Study Tips for the Distracted Student

While the academic difficulty of school often creates stress for all students, we have a lot of other things on our minds. From that friend hounding you about getting your work done so you can go to Duffy’s, to your mom’s constant calls regarding you finding an internship, we can easily become distracted from our schoolwork. Here are some unconventional ways to study and tips about studying locations that may just work for you.
   
1. PowerPoints instead of study guides. Not only does creating a PowerPoint to study save lots of paper and ink, but it also is easier to study than a written study guide. You can relax in bed while flipping through the slides, which are all neatly organized by category. You can even color code the slides or use special fonts to help you remember specific material. It is also easy to edit the slides and add new material, unlike study guides where you have to reprint after making a change.
 

2. Avoid Whispers. Although Whispers is great for getting reading or worksheets done with some friends, if you really need to crack down and study, you should probably avoid this social capital of the library. The third floor cubicles are extremely quiet and isolated, allowing you to focus and get a lot done. 
  
3. Flashcard Machine. Digital flashcards save paper and are also easily to scroll through without having to lug a giant stack of cards with you when you want to study. You can also flag certain cards that you need to study more than others, or create short multiple-choice quizzes. 
  
4. Try not to snack. Snacking while studying may seem natural, but it can be quite distracting, especially when you just ate something sweet then realize you really need something salty. 
 
5. Teach the material to others. Helping other people with the material, or simply reciting the material to someone who will listen without wanting to smack you, is a helpful way to see what you know very well and what you need to study more. Also a great indicator of who is a really good friend, for instance one who is willing to listen to you recite Spanish stories over and over again.
 
6. Try to start early. If you begin your studying in advance, you’ll feel less stressed when the date of the test approaches. This way, the night before the exam, you can do less cramming and more relaxing. You may even fit in a few episodes of your favorite show on Netflix.
 
7. Get some exercise. Taking a study break to go to the gym is always a good decision. Working out can help you to relax and focus on something else for a while, even if you’re casually studying vocab as you run on the treadmill. Although you may feel as though you need that hour to do schoolwork, giving yourself a break can be beneficial and can help you to refocus once you return to studying.
 
 
  
  
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