It’s easy to get overwhelmed with school, work, friends, family, extracurricular activities, and basically anything else that you may come across. A lot of stress comes from school and classes, but luckily, we can break down the obstacles we face into smaller pieces. By applying these tips to your workload, you may find some extra time to study and minimize late night cram sessions!
1. Go to class early
When you go to class early, you can choose where you’d like to sit. Typically, the best place to minimize distractions is in the first couple rows. You don’t have to worry about what other people are doing on their laptops or phones and you can devote all your attention to the lecture. When you arrive late, you have to awkwardly climb over students who are already seated and you not only miss what’s going on—but you also disrupt those around you.
2. Talk to the instructors/ TAs
Instructors and TAs are people too! They’re happy to answer your questions and clarify the material. Going to office hours is a lot less intimidating than you think. You can have a one-on-one conversation and have the answer specified to your exact needs. If an instructor or TA notices you putting in that extra effort, usually they’re more likely to help out.
3. Do the readings ahead of time
By reading ahead of time, you can write any questions that you come across and then ask the instructor to clarify in class.
4. Make friends in class
You can have study buddies or study groups. Sometimes hearing other students explain the material can help. They may also have the same questions you do. Study groups can help keep you motivated when you feel like just giving up and taking another nap.
5. Review your notes at night
Reviewing your notes in the evening can help you retain a lot more of the information you learned that day! Studies show that you lose a fair amount of details you hear each day. By reviewing at night, you won’t have to relearn everything!
6. Use your resources
UC Davis has amazing resources to help you excel! From drop-in tutoring, study skills workshops, and writing support, the Student Academic Success Center wants to see you do well! They can really help out when you feel like you’re stuck in an academic rut. You can check out all they have to offer here: http://success.ucdavis.edu
7. Have the proper materials to study
Not everyone learns the same way. Some people prefer writing things down in notebooks, some like keeping everything organized in binder tabs, and some people do best when they have their laptops to take notes. By experimenting with different study styles, you might find one that works really well for you and can make studying a little more fun!
8. Create a schedule
It isn’t easy watching everyone turn in an assignment that you had no idea was even assigned. It’s even worse when you had no idea a midterm was coming up. Stay on top of all your classes by creating a schedule. Also, invest in a planner so you can stay organized.
9. Balance your life
It’s hard balancing school, work, family, friends, and anything else that could be going on in life—but it is possible to allocate your time. Don’t think you’re too busy for other activities because you’re preoccupied with school or work. School is important, but by dedicating certain hours to school, certain hours to work, and certain hours to other activities, you can minimize that feeling of being overwhelmed. Don’t feel guilty about having leisure time. It’s important to treat yo’ self.
10. Eat well
Last but not least, your diet plays a huge part in your academic success! By eating well, you can avoid feeling tired and sluggish while you’re trying to study. Carry snacks with you so you don’t get distracted by a grumbling tummy in class. Sometimes you don’t have time or the funds to eat out everyday and coffee isn’t exactly a nutritious meal. Try to prepare food the night before so you can grab it and go to class the next day. Check out 100 recipes for college kids on a budget here: http://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/10/13/100-delicious-dirt-cheap-recipes-for-the-starving-student/