It’s no secret that college is a challenging time. With essays, exams, and assignments piling up, it can seem like there isn’t enough time to study smarter everything you need. This is why more and more students are turning to apps and tools to make the most of their limited study time.
Whether you’re a high school student trying to cram five years of material into one year or an adult returning to school after several years away, there are several smart tips you can use to study smarter in college. Here are five tips for studying smarter in college:
Don’t Just Listen, Read Too!
The most common mistake college students make when it comes to studying is simply listening to what’s being taught in class and on homework assignments. Yes, it’s important to take notes and jot down key points, but reading the materials as well will allow you to apply what you’re learning to your own life.
It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that “studying is just reading and taking notes,” so it’s helpful to expand your horizons a little bit and try reading what you’re studying. It will help you not only get a more comprehensive grasp of the material but also expand your worldview.
Try An Active Study Technique
One of the best ways to study smarter in college is to make studying a part of your everyday life. Instead of cramming for exams or pulling all-nighters for assignments, try altering your schedule so that you’re studying throughout the week. This will help you fit it into your already busy schedule, and you’ll find that you have a lot more free time when it comes to studying.
Whether it’s reading while you’re on the treadmill, taking notes while you’re on the bus, or using your lunch break to study, make studying part of your everyday life. When you study in smaller, more manageable chunks, you’ll find that you’ve got a lot more time to study.
Set Up A Study Schedule
One of the best ways to study smarter in college is to set up a study schedule. This can help you organize your time and make studying a regular part of your schedule. For example, if you’re a student who needs to study while you have free time during the day, you might set your schedule so that you have a half hour to an hour every day where you have nothing else but studying.
This will free you up so that you can focus entirely on studying instead of having to think about what you’re doing next or looking for free time. If you have regularly scheduled time during the day when you can study, you can easily fit it into your schedule.
Have A Plan Of Attack
One of the best ways to study smarter in college is to have a plan of attack when it comes to studying. If you plan out when you’re going to study and what you’re going to study, you’ll be able to avoid getting overwhelmed. For example, if you plan on studying a certain topic over a week, you’ll avoid getting overwhelmed if you break it down into smaller chunks. This will allow you to get more done in less time, and you’ll also feel less stressed out.
Eat, Sleep, And Squeeze In Some Recreation Too
While it may seem like the best way to study smarter in college is to squeeze in as many hours of studying as possible, this might backfire. Yes, you’ll get a lot of studying done, but it may result in you “grinding” or “crashing” later in the evening when you should be relaxing.
If you don’t have the energy to study because you’ve been studying all day, you’re going to come crashing in late. To keep your energy levels high so that you can study smart and avoid “crashing,” it can be helpful to eat a small meal or drink a snack before you start studying or take a break every hour or so. This will help you keep your energy up while also staving off a “crash” when it’s time to study.
Conclusion
When you’re in college, you don’t have as much time to spend studying as you do when you’re in high school. This can make it even more challenging to squeeze in enough study time. Fortunately, there are plenty of tips and tricks you can use to make studying smarter in college easier.
Whether you prefer to read or listen to what you’re studying, try adding a little more to your day. When you study smarter, you’ll have more time for fun activities, relaxing with your friends, and doing the things you enjoy.