Top tips for studying
Viki Taylor,
1st Jun 2018
Tags:
Life
Blog
Education
Procrastination is real. I am guilty of watching endless YouTube videos and tidying my entire room twice before I finally sit down to do work.
As a university student, there were times where I could spend hours creating picturesque essay plans and timetables even though I had a deadline in a week.
However, some things just have got to get done, so here are five (hopefully) helpful tips to get you studying and even enjoy it!
Plan
Get a cute planner and write down all the things you have planned outside of studying times, whether that be coffee dates with friends, going to do something active to keep those endorphins up, or spending some time with family.
Write down everything so you can clearly see how much time you do or don’t have. This way, you can use the times you aren’t busy to plan a study session, whilst still enjoying life outside of exams and coursework. And this brings me onto my next point...
Don’t spend every second of the day studying
Yes I said it. Even as a third year, studying a degree, doing a placement and working a job, there were still hours in the day where my mind was not focused on being super productive.
If you’re able to plan well, you will be able to have rest time too. Rest is so important, and it looks different to each person.
In winter months, I love wrapping up warm and sipping hot chocolate in a coffee shop whilst reading my Bible, watching inspirational YouTubers and Ted Talks, (Brené Brown and Cambria Joy are awesome).
For others, rest may mean cycling to the top of the Peak District, doing some bike trails and having prayer time. It doesn’t matter what you do to rest, just make sure you do it.
Time your study slots
For some reason my brain works in 45 minute slots. This means that for 45 minutes my phone goes on airplane mode, headphones go in, and a timer is started. After 45 minutes of study, I will reward myself with something (usually food or tea). And then I’ll start the timer all over again until my work is done.
Working for hours on end without a break actually minimises your productivity, and the quality of your work takes a hit.
Also, studying different material in each slot really helps stop boredom and enables you to come back to your work with a fresh perspective later.
Get creative
When I am feeling far from creative, one of my favourite things to do is search 'study' on Pinterest and add photos to a study board. Seeing all the pretty colours and designs really motivates me to do the same, and actually makes doing work so much more enjoyable.
I’m really into making colourful cue cards when planning essays at the moment, rather than writing an essay plan on A4 paper. Buy some cute stationary, use coloured pens, mix it up, and you’ll be surprised at how you might actually start to enjoy some of your work.
Remember that your grades don’t define you
One of the biggest de-motivators for me is stress: stress that I don’t know the answer to a question; that I won’t write the correct thing; and that I don’t have enough time. With stress comes procrastination, whether that be watching TV shows back to back, (yes I’ve been there), going out late, and blaming your lack of work on tiredness, or simply scrolling through social media for hours.
But when we spend less time stressing, and realise that our mark on a paper does not and will not define our character and our identity, suddenly the deadlines don’t seem so daunting.
Your purpose on this planet is worth more than a grade, or even a place at college, sixth form, or university, and when we really know this, completing assignments can actually become enjoyable.
