why you should let yourself study poorly (sometimes)
There are so many amazing posts about how to study effectively and be more productive (and that’s so so important! That’s why so many people joined studyblr including me!), but it is important (and very much needed) to let yourself study poorly. Sometimes you’ve had a rough day and you really need to finish that discussion post due at 11:59 pm but you’re not emotionally there. Take a deep breath, throw on an old show you’ve re-watched a dozen times, and watch something you love while you do something you have to do. There were so many days in college where I would just feel defeated because I couldn’t give my all. Or I started off on the wrong foot and I just let myself keep sinking into this miserable cycle. If you can take a break and reset, that’s great! And if you can’t (because that assignment is due really soon or you have that test tomorrow), it is ok to do some things that aren’t the “best” study tips, but help you feel better. It is ok to sometimes wait until the last minute to do an assignment (hopefully you know you can crank out last minute).
It is ok to study with friends because you need motivation.
It is ok to watch a tv show in the background sometimes.
It’s ok to write quick notes on the back of a scrap piece of paper because you can’t bring yourself to take fancy notes. Sometimes if you can’t give 0%, it’s ok to not give 100% either. Whether it’s because you need a mental break or life gets in the way or you need to focus on something else. It is ok. One mistake doesn’t define your academic career (nor does that academic career necessarily matter in all things you do in life).
I’m not saying this to start a slippy slope for yourself. Of course, you should start assignments early. Of course, you should build in early due dates to account for unexpected things. But life happens and you can’t always be perfect. I’m saying this so when you have a really hard day, you remind yourself that it’s ok to not give your 100% all the time (because sometimes you need to give back to yourself first).