a work space

I tend to make the mistake of working from my bed quite often, so I know from first-hand experience that it doesn’t work. Mark an area for yourself that is dedicated to working, so you can really switch on and off work-mode. It will help you focus!

#5 don’t be too hard on yourself

Yes, ultimately you have to get everything done. But don’t be too strict! In my experience, when I want to stick to a schedule most desperately is when I fail earliest. Unless you’re really good at being okay with tiny hiccups, don’t expect yourself to be able to tick off every box every day. It just isn’t viable, and that’s okay! Try to make the most of it, but don’t die trying. You can’t learn anything when you’re dead.

Those were the 5 most basic tips ever, but as I learned with time, they are very useful. I hope it will help me and you both to work more productively and get some shit done!

What are your best methods of staying focused?

Love, Ruby