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Hello anon and thank you for the ask!! I’ve answered this in the past here but here’s an updated/streamlined answer:

Before Class:

If your professor uploads handouts, ppts, readings ahead of time, I suggest reading and annotating those before class. I would either print out the material and write on the margins, or use post-its. That or write notes in my notebook. For example, I would divide the page in half and only use the left-hand side of the page so when I get to class, I have the right-hand side to add bits of information from lecture.


If you don’t get material in advance, consult the syllabus. Do the work in advance such as reading the textbook chapter to be discussed. Highlight key points, list down vocabulary, key dates, etc. 
Most professors conduct class based on the assumption that work was done prior to lecture. You wouldn’t want to fall behind so never let lecture days come and find you empty handed.

In Class:

If you’re allowed to record the lecture, ask yourself if you think it’s useful or it’ll just be info overload. When it comes to notes, more information doesn’t always translate to deeper understanding.

I think paying attention is really the best way to make the most out of lecture. Engage, recite in class and ask questions. There would be less to worry about if you’ve done work in advanced and you’re able to maximize your time with the professor this way.

If you did the preliminary note taking I suggested above, you’ll pretty much know if the professor brings up a point you didn’t encounter or if they’re exploring a point by giving more examples in class. Add it to your pre-class notes. Again, this can just be messy. Use post-its if you’re unsure where to add the new information.

After Class:

Take your pre-class notes and everything else you’ve added to it during lecture and organize it. Merge everything. Depending on the subject matter, you may want to arrange it as a timeline or as an outline, etc.

If you recorded the lecture, make sure you allot time to go through it. I would use it as a means to confirm all the information I already have noted down rather than to take down more notes.

Lastly, reread your notes. Cover them and see if you can recite what’s on the page.

Important Reminders:

Your notes can look however you want them to. Aesthetic or not it’s all up to you. Live your best life.


I would suggest, however, to use scratch paper for your initial notes and for when you’re quickly writing notes during lecture. It saves notebook paper and there’s no pressure to spend so much time making it look perfect right away--you can just focus on getting information down on paper.


I like to write complete sentences when I’m trying to “tell a story” so I get a sense of the lesson especially if the subject is History or Literature. But for other subjects, a mind map, a timeline format or bullet points convey the lesson better. Again, I think this is highly subjective. Different styles serve different purposes in varying levels of efficiency.
 

There’s this idea that handwritten notes are better for retention. I personally remember something better when I write it down but that doesn’t mean digital notes (typed or written with a stylus) are not useful.

This may or may not apply to you but I know several people who never took notes and got perfect grades. Writing is just not their style. They prefer to discuss and listen. Again, it takes getting to know what works for you.

Anyway, that’s all I have for now. I may add to this list later. I hope this is helpful somehow and I hope this covers enough ground. This is a bit of a general answer so if you need more specific help, please feel free to send me an ask again! I’m always happy to help. I think it’s all a bit of trial and error, tbh.

mornings things;

rosy sunlight: waking up unexpectedly early, enjoying the peaceful silent, laying in bed and just thinking, messy buns, the calm before the storm, deciphering your dreams, peach tones

hot coffee: productivity, writing in a journal or diary, planning out your day, a high ponytail, buying breakfast, newspapers, the smell of fresh coffee beans

cereal bowl: having something sweet for breakfast, walking your dog, morning shower, bubbly laughter, hopefulness, counting down to the weekend

alarm clock: waking up late, no makeup, coffee to wake you up, cold feet, falling back asleep when there’s a moment, cloudy skies, heavy eyelids

Goblin brain: it is isn’t it? Good on you for recognizing that!

Me: well thank you

Hey! For the first question, here are some key details:

Room

A huge influence is how organized my room is, because if it is already messy, I really don’t care about cleaning it or organizing other stuff; it’s like bleh, what difference does it make?

So if I notice my life is getting too messy, I try to clean and organize everything I can in my room (because it’s my study space too) and try to keep it that way with each passing day because it makes me feel like I have everything together. Sometimes it can be hard, but a few small actions (like picking up dirty clothes or notebooks) help.

Planner

I have always loved and preached the use of planners (this year, in my case, it’s an already set up planner in which I incorporated the Bullet Journal system). However, I never really took all advantage of it.

Last month, I started taking it seriously. Nothing fancy; I only write down stuff like:

- ‘Goals’ for the day (like how much water I want to drink, brushing teeth, make bed, etc)

- Stuff forwarded (how do you even say this?) from the previous day, if any.

- Detailed steps/small actions that make a bigger task, etc.

Really simple, I just write the stuff down and try to do them all and mark them as done.

Note:

The key to getting things done with a planner or any to-do list is:

you only have to write down like 3 or 5 tasks, nothing overwhelming.

do not be ambiguous (’solve 3 problems from Matrix chapter’ is better than just saying ‘study’)

try to sort them, most important tasks first

you pick the first thing in the list, start working on it

do not work on other tasks

Finished that task? Start working on the second one. Keep going.

If something you hadn’t planned comes up, deal with it and move on, keep working on your tasks.

If you do all of them and still have energy/motivation, do something else, create a new list, whatever

you don’t have to be productive all the time.

Categories

I try to sort everything into categories, so I know where everything belongs. Everything has a place, so when something is used, I have to know where to put it back before things get too messy.

Now to the second question.

How I study:

What I normally try to do is:

Solve past exams and as many practice problems as I can.

Last semester, a TA told us that practice guides are not meant to be completed; make sure you know how to do the easy ones and start with the complicated ones, they’re usually a combination of the simple stuff.

Take notes on class and explain what I did on a problem (even ‘multiplied by x and added y…’) so I don’t get confused if I ever try to study from an exercise.

Since I’m an engineering student, my classes are basically all math-related stuff, but this counts with basically every subject: annotate.

DO READINGS. Try to know what comes in next class, how and why some stuff works, etc. 

Ask, ask, ask, ask. Any doubt will only grow and drive students to despair when the final comes.

DO HOMEWORK.

Some things I have learned

There was a time when I was not ever sure if I was going to pass my classes, and I learned a few lessons:

Most teachers do help. That’s how I noticed doing all the homework was actually worth it, even the smallest one. They don’t really care about the contents, some of them just want to see you take their classes seriously.

If a student who did poorly on exams but turned all the homework in, is struggling, teachers will probably come to the rescue.

Some people are not really friend material. They can drag you down and distract you from your priorities.

Be yourself. If something matters to you, go for it. Likewise, if grades are not really important to these people, you don’t have to follow them.

Free time of others does not mean your own free time. Know what is best for you.

This does not mean ‘BREAKS NOT ALLOWED HERE’. Take care of yourself.

Sometimes, even though I felt like I studied pretty hard for something, I would just get back a really disappointing grade. Am I worth anything less? Nah, next time it will be.

There is always room for improvement.

My best grades always came from studying like a week in advance or revising periodically.