#studyskills

by mindy @glowettee

let's talk about something that affects sooo many of us in school - the exhausting cycle of perfectionism. here's how to actually work through it while maintaining your academic success 🤍

understanding your perfectionism type:

the all-or-nothing scholar

signs: abandoning tasks that aren't perfect

impact: incomplete assignments pile up

solution: create "good enough" standards for each task

practice: deliberately submit b+ work sometimes

reflection: track how "imperfect" work still succeeds

the endless editor

signs: revising until exhaustion

impact: never feeling finished

solution: set concrete editing limits

practice: use time boundaries for revisions

reflection: note when extra editing didn't change grades

the preparation procrastinator

signs: over-preparing but never starting

impact: delayed work and missed deadlines

solution: create starting rituals

practice: begin with imperfect outlines

reflection: document when "unprepared" work succeeded

practical steps for recovery:

(don't mind the formatting <3)

grade requirement analysis

calculate minimum grades needed

identify where perfection isn't necessary

create realistic grade goals

develop subject-specific standards

track effort vs. grade correlation

time management reality

set maximum study times

include mandatory breaks

create firm stopping points

establish "good enough" timeframes

practice leaving work unfinished

submission strategies

develop personal rubrics

create completion checklists

establish revision limits

set realistic quality standards

practice timely submission

perfection pressure release

identify trigger assignments

create comfort with b+ work

develop release statements

practice "done is better than perfect"

celebrate imperfect submissions

sustainable study practices

implement 80/20 rule

create efficiency metrics

develop quality guidelines

establish effort limits

maintain energy balance

daily implementation:

morning:

set realistic daily goals

identify perfection triggers

establish time boundaries

create completion criteria

prepare acceptance statements

during work:

use timer limits

implement stopping points

practice leaving rough drafts

accept good enough

maintain progress over perfection

evening:

evaluate effort balance

celebrate task completion

acknowledge progress

release perfectionist thoughts

plan next day's boundaries

practical exercises:

the b+ experiment

choose one assignment monthly

deliberately aim for b+ quality

track actual vs. expected grades

note emotional responses

document learning outcomes

time boundary practice

set firm time limits

stop when timer ends

submit work as is

track grade results

build trust in efficiency

imperfection tolerance

start assignments roughly

resist immediate editing

maintain forward momentum

accept messy progress

focus on completion

measuring progress:

keep a recovery tracker:

time spent on assignments

stress levels during work

grade outcomes

emotional responses

energy preservation

weekly check-in questions:

did i maintain reasonable hours?

where did i release perfectionism?

how did i handle imperfect work?

what boundaries did i maintain?

where can i ease standards?

tip: you can maintain excellent grades without sacrificing your wellbeing to perfectionism 🤍

xo mindy

p.s. your worth as a student isn't measured by perfect scores, but by your growth and learning.

STEP 1 - Pick and study a topic

STEP 2 - Explain the topic to someone, like a child, who is unfamiliar with the topic

STEP 3 - Identify any gaps in your understanding

STEP 4 - Review and Simplify!

Effective studying involves more than just re-reading your notes or reviewing flashcards. To truly understand and retain the material, it's important to use a variety of study techniques. Some tips for studying effectively include:

Breaking up your study sessions into smaller chunks, rather than trying to cram all at once.

Staying organized by using a planner or calendar to keep track of assignments and test dates.

Varying your study techniques, such as teaching the material to someone else or writing a summary of what you've learned.

Finding a study spot that is quiet and free of distractions.

Starting to review the material well in advance of a test, rather than waiting until the last minute.

By incorporating these strategies into your study routine, you can set yourself up for success and improve your performance on exams and assignments.

Note taking is an essential part of studying, and developing your own note taking style can significantly improve your learning experience. However, note taking should not just be a process of copying information from the board or textbook. It should be personalised to your learning style and optimised for effective retention and understanding. Here are some tips to improve your note taking habits:

Structure Your Notes for Organisation and Revision

Your notes should have a clear structure with headings, subheadings, and lists for better organisation and revision. Writing notes as if you were explaining the topic to someone who does not take the course is a good practice to ensure that your notes are clear and logical.

Additionally, labelled diagrams and concept maps can help you visualise and understand complex information. Studies have shown that visual aids, such as images and diagrams, are easier to remember and recall than text alone.

2. Highlight and Use Colours to Emphasise Key Points

Highlighters and coloured pens are not just for making pretty notes. They can also help you categorise and emphasise key points, making them easier to remember. Develop your own colour coding system, using different colours for different topics, definitions, or important information. Symbols, such as stars or underlines, can also be used to create your own coding system.

3. Use Your Own Words and Avoid Copying Verbatim

Avoid the temptation to copy everything word for word from the board or textbook. Instead, focus on deciphering the key information and paraphrasing it into your own words. This not only saves time but also helps you consolidate your understanding of the topic. You can still incorporate high-level vocabulary and terminology into your notes but try to write most of the content in your own words for better comprehension.

4. Consider Using Cornell Notes

Cornell notes are a popular note taking system recommended by universities such as Cornell and Harvard. They include a heading at the top, a column on the side for keywords, main ideas, and questions, a large section in the middle for class notes, and a summary at the end for revision. However, note taking is a personal process, and you should incorporate elements that work for you.

