#bella_studies

These are some of my tips that I used for studying for longer hours during my junior and senior year in high school. I generally studied 4 heavy content subjects and 2 languages. And, yes, i did get good grades.

Studying is a task that requires you to be consistent and driven. That is why, I want to make one thing very clear. This is not a promotion of toxic studying when you feel too tired.

I will start with a simple process that i formed.

Work => Compensation => Repeat.

Quality Matters

By quality I mean. One hour spending time recalling facts and answering questions and filling gaps is better than 5 hours of reviewing notes. Just focus on improving your focus and methods. I call it the "FM Method"

You choose one specific method, and you consistently follow it for a specific period.

Longer Hours Should Not Exceed 5

If you have to study for long hours, don't let it exceed 5 hours. The reason is simple. It's useless, and your body will drain up and use all your energy. I used to study for 9 hours some days in my junior year. Now i study only for 3-4 hours every day. The results? Practically the same. My grades didn't drop but i feel more motivated to study and complete everything.

So, don't extend the hours you study. Make your focus and methods better.

20 Second Breaks

When you complete a topic, small or big. Just close your eyes for 20-30 seconds and lean back on your chair and calm your breathing. Process the information. Let everything sink in. Take out the tension. DO NOT TAKE YOUR PHONE. And then after those 20-30 seconds, just glance through the topic before moving to the next one. So, take 20 second breaks.

Active Studying > Passive Studying

This is the same thing i spoke before. Use active methods of studying. Active recall and filling gaps, visual representation, learning through stories and mnemonics.

Passive studying is when you learn through notes, repeating things over and over again, trying to memorize instead of learning and understanding the concepts.

One hour of active studying is better than 5 hours of passive studying.

Rewards

When you complete an hour or two, give yourself a small reward. But the reward should be as productive as your time spent. If you spent the last two hours studying and then you watch 3 hours of your favourite tv show then that is not a good reward.

A reward should actually compensate, you need you calm your brain, not indulge yourself in instant dopamine hits.

Actual Rest

A reward is different from rest.

Rest is essential for your body. Sleep is the body's soother. You used your brain for hours and if you don't let it rest than definitely it doesn't matter how well you're actually studying. You. Will. Feel. Tired.

Burnout Effect

In one way, burnout is good. Honestly, some people's highest point is 30 mins or an hour. They find burnout creeping in after some time had passed. And that is why, if you want to reach at least two hours of studying. You need to push that limit. Every single time. Try moving 30 mins every week. Your max limit is 1 hour. Then this week, study for 1 hr 30 mins. The next week, study for 2hrs. then 2hr 30 mins. Do it for a few weeks.

If you don't push yourself to the max limit. Then you'll never actually reach your goal.

Consistency

This is an indefinite rule. You want to improve your grades. Do it every day.

Your work ethic and your willingness to stick to habits will determine your success.

Make a "Your" Environment.

This is a very underrated thing; you must have a "you" environment. It doesn't matter what it is. Basically a "you" environment is whenever you're there, you're motivated to do work. It doesn't have to be a place really. Another example would be, whenever i'm on my phone, i'm likely to waste my time doing unnecessary things but whenever i'm on my laptop, i'm automatically in "work" mode. So, for you it might be your study desk or even school sometimes.

(I remember, during the last 2 months in senior year, i used to go to the very corner of my classroom, sit on the ground, face the wall, put my headphones on, placed my bag in front of me as a table and just solve accountancy sums because that place was my "work" environment. Honestly, it looked so weird but whenever i was there, my focus was just amazing)

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You lack consistency, not potential.

Some professors will inspire you and some will teach you patience

Raise your hand to answer even when your hand trembles and your voice shakes. It gives a good impression on your professors which DOES help and it boosts your confidence too

Have snacks in your bag at all times! You will get tired of walking around campus and you will need a boost

College is the same marathon like you had in high school but lesser hours divided throughout the week so do other things! Join extra curriculars, courses, clubs and explore

Syllabus is key, have a copy at all times and keep track of what has been taught and keep up with your notes and materials

Do extra courses that are not related to your major. Curiosity and exploration are really important if you want diverse learning

GPA is just a number, not your worth BUT it does not mean you ignore it till the very end and panic

Learn how you learn and don't try to force yourself to learn in a particular way

High school was all about structure and organizing, college is similar, you just have to be more disciplined

Pivot from things that drain your energy. That includes friends, projects or extra curriculars that no longer serve you

Keep a notebook for everything that doesn't fit anywhere else like your syllabus, class schedule and important projects with their deadlines

Participate in competitions or anything else only if you're interested, don't join if you don't like it

Network. Make friends outside of your department / major.

Trying your best means showing up. Sometimes it's hard and I know how bad it gets. If you have only 40% of your energy and you still show up and do your work. That is 100% of your effort

Internet is a tool, not a teacher. Use it for extra notes, info, research and analysis. Not to scroll mindlessly for hours on end

Write it down. Memory slips, especially when important information is concerned

Not every friendship needs your attention. You can maintain respectable distance and consider it as a friendship if they try to bring you down

Comparison in any form is both bad and good. It can make you competitive but don't use your humanity in the process. It can also make you jealous and jealousy is not worth your time and energy

Have short naps. They really help

Go on runs. Exhaust the body and tame the mind

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I know I haven't posted in a while and honestly I wanted to take a break to just adjust to the new environment but I think it's time to start posting again xD

So, you'll be seeing more of me ! :D

You don't have to be guilty for the goals you didn't get to achieve for this year because of mental health/any other problems.

You can be guilty for the goals you didn't achieve because of laziness and procrastination. It's human honestly.

The person you look up to in terms of their goals and achievements may or may not be disappointed in themselves because of something too.

Someone looks up to you in terms of their goals and achievements without you knowing about them.

You don't need a new year to change your life and get a new you.

If you're struggling with addiction/ compulsive behaviours (anything really), a reminder that it takes time and it doesn't disappear overnight and it's normal to relapse. That doesn't mean you haven't achieved your goal.

And on the other hand, if you're trying to work on a productive habit but are unable too, that is also normal. Habits take time to form.

It's okay to not have goals for the new year.

It's also okay to have a huge list of goals for the new year.

It's okay to feel excited for new beginnings.

It's okay to feel dreadful and anxious about it too.