“Many great things can be done in a day if you don’t always make that day tomorrow.” - Unknown
Finals came at me full force last week and I still ain’t done. I decided I needed to take some time to rearrange my thoughts and get organized! Here are 6 of my favorite study tips that will help you stay on top of your tasks:
1. Do a brain dump. When I am feeling overwhelmed with deadlines and ideas are bouncing around in my head, a good ol’ brain dump always helps. Write out EVERYTHING. The point is to transfer your thoughts somewhere you can visually look at and then prioritize them from there.
2. Create a daily to-do list. I know this sounds strict but a to-do list is a way to keep yourself in check. Make sure you keep your list somewhere you can easily access. I keep my to-do list on my phone in my Notes app. I also go as far as breaking my to-do list by the hour on some days. This isn’t for everyone, but I do recommend giving yourself a certain time to study or get work done. What I specifically love about this tip is the amount of free-time I get not worrying about the things I have to get done.
3. Get the hard stuff done first. I like to look over my assignments and start with the ones that are more time-consuming. This way, I feel less anxious knowing I have already started gathering my sources for a research paper, since that step takes me the longest. Find what you spend the most time on and do that first.
4. Use the 5-second rule. When I heard about the 5-second rule I thought it was nonsense. But I don’t like to knock things until I try them personally, so I did, and it works! Because of that 5-second rule, I am here finishing this post that I myself have been procrastinating on. Funny, eh? I counted to 5 and told myself to get to business. Check out more about this rule here.
5. Be creative with your time. I used to dedicate my entire weekends to studying and homework. By doing this I not only found myself procrastinating even more, but I felt depressed and irritable from being inside all day. I started making my work more accessible to me so I could actually enjoy my weekends. For example, I write all my assignments on Google Docs because I can log in from anywhere if I don’t have my laptop. I also bring my reading materials with me in case I find myself waiting around for anything. Instead of scrolling through Instagram when you’re bored, do some flash cards on quizlet.
6. Be realistic and stay committed. You can realistically accomplish 3-5 goals a day. I recommend focusing on at least 3 main goals each day. Also, these tips won’t mean a thing if you don’t stay committed to your goals. Whatever it is that helps you stay on top of your grind, do that and stay focused. You got this!