5 Study Habits That Will Help You in College
Kirsten Carroll, Staff Writer
Being in college comes with a plethora of responsibilities that can become overwhelming for a lot of students. It can be difficult to balance studying with classes, clubs and organizations, and making time for fellowship. Developing smart study habits is one step toward success in college that you can take to help yourself in the long run. Practicing these five study habits and tips will help you earn the grades that you want and the success that you deserve!
Keep Track of Important Dates and Times
One thing that prevents most college students from doing their best is not turning in assignments on time or forgetting about an exam. Repetitively turning in late work or not doing well on tests and quizzes are two great ways to earn a failing grade. However, a great way to earn a successful grade is to write down important dates for each of your classes in an agenda or a calendar, such as the day a project is due or the day that a test is scheduled for. It’s also a smart idea to set your phone or computer calendar to remind you about upcoming important dates a few days beforehand.
Take Good Notes
College students are often told to take notes in class if they want to do well, but taking notes is one thing and taking good notes is another. It can be hard to pick out the most important pieces of information presented in the textbook or from a PowerPoint used by the professor in class because all the information looks important. The solution is to only write down the key points of the textbook or PowerPoint used in class. It’s not a good idea to write down full sentences or unnecessary information because they will disguise the truly important parts of what you need to know.
Plan Out Your Study Schedule
It can feel overwhelming for students when they have an abundance of homework and tests to study for. One way to help ease the overwhelming feeling is to write down a plan for when you are going to study. For example, you could plan to study for Economics every Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., or you could plan to study for your COR class every Thursday at 3:30 pm. You can even plan out your study schedule on a weekly basis rather than a general one. For instance, one week you could plan to study for your Economics class on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at different times each day. Planning out your schedule will help you develop smarter study habits during your time in college.
Don’t Cram
Procrastination is very tempting to do when it comes to studying in college. However, it’s not a good idea to do this because you are not as likely to remember information this way. Cramming for a test or rushing to get a project turned in the night of will not help you develop good study habits. Instead, try studying a little bit everyday starting at least two weeks before the day of an exam or due date. According to Maria Zegarra’s Florida National University article, “11 Techniques to Improve your Study Habits,” creating a routine for your study schedule will help you maintain good study habits throughout the school year.
Take a Break
Studying is an exhausting task, and taking a break is a healthy way to keep your brain focused and your energy levels up. Taking a 5-minute break every hour or so in between studying can help lower the risk of fatigue, sleepiness, and trouble focusing. According to Zegarra, it’s important to take care of yourself and your mental health, too. A few ways you can do this include stretching your wrists and fingers and refueling your energy by eating healthy foods such as yogurt, blueberries, avocados, and broccoli.
