Study Smart: Finding the Time and Space for Success

Plan your study time

When you’re busy, it can be difficult to find the time to study. Keeping a schedule of your daily tasks can make it easier to find time to squeeze in a little study session. It’s all about time management. When you plan your day or week, whichever is better for you, black out all of the times that are not free time. Your work schedule, class schedule, and anything that you have to do in the day. This will give you an idea of what time would be best for you to dedicate to studying. Treat this time as if it were your work schedule, so there is no chance of skipping it. It’s also important to give yourself enough time for each class. A good rule of thumb when it comes to an amount of time you should be studying is 2-3 hours for every credit you are taking. So, if you are taking 12 credits a semester then you should be trying to get, at least, 24 hours of studying in a week. I know this seems like a lot if you already have a busy schedule but setting aside a few hours a day to study will make a huge difference when it comes to finals. It’s never good to try to cram in a long study session, late into the night the evening before an exam, but if you have been adhering to a regular study schedule throughout the semester, then you will feel much better about finals week.  Even if you haven’t had a chance to do this throughout the semester, starting now with your time management for the day will still be beneficial when finals week comes around. You will still need to find the right time to study based on your schedule.

Reward yourself and take enough breaks

Once you have your study schedule planned remember to schedule in a little bit of time for yourself. Reward yourself with something that you like to do. If you decided on a specific amount of time to study, set a timer and focus on the subject of study, then once your time is up do something you’ve been wanting to do. Maybe there is a show on Netflix you’ve been wanting to watch, but you’ve felt too guilty about wasting time, now after dedicating a certain amount of time to studying, you have earned your chance to relax and watch the show. Making sure you are giving yourself a chance to “decompress” from all of that studying is just as important as scheduling in the studying time. Even if you don’t have the time to watch an episode of a show, just take a few minutes to get away. Go for a walk outside and get some fresh air, take a bubble bath, make yourself a snack. Just stepping away for a few minutes can help to prevent burnout when studying. It’s a good idea to give your eyes a rest from the computer screen or book you are reading. According to Healthline.com, the 20-20-20 rule is a great way to give your eyes a rest. With the 20-20-20 rule you are supposed to look away from your screen, or book, every 20 minutes and focus on something that is 20 feet away, for about 20 seconds. This gives your eyes a chance to recuperate from all of the work you’ve been doing. Apparently, it takes about 20 seconds to reset your eyes to make them feel relaxed. This will also help to prevent eye strain, which can lead to dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches, and trouble concentrating, and we know how important it is to be able to concentrate when it comes to studying for finals. 

Create the right studying environment 

The most important part of creating the right studying environment for you is choosing the right location. Make sure you find a place that is free from any distractions. Find a place that is quiet, and comfortable for you. Some studies have found that certain scents can help improve concentration and keep you more alert during study time. Scents like citrus, peppermint, and rosemary can keep you awake and focused on any topic you are working on. Try using a diffuser and some essential oils, or any scented candle will work too. 

It’s also important to know your studying style. Some people like to listen to music while they study, other need it to be completely quiet. What works best for you? Maybe it’s not possible to drown out all of the noise around you, if this is the case, and you find listening to any music too distracting, maybe a white noise maker might be best for you. In fact, some studies have found that white noise can help with memory retention and creativity. There are many different noise makers out there, you can experiment and find the best noise that works for you. Noise isn’t the only thing that can be distracting when it comes to study time. Clutter or distracting items can also affect the quality of your studying time. Make sure everything is put away and there is nothing laying around to distract you. It might even be a good idea to leave your phone in another room when you are trying to focus on your schoolwork. This will remove any urge to scroll through social media or check text messages and voicemails. You’ve dedicated this time to focus on your studying, so everything else is going to have to wait. You could even make this a reward after your timer goes off. 

Hopefully you find at least couple of these tips helpful in this somewhat demanding time.  It can be difficult to fit in the time to study, and it’s not always possible to create the perfect environment but making your studying a priority and making it at least a little bit easier on yourself is going to make all of the difference for your grades! Good luck! You are almost done with this semester.

References: 

https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/20-20-20-rule#definition 

https://www.theladdermethod.com/blog/10-tips-to-create-the-ideal-study-space 

https://www.cmich.edu/blog/all-things-higher-ed/five-tips-to-improve-your-study-time-efficiency 

https://www.herzing.edu/blog/6-tips-create-perfect-study-environment