#start studying

Sometimes it's really hard and annoying to start studying so I've compiled a few tips that will help you to start studying:

1. clear a study space

Clean your workspace for 5-10 minutes before your study session so you’ll feel super motivated to get working. There’s something about having a decluttered desk that will make you feel so organized it will make you want to sit behind the desk & study!

2. get all the items you will need

all motivation goes down the drain when you have to get up multiple times to get every item you need so getting all the essentials before studying really helps.

3. grab some water and snacks

staying hydrated while studying is very important and you can never go wrong with snacks :)

4. get rid of all distractions

Turn off your phone or put it on DND to help you focus. Some people do study better with music but it's better to have music with no lyrics because if you are like me you will just end up singing and jamming to the song instead of studying xD

5. make a list

Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish, breaking the bigger ones down into smaller, bite-sized pieces.

6. start with something easy

The idea is that it’s something that you can just knock out without much brainpower but that doesn’t waste time. It also gives you sense of accomplishment and boosts your motivation to continue working.

7. use a system

I personally use the Pomodoro Technique. It’s great at keeping you focused. I usually study for 75 min and take a 15 min break since it works best for me. It doesn’t really matter what system you use to study – find something that works for you and stick to it.

8. make it a habit

If you turn studying into a daily habit, you won’t even have to think about starting anymore because you’re so used to it. Don’t question it, I just do it!

9. dont strive for perfection

Let that strive for perfection go, as it will take you a lot longer to finish the work. This will make your study experience less fun and more stressful which will make starting next time harder. So instead of wanting to do your work perfectly, try to focus on getting it done.

10. make it fun and enjoyable

burn a candle, put on some music, whatever helps you to get started.

thursday - oct - 10 - 2019,  5:01pm // 1/16 days of studying   

After procrastinating for idk, about three hours, make a cup of coffee. Drink that reaaaal slow while procrastinating some more. 

About an hour later, make another cup of coffee. Spray some rose water on your face and promise yourself that now you’re gonna turn all of this around.

Drink half of that cup of coffee while STILL procrastinating. Start panicking about how you haven’t done anything. This is also the step of bargaining; “surely you can do 6 hours worth of work in 2 hours if you really try, right? r i g h t??”  Procrastinate some more in the false pretence of “calming yourself down”

That didn’t make you any more calm, now you’ve just watched memes and acquired acceptance towards the inevitable doom. 

So here’s where things get interesting, ‘cause you have 2 ways this could go down:

1. Actually start studying, finally, yes you’re doing it. Why didn’t you start sooner oh god, you’re so behind on everything. o h  n o

2. mental breakdown, the depth of it depends on the day. The level goes from “one single tear rolling slowly down your cheek” to “ugly crying on the floor cause you can’t get yourself up, you might also die, or at least that’s what you’re feeling”. From this, it’s either studying like 1 chapter which takes 4 hours or doing nothing for the rest of the day

Lots of people I know passively study all the time, then wonder why they don’t remember much. Passive studying includes rereading, rewriting everything, and highlighting everything. I see many people making ‘pretty notes’ but spending all their time reading it or forgetting about them after all that effort. Here are some ways to flip that mentality around.  

Pt. 1: Before studying

When you get new material in class or for reading assignments, don’t pick up your highlighter and turn the pages green. Instead, start off with a question in mind. What do I want to learn? What do I want to accomplish when I finish? Find the goal and purpose before you begin, then start highlighting and annotating material that answers your question. By doing this, you’ll be more alert and you’ll also analyze information better.

When analyzing the information, try to recognize similarities, connections, and differences. Take note of those in whatever way you want. After, use a post-it note or write in the margin (if possible) a quick summary. Try to aim to have your summary no more than a paragraph, depending on how dense the content you covered is.

Pt. 2 When studying

Use flashcards when memorizing names, dates, and formulas.

Don’t multitask!

Create an ongoing practice test with concepts you learned in the day and use it as review material. Format the questions like a teacher would.

Use different memorization techniques. (pst… post coming)

Organize your information so you can compare and contrast.

Space out your studying! (Here’s a post I made that might help)

Find practice problems.

If you’re quiet all the time when studying, there’s a chance that you’re passively studying and not actively. This is because active studying is rarely quiet.

Pt. 3 After studying

For math or any subject where the concepts build off each other, I find it beneficial to continue studying it every so often after the unit is over. This way I keep a stronger foundation to continue building off of.

Best of luck! Keep reading if you’re up for a lil sort-of related content :)

A guide by Studywsofie

Sometimes the hardest thing about studying is not the studying itself, but merely to get started. Here’s what I do (and it may not work for you, I can’t guarantee that):

1. Can’t stop procrastinating?

Do you find yourself scrolling through Tumblr or Instagram and you just can’t seem to stop? Try using an app, like Forest which is free. It will allow you to set a timer and if you open other apps before the countdown is finished, your trees will die. If not, you get a beautiful forest. There are other apps like this, but Forest is my absolute favorite.

2. Don't study in bed

Just don’t. It will make you feel way more relaxed, and chances are that you will just fall asleep. Instead:

3. Tidy up your desk

Nothing gives the illusion of productivity and control as sitting at a neat desk. It will get you in the mood to study (if you’re lucky) and will help your mind to clear up.

4. Have water and snacks at your side

If you started studying at the last point, chances are you just felt a little hungry or thirsty, and now you are leaving your work to find it. Instead, have it with you from the start. A big water bottle is always great, and try snacks like dark chocolate, fruits, nuts, yogurt or if you really are desperate: sweets. Can be used as a motivator. (“If I finish this chapter, I can eat that candy bar”)

5. If you study best listening to music, put on a playlist.

It’s important that it’s a playlist, we don’t want to use time finding new tunes every 3.5 minutes. If you can’t concentrate when there’s lyrics, try out this instrumental playlist, and if that doesn’t bother you, try this playlist.

6. Hair up

Again, this will help the illusion of productivity. Might be silly, but it helps me!

IF YOU’VE DONE ALL OF THIS BUT JUST CAN’T SEEM TO FOCUS:

1. Run or exercise

Just get your pulse up. Can be done with nearly no effort, just turn your music up and dance to a couple songs, and you should be good to go. You can also go for a run, or even just a walk, going outside even helps me sometimes.

2. Shower

Or just wash your face. A shower can wake you up and might be nice, especially if you’re studying very early or very late.

3. Nap even

Nothing works? You might just be tired. Nap for 15-20 minutes, but not more, that will just make you even more tired.

ONCE YOU’VE STARTED:

Breaks

Even if you feel like your studying is going great, remember the breaks!! This is a really important step!! Depending on how much and how quickly you need to get things done, work for about 45 minutes, and take a 5-10 minute break. During your break, check social media, drink some water, get up and outside, talk to someone or eat a meal.

saturday - oct - 12 - 2019,  12:35pm // 3/16 days of studying   

A short ‘study with me’ containing me making a too long to do list, getting unsure about my knowledge about sincostan (it’s almost half a year ago when it was the was the last time did exercises on this topic) and reading a chemistry chapter 📙

Sorry for the upload delay with the study days (it’s wednesday today) but i’m sick (once again) and i cannot really focus and i’m getting more behind. Yesterday i had a full day excursion of my study and monday other obligatory hours for a project. Today i don’t have any courses (except for question hours, but i’m so behind i don’t have any questions...), so i hope i will feel a bit better today and can catch up on some things.