Study. Ugh. It ok we're here to help

So now that school's back on, its nearing the end of the year and time is beginning to crunch. Something I've always struggled with is how to actually study. Do I just read everything? Copy it down 79 times a day? The rubbish you get told on 'how to study' can often not help. At all.

So I've come to save your little eyes from growing tired reading computer screens until the late hours of the night *cough* more like 3am. Here goes nothing..

Study Habit 1:

ALWAYS get enough sleep. This may sound silly, but without enough sleep your long-term memory of occurrences that day - be it learning, depletes. Your brain needs 7-9 hours of proper sleep in order to process the information learnt and to store it. Any less and you'll have trouble remembering it the next day.

Study Habit 2:

Intervals. After long periods of study you can become less and less efficient at understanding and retaining information. Set yourself timers every 40 mins, hourly (depending on how much time you think you can work efficiently for), and take 5 minute breaks in between to do something. I don't mean check fb. I don't mean indulge in reading the amazing blog that your eyes are feasting upon now...
I'm talking do 10 star-jumps. Call a friend who will give you a decent laugh. Do something that will awaken and distract your brain - to give it an active rest. Literally I get up and crazy dance for a solid 10 mins and go back to work... You'll go back into study feeling refreshed and a lot happier.

Study Habit 3:

Give your eyes a break. It sounds simple, but during your break make sure to - if possible - venture outside *OMG what, I know. Like where there are trees and shit...* Changing your location, and the distance your eyes are focusing on (30cm away vs. off into the distance) will help you to study well and prevent headaches, etc.

Study Habit 4:

 Repeat, re-read, whatever it is. Repetition is what makes studying worth it. If you're only going to study once, there's not much point in the long run. If you want to do well, re-read over class notes from that day on the way home. Re-write and practice the equations you learnt that day. And be sure to revise it within 24 hours or your recollection of the class will begin to drop. It is proven that writing something down is better for remembering compared to typing it.

Study Habit 5:

Have tidy surroundings. Now I can't really talk here as as of Sunday my desk kind of looked like a mountain of paper until Paige came over and I thought I should clean... But just having a clamish study area will help keep you calm in the lead up to that awful assessment.


Love Gi xx