If you like to study at home, make yourself a dedicated study space. This could be a corner of your room with a desk and a chair or a kitchen table. Wherever you can concentrate without being too comfortable is great!
Choose locations that fit your studying style and personality. For example, if you study best in silence, pick a library or quiet room, whereas if you prefer background noise, opt for a cafe or common area.
If your space doesn’t have much lighting, relocate to a brighter area, if possible.
You can also turn your phone off, leave it in a different room, or put it on “Do Not Disturb” mode, so you don’t receive any texts or notifications. If you’re easily distracted by surfing the Internet, use an app or Internet browser extension that lets you set controls to block certain websites for a set period of time so you aren’t tempted.
If you’re in a public place, use headphones to listen to the music of your choice. Look for upbeat playlists online or on a music app. You can also find premade playlists with music specifically for studying.
If you don’t want to read everything out loud, you can also try talking to yourself when you study. For example, when you finish studying a topic, say out loud: “Okay, I finished studying for my history test, now I can study for the English exam!”
Keep a pack of mint-flavored gum in your backpack or pencil case so you always have it with you when you’re studying.
Avoid sugary foods or drinks, like cookies or soda, along with carb-heavy foods, like potato chips. These might give you a quick boost, but you’ll crash later on. Try to eat every 2 to 3 hours, even if it’s just something small, to avoid low blood sugar, which makes you feel sleepy.
Avoid alcohol, particularly on days when you’re studying or the day before. Drinking alcohol regularly can negatively affect your brain function along with dehydrating you.
Be aware that coffee and other caffeinated drinks can actually be dehydrating, so you should drink water with them, too. Avoid drinking coffee or consuming anything with caffeine, like chocolate, soda, or tea, within 6 hours of when you plan to go to bed or you may have trouble falling asleep. Don’t consume more than 200 mg of caffeine in a day. Too much caffeine can be very dangerous for your heart and can also worsen existing conditions, like anxiety or depression. Avoid energy drinks and pills that contain caffeine and/or chemicals. While quick fixes are tempting, they can have dangerous side effects, like increased anxiety or even heart problems. [11] X Research source
Use your 5-minute breaks to relax and recharge your brain. Do something unrelated to what you’re studying, like stretching out your body or watching a funny YouTube video. Take a longer 30-minute break after you complete 4 intervals. Try to keep each total study session to no more than 5 hours long. If you study for longer than that, you’ll likely get burnt out.
If possible, choose a spot that’s quiet and dark to take your nap, which will help you get better quality sleep. Make sure you’re getting at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, too. Naps are a good boost but they aren’t a substitute for uninterrupted sleep.
If you can, do your exercise outside for even more benefits. Fresh air is an instant energy boost. You can also find ways to incorporate exercise into your studying. For instance, swap your chair for a stability ball to work your core while you sit, or do stretches at your desk while you read. If you’re studying in intervals, try taking an exercise break after each one. For example, after studying for 25 minutes, do 5 minutes of bodyweight exercises like pushups and jumping jacks.
If you’re studying in timed intervals, switch the topic you’re studying after each interval. If you’re only studying for 1 class, like English, change the specific material you’re reviewing if possible. For instance, start with Shakespeare, then move to Chaucer.
Keep your study group to 3 to 6 people. Too many people can become distracting or difficult to manage. Stay on task by setting group goals for each study session, like finishing 2 chapters of a textbook or covering 1 topic. Otherwise, it may be tempting to just waste time talking or goofing off.
Note that this is how much sleep the average person needs. Some people need a few more hours to feel rested and others do fine with less. The most important thing is to be consistent with your sleep. If you feel good with 6 hours of sleep a night or need up to 9, that’s fine too.