In conclusion, developing your own note taking style can significantly improve your study habits. Remember, note taking should be a personalised process that suits your learning style and helps you retain and understand the material better.

Dear friends,

You did it! It's Finals Week and that means the end of another semester. 🎓🎉

For our final blog post of Fall 2021, we wanted to re-share the HSO Leadership Team's study tips from the midterms. You might, we hope, find a gem or two (or three or four) in there. ;)

Jana McCarthy, Director of Advising

My study routine is based on years of tweaking and learning what works for me and what doesn't. I found my study style and early routine with the help of an Academic Coach, which is a resource I recommend for ALL students, but especially Honors students.

I start with my readings. I read and annotate in a heading-to-heading format. I start with the top-level heading, read the info, highlighting main ideas and things to note along the way. Upon reaching the next heading (sub level or any heading), I pause, and concisely note the highlights I made in that section - usually in a doc or in a spiral. At the end of the chapter, I have then made an outline of what I felt was important, which serves as a reference moving forward.

If there are lectures or videos to watch, or assignments to complete - that comes next. I put the notes in the same doc or just after the reading notes, so that it's all in one spot. Importantly, I use symbols and notations to ensure that I can easily locate specific items that I may need again.

I usually study in 1-hour blocks, with a 15 minute, mindless, break in-between. Mindless means that I'm doing something that won't override the material I'm trying to absorb: walk the dog, do the dishes, take a catnap - avoiding mental stimulation that will distract me from encoding the new material. The time I spend works for me, but others need more or less time studying or breaking. Find what works for you.

Finally, I always work on the material asap after a lecture or class meeting. Google: The Forgetting Curve, to learn why.

Mars Medina, HSO President

Studying for me is definitely challenging (wooo ADHD!) but I’ve found some ways to circumvent that.

Overall, first things first: I turn my phone over and put it out of sight! That is definitely my biggest distraction. Next, I make a list for the assignments or projects I need to work on/complete for either the day or for the rest of the week if I somehow have little to work on.

Working with different studying techniques, especially the Pomodoro technique, has worked well for assignment-heavy weeks. For notes I try to write them down by hand, as I found that writing it down instead of typing it usually results in me retaining the information easier. I’ve also found that index cards (for things like memorizing quotes or definitions) are a huge help.

Music helps me out too, to kind of drown out the rest of my environment; hilariously enough, I usually study to metal music but lo-fi is my second go-to! My biggest advice for studying, however, is this: make sure to take breaks!

Aaron Turner, HSO Social Media Team Lead

I'm pretty flexible when it comes to studying. Since each course is unique, I structure my approach in a "flowchart" sorta way (something I didn't know until I actually wrote it out here, lol).

First, I read each syllabus and compile all due dates from all courses into a single calendar. For each course, I then:

1. Get info on tests (Note: If there are no tests, I skip to Step 2)

1.a. Will test questions come from multiple sources or a single source?

If the professor confirms only one source (i.e. from lectures), I double down and study from just that source. That said, I always follow the professor’s lead.

1.b. If I'm studying from a textbook: I try to read ahead of the lectures; I highlight key concepts and say/write out my own explanations; I conduct multiple reviews leading up to the test.

1.c. If I'm studying from lectures: When attending the initial lecture, I listen to get acquainted and usually take few notes; I rewatch the recording and write down key concepts and info; I conduct multiple reviews.

2. For reading, writing, and researching (i.e. for a paper, presentation, homework, etc.)

2.a. I start EARLY and do a little every day.

For research, I use the ACC Library and other reputable websites; I highlight and save passages; I take notes while reading or watching videos; I keep track of my sources.

2.b. I ask questions; I go to office hours and seek tutoring when needed.

Amber Traylor, HSO Treasurer

Like many students, I can struggle to manage my time when trying to study or complete homework. What I’ve found works for me is a combination of two strategies:

1. I maintain an accurate calendar reflecting when assignments are due, when exams are, and what other activities I have planned on certain days. This helps to remind me what needs to be done on a given day and allows me to focus based on the order of importance, this is often called the Covey technique and involves ranking things from urgent, to not urgent, to not important.

2. I also use a variation of the Pomodoro technique when studying or doing work. I often find that around the 1-hour mark of working, my brain starts to lose focus and I seek out distractions. To maintain my productivity, I work straight through for 45 minutes and then take a 10-to-15-minute break. By breaking up my work, I can stay on task for several hours at a time. I also alternate my types of work between sessions; I may start on math, then rotate to science, and then switch to English before going back to math.

At the end of the day, you must make studying a priority while in college. Develop techniques that work best for you but look over these ideas to see if you like them!

We wish you all the best in all you do and look forward to seeing you again this spring! 🌷 💜

Your friends,

hi everybody, 

I’m going to ease into this whole blog thing by using this first post to give advice. For the first couple years of college/university, get into a routine. Forcing yourself into a routine and managing your time will provide numerous rewards later on, in terms of mental health, GPA, and socialization. For example, my freshman year I would wake up at 6am, be on campus by 8:15, and go to class from around 9:30 to 4, depending on the day. I would take time on mornings I started later to practice my viola (an activity that’s always helped me relax) or go to the gym on campus and work out. I would typically not leave campus until 9pm, allowing me to do homework in the library. I did better my freshman year on this strict regimen than I have done any other year so far.