Study Smart: Finding the Time and Space for Success

Unlock your potential—study smarter, focus deeper, think clearer.

Plan your study time

When you’re busy, it can be difficult to find the time to study. Keeping a schedule of your daily tasks can make it easier to squeeze in a little study session. It’s all about time management. When you plan out your day or your week (whichever method works better for you), blackout all of the times that you are occupied. Include your work schedule, class schedule, and anything that you have to do in the day. This will give you an idea of what time would be best for you to dedicate to studying.

It’s also important to give yourself enough time for each class. A good rule of thumb when it comes to the amount of time you should be studying is 2-3 hours for every credit you are taking. (Yes, really!) So, if you are taking 12 credits a semester, then you should be trying to get 24 hours of studying in a week. I know this seems like a lot if you already have a busy schedule, but setting aside a few hours a day to study will make a huge difference when it comes to your final grade. It’s never good to try to cram in a long study session, late into the night, right before an exam.  If you have been adhering to a regular study schedule throughout the semester, then you will feel much better about finals week.  Even if you haven’t had a chance to do this throughout the semester, starting now will still be beneficial when finals week comes around. Treat your study time as if it were your work schedule, so there is no chance of skipping it.

Reward yourself and take enough breaks

Once you have your study schedule planned, remember to schedule in a little bit of time for yourself! Reward yourself with something that you like to do. Once you have planned your study session, set a timer and focus on the subject, then once your time is up do something you’ve been wanting to do. Maybe there is a show on Netflix you’ve been wanting to watch, but you’ve felt too guilty about wasting time. After dedicating a certain amount of time to studying, you have earned your chance to relax and watch the show. Making sure you are giving yourself a chance to “decompress” from all of that studying is just as important as scheduling in the studying time. Even if you don’t have the time to watch an episode of a show, just take a few minutes to get away. Go for a walk outside and get some fresh air, take a bubble bath, make yourself a snack. Just stepping away for a few minutes can help to prevent burnout when studying.

It’s a good idea to give your eyes a rest from the computer screen or book you are reading as well. According to Healthline.com, the 20-20-20 rule is a great way to give your eyes a rest. The 20-20-20 rule states that you should to look away from your screen or book every 20 minutes, focus your eyes on something that is 20 feet away, for about 20 seconds. This gives your eyes a chance to recuperate from all of the work you’ve been doing. Apparently, it takes about 20 seconds to reset your eyes to make them feel relaxed. This will also help to prevent eye strain, which can lead to dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches, and trouble concentrating (and we know how important it is to be able to concentrate when it comes to studying for finals!).

Create the right studying environment 

The most important part of creating a successful studying environment is choosing the right location. Make sure you find a place that is free from any distractions. Find a place that is quiet and comfortable for you. Some studies have found that certain scents can help improve concentration and keep you more alert during study time. Scents like citrus, peppermint, and rosemary can keep you awake and focused on any topic you are working on. Try using a diffuser and some essential oils, or any scented candle will work too. 

It’s also important to know your studying style. Some people like to listen to music while they study, other need it to be completely quiet. What works best for you? Maybe it’s not possible to drown out all of the noise around you, if this is the case, and you find listening to any music too distracting, maybe a white noise maker might be best for you. In fact, some studies have found that white noise can help with memory retention and creativity. There are many different noise makers out there; you can experiment and find the best sounds that works for you. Noise isn’t the only thing that can be distracting when it comes to study time. Clutter or distracting items can also affect the quality of your studying time. Make sure everything is put away and there is nothing laying around to distract you. It might even be a good idea to leave your phone in another room when you are trying to focus on your schoolwork. This will remove any urge to scroll through social media or check text messages and voicemails. You’ve dedicated this time to focus on your studying, so everything else is going to have to wait. (You could even make this the reward after your timer goes off!)

Hopefully you find these tips helpful! It can be difficult to fit in the time to study, and it’s not always possible to create the perfect environment, but making your studying a priority and making it at least a little bit easier on yourself is going to make all of the difference for your grades! Good luck!

References: 

https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/20-20-20-rule#definition 

https://www.theladdermethod.com/blog/10-tips-to-create-the-ideal-study-space 

https://www.cmich.edu/blog/all-things-higher-ed/five-tips-to-improve-your-study-time-efficiency 

https://www.herzing.edu/blog/6-tips-create-perfect-study-environment