How To Study Using Your Favorite Distractions | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

How To Study Using Your Favorite Distractions

​Netflix. Friends. Books. Magazines. Campus activities. Food. Exercise.

26
How To Study Using Your Favorite Distractions

Netflix. Friends. Books. Magazines. Campus Activities. Food. Exercise.





These are just a few of the distractions we college students face every day that make it nearly impossible to study. The thing is though, these distractions can actually be used to help aid effective study and can be a fun way to make college life a bit more colorful.



As a reward, with my addiction to reading remaining a strong distraction in my life, I allow myself a certain number of pages in my current favorite novel after I have accomplished a major homework task. If I succesfully type and edit an entire page of my next 20 page essay, I allow myself to read 10 pages. If I have small assignments or tasks, I promise myself an episode or two from netflix later for motivation. If I have a major exam coming up, I force myself to study, using my favorite campus activity as a middle buffer to get out of the library and keep as sane as possible during hectic cram sessions.

vs



I also have heard of students who love laying out fruit snacks or candy on the next page of a major textbook. If a reading section is required, a candy break or keeping hydrated may just help the student feel like they pay attention more efficiently. Also, it's perfectly alright to use a caffeine addiction to help keep focus during a textbook reading session, (just go to bed before 3

am please). It is also important to remember that the food reward method should be taken in moderation, (no one wants to add the freshman 15), and can actually help students study. If this method does not work, there are other ways to use your favorite distractions in order to study effectively.



I also love to use online and app store games that are relevant to the subject I need to study. For my Greek homework, I have mindlessly played a game that teaches me the Greek alphabet for some time now and I have almost completely, unknowingly, learned it through the game. The game helped me study in a fun and easy way. It took most of the fear and pause away from studying, while helping me subconsciously study. There are many different app stores or online game resources that can help the studying process be fun and easy. What is important to remember about games though is that they do not take the place of actually studying and should just be used as a support to, or break from, studying class material.



It is also important to watch, do or eat things to prepare for studying that will help the process of studying. Almonds are a great study snack that can increase brain function and boost energy. Exercising can help boost energy and help keep a student active and engaged before, during or after studying. Watching documentaries can help get the thinking juices flowing and improve study. Documentaries targeted on the study subject can help visual learners physically see the material they are supposed to be learning. Documentaries are also a fun way to keep the brain engaged and learn new things!




Its also fun to create rhymes, songs or acronyms that relate to our favorite television shows or fandom-related interests to help memorize key words for the next test. I often use keywords from the study subject and combine them with Harry Potter quotes or references, with a few replaced pronunciations, in order to help me learn the correct pronunciation of any certain technical terms. I also used titles of the books to help me memorize many study terms and keep my brain on task.



I may not be very good at drawing, but it is something that I have always enjoyed. Drawing characters that represent major concepts in a study session can help you learn and understand the concepts better. For example, when I was studying for a biology test, I would create a heart or other body part characters that would help me remember the parts of the organ that I was required to memorize for our next exam. I gave each body part a character, with a saying that pointed out their functions and physical layout. Using my drawings, I learned the organs of the body in an easier way than memorizing a page of writing and barely understandable diagrams given to me by my professor. It is also helpful to print out diagrams that can be colored and separately labeled so that learning the different parts of the body is not a difficult or boring task.



Studying can be an exhausting process. Creativity, our favorite books, television, food and activities can help students remain engaged and study efficiently while attempting to learn all of the required information for exams. Always remember, a study break can keep you sane and help during even the toughest cram sessions.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

182064
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

8894
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

453679
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

24008
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments