Many college students don't dedicate the right amount of time toward maximizing their studying.
As we mentioned before, cramming and pulling “all-nighters” is still a fact of life on most college
campuses. These types of sessions increase stress levels and don't always lead to the best
performances.
Learning how to study can be the best way to manage your time and leave a little left over for
some parties and/or relaxation. Here are some tips to consider:
1. Identify your "Best Time" for Studying: Everyone has high and low periods of attention and
concentration. Are you a "morning person" or a "night person"? Use your power times to study;
use the down times for routines such as laundry and errands.
2. Study Difficult Subjects First: When you are fresh, you can process information more quickly
and save time as a result.
3. Use Distributed Learning and Practice: Study in shorter time blocks with short breaks
between. This keeps you from getting fatigued and "wasting time." This type of studying is
efficient because while you are taking a break, the brain is still processing the information.
4. Make Sure the Surroundings are Conducive to Studying: This will allow you to reduce
distractions which can "waste time." If there are times in the residence halls or your apartment
when you know there will be noise and commotion, use that time for mindless tasks.
5. Make Room for Entertainment and Relaxation: College is more than studying. You need to
have a social life, yet, you need to have a balance in your life.
6. Make Sure you Have Time to Sleep and Eat Properly: Sleep is often an activity (or lack of
activity) that students use as their time management "bank." When they need a few extra hours
for studying or socializing, they withdraw a few hours of sleep. Doing this makes the time they
spend studying less effective because they will need a couple hours of clock time to get an hour
of productive time. This is not a good way to manage yourself in relation to time.
