Ways To Study For Exams That Areactually Productive

ways to study for exams that are actually productive

use actual note cards for vocab. yes, apps like quizlet are dandy when you’re on the go, but actually physically writing out each note card helps put the information into memory faster than typing them.

visual learner? make charts and diagrams. they don’t have to be pretty. the lines don’t have to be perfectly straight. it doesn’t have to be photogenic. but if it helps you learn, do it.

after you take notes (in class or at home/from your text book), write down possible quiz questions about the material on the next page while it’s still fresh in your mind. later on when you’re studying for the test, use these questions to gauge what specifics out of that chapter you need to work on the most.

start sooner rather than later. i know, you’ve heard this a million times from every teacher ever. but it’s legit. especially as you get into harder level classes and college courses because there is literally so much material that the tests cover that you simply can not accurately learn all of it over night. instead, start about 10 days in advance (but of coarse, the sooner the better).

studying doesn’t have to be a big giant study session that takes hours. if you start far enough in advance, study sessions can be around an hour, hell even 45 minutes is a good. if you go too long in one study session your brain will be fried and studying will be pointless because your brain won’t be processing any of it. that’s why it’s important to take breaks and not just cram for 5 hours the night before an exam.

actually study. hold yourself accountable and make your education a priority. if you have homework and studying to do, make it a priority over going partying or watching tv. there will be another party. you can dvr your show. you can’t take your test on a later day because you don’t feel ready. so be ready.

be careful with study groups. if you have a study group with all of your best friends, lets face it, you’re going to end up spending more time talking about harry styles and supernatural than actually studying. it’s better to have a study group with people who are your friends, but not best friends. and it’s better to keep it between 5-7 people so that everyone can be involved.

if the material is just super confusing and you can’t seem to understand it no matter how hard you study, it’s not you. it’s the way you were taught it. each teacher teaches a bit differently, and maybe their style of teaching just isn’t for you. if this happens, find a way that explains it the best for you. for example, if chemistry is just super confusing for you, try watching the Crash Course chemistry videos on youtube or have a friend explain it to you. this will give you a completely different perspective on the material and will help you understand it better.

at the end of the day, remember that everything will be okay. studying can be stressful, especially if it’s in a class that you struggle in. but i promise you that you are not the only one who struggles sometimes in school, it’s a part of being human. as long as you actually put in an effort and try your best, be proud of yourself. take a deep breath. and remember: you got this.

Every year I find that the mid-semester is when my personal productivity is at an all time low. Motivation plummets as the workload for classes increases and professors are starting to cram in assignments before the end of the semester. It is stressful and can make or break your semester.

Here are some tips to get you through this difficult time!

-Maintain any previous study schedules you have been using this semester. Mid-semester is when these plans start to fall apart; students get lax with their schedules and then suddenly you are two weeks behind on your readings. Fight through the desire to push your rigid schedule aside and power through. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO IGNORE YOUR STUDY ROUTINE- don’t panic. My best advice is to make a revised schedule before you truly fall behind and recruit a friend to hold you to it. Friends are great at holding you accountable if you think you can’t keep on top of it.

-Go to the library. Seriously, the library is a wonderful place that will make you feel productive if you are feeling lethargic. When everyone around you is working hard it kick-starts your motivation.

-Maximize your work during periods of motivation. Sometimes you just get short bursts of motivation where you can sit and do work for hours- make sure you jump on these whims and accomplish whatever you can. Similar to these motivated moments, there are also times where you can’t get yourself to sit down and work no matter how hard you try. By maximizing your productivity when you’re motivated, you can balance out these periods of inactivity.

-Have an emergency plan in case everything goes down the drain. It’s always best to be prepared for the worst case scenario. If your mental health takes a significant and rapid blow, have a plan of what you will do to keep yourself semi-functional. Maybe you have to alter your work schedule to working for five minutes with a thirty minute coloring break. Maybe you have a brand new set of highlighters to open if you cannot force yourself to read that twenty page articles.It is always important to have an emergency plan because little spurts of work is better than not working at all.

-Get some fresh air. Getting away from your desk is a good way to refresh for a few minutes, and getting outside gets your blood flowing and can help energize you. Sometimes I like to just walk around the block and look at the beautiful sights of nature around me (it sounds cheesy, but it gets me out of my head to appreciate the world for a moment).

-Work Hard/Break Hard. When you are working, do not let yourself lose momentum and and stray over to social media. When you take your scheduled breaks, do not let your mind linger on your schoolwork. You worked hard for that break and need to fully enjoy it. If you continue to think about work, you will not feel as refreshed when your return from your break.

-Stay off Netflix. Please, just trust me.

-Join a network of motivators (i.e. the amazing studyblr community). Sometimes the best motivation comes through the support of others. Everyone here in the studyblr community is/has gone through this mid-semester slump, and they are the best people to talk to if looking for advice (or even just a friend to relate to).

I hope at least one of these can help you get through this difficult point of the semester!!

Book Recommendations for 2018

Hello friends, I would like some book recommendations for next year! I really like books related to psychology, yoga, or critical essays! I love Henry David Thoreau and Caleb Carr if this helps define what kind of writers I like.

Please help me learn!!! I really want to spend more time thinking critically and see the world from the eyes of strong writers.

That’s right - we’re back!

Admins Aisa, P, and Kip are happy to announce that the Small Studyblr Network is back and better than ever!! We’re trying a new server, incorporating new activities, and bringing in NEW MEMBERS!! Woohoo!

If you would like to join the Network, please read our about page and our FAQ.

important tidbits

Old members, please fill out the form. This is so that we have the most up-to-date information! Just indicate that you’re an old member within the form c:

We are changing our Net from exclusively small studyblrs to promoting and supporting small studyblrs, so please apply regardless of your size! As long as you are enthusiastic about helping the new members of our community, we’d love for you to apply!

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO APPLY:

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Fill out this form.

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Applications close: Friday, November 17th (11:59pm PST). Decisions release: Sunday, November 23th.

Good luck everyone!

Tips to Stay Motivated

I always have people telling me, “I wish I could study like you do, I don’t have that kind of dedication”, or “I wish I was as smart as you.” REMINDER: I work really hard for my grades, and it isn’t something I was born with. So, for anyone telling themselves that they aren’t capable of having that kind of dedication, here are some tips that I used to go from an average student to exceptional:

Don’t compare your progress to anyone else’s. Those pictures you see on Instagram, those people talking about studying for hours and hours, they started right where you are. So don’t worry about what other people are doing, and just focus on your own goals and improving a little bit every day.

The most important step is telling yourself to just do it. I would say about 70% of my study sessions start out with me procrastinating and watching Netflix, before I get down to work. The hardest part is always starting, and sometimes you just have to force yourself to start. Tell yourself you’ll just study for five minutes, then ten. Small progress is still progress.

Find a routine that works for you. That being said, don’t become a slave to your routine. This year, I made the mistake of sometimes becoming so consumed with my studies that I didn’t have a balance. Find what works, set time aside for the things that are important to you, and commit yourself to success.

You have to be patient to see results. Don’t expect to suddenly be able to sit down and study for hours, or have perfect handwriting. You have to stay focused,  make goals, and work towards them. Don’t get discouraged and don’t give up, the results will come.

Make goals. Not just big, long-term, I-want-to-be-a-doctor goals, but things like studying 3 hours on Friday for an exam the next week, or finishing all the little busy-work items on your to-do lists. Sit down and make a list of your big life goals, and then make a list of your smaller goals to help you get there.

These strategies might not work for everyone, but I just hope everyone knows you CAN work towards your goals and achieve them :)

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