As midterm week quickly approaches, it is difficult to not fall into the trap of procrastination. Just the word "midterms" can make people cringe and stress out about the exam that weighs so heavy on their GPA. Here are a few studying hacks when it comes to opening up the textbook and cracking down:
1. Study with friends.
Studying with friends is a great study habit to pick up. It allows you to share information with your friends that they may not have picked up as well as vice versa. You can lecture and quiz each other. However, make sure you are studying with the right friends, not the ones that will get off-topic often and distract you from the objective. If done correctly, this can be relaxing, productive, and fun.
2. Make flashcards.
Not only is writing down the information going to reinforce it, but it will also help to have these flashcards to review numerous times. Cutting down the information into smaller chunks via flashcards makes it easier to keep your ideas organized. It's also great because now you have a portable way of studying! Take these flashcards with you anywhere you go and study them while walking to class or while grabbing lunch.
3. Take breaks.
Studying is not always the most fun thing to be doing. That being said, don't be afraid to take a break from studying and play games on your phone or watch a little bit of TV. After all, it is important that your brain gets to relax a little bit. But make sure you schedule these study breaks for limited amounts of time so you do not end up accidentally watching a whole season of a Netflix show.
4. Eat well.
It is imperative that you eat well while studying and during midterm week. Not eating will result in getting sick, leading to less studying time, leading to a bad grade on the exam. No bueno.
5. Listen to music.
Sometimes music can improve your studying experience. I recommend listening to instrumental music tracks versus songs with heavy lyrics. This will relax you instead of distracting you because I am the worst at reading words while listening to different ones. My favorite study station will always be "Solo Piano Radio" on Pandora.
6. Watch a YouTube video on the topic you are studying.
It is extremely beneficial to absorb information in a different, more entertaining format. It's incredible how helpful YouTube videos can be. You will be surprised to find out how much an educational YouTube video can teach you, so make sure to further look into your topics for your exam via YouTube!
7. Believe in yourself.
Realize that you have done all you can to study for the exam. Remember that you deserve the grade you earn, as it is a reflection of the effort you put into studying for the test. So, take a breath, smile, and kick butt on your midterms!
