Study Tips

With high school midterms beginning next week, I figured I’d pass on a few ideas to be more effective while you study.

Clear a space — When we have clutter around us, our brain typically feels cluttered. Study with nothing else but the necessities on you desk/table.

Find a place that works—A coffee shop, the kitchen table, the basement. Doing work on a bed makes it very easy to doze off.

Eliminate the threat —Put your phone in a different room on silent. The best way to avoid distractions is to eliminate them.

Start small—Rather than trying to learn about the semester learned in history, break it down to time periods of 50 years or so.

Write it out—Write out the title of each chapter or section. Starting with an overview of what you’ll be studying simplifies things because now you know what you’re working with.

Read out loud—Seeing and hearing causes you to draw on two senses rather than just one.
Quiz each other—Ask a friend or family member to quiz you. It’s better to get the question wrong in front of a friend rather than on the test.

Space it out—Don’t try to study for 5 hours. If you’re in the zone, don’t mess with it. But take breaks, go outside, do pushups, get the blood flowing so that when you get back to studying, you’re ready.

Get colorful—Using the same color pens are boring. Writing in different colors can make certain things pop just because it’s a new look. I suggest coordinating the colors (Math—red, Geography—Green, etc).

Pray—Pray before you start, when you get distracted, and when you’re finished. God wants you to succeed. So bringing him into your studying will relax you and allow you to focus better.