Tips for productive studying

Finding exam techniques and habits that work for you during exam periods is very important. From getting a good night's sleep to making flashcards for each module, every little helps to improve your performance in the final exam.

Here are our top 10 study habits that are sure to help you ace your exams:

1. Create a consistent routine ☀️

Making a daily routine that factors in both study time and free time for you to relax is very important. It creates a balance to make sure you're not only focusing on your studies, but you're also making time and taking care of yourself. 

2. Active recall 🧠

Instead of reading pages and pages of information over and over again, try focusing on closing your book and testing your knowledge to identify any gaps in your understanding. This can help you know what areas of content you're struggling with and key areas to spend more time on. It can be very easy to review a whole topic in one go, but if you're confident with half of it, you could use that extra time to spend on the half you aren't so confident with.

3. Regular sleep schedule 😴

Try to stick to the same sleep schedule every night; if not, the majority. Keeping it consistent helps to improve memory and the effectiveness of your studying. Not to mention, when you find a sleep schedule that works for you, keeping it consistent can help with your body clock and could lead to earlier and easier mornings.

4. Take regular breaks 🧘‍♀️

Taking regular breaks when studying can help you remain focused for a longer period of time. The Pomodoro technique, which is 25 minutes of study, 5-minute break, is a great way to manage your breaks if you don't know where to start, and it's also great during long study sessions.

5. Set specific goals 💪

When planning your study time, aim to focus on certain topics before you finish for the day. This can help improve motivation and productivity. It will probably make you more likely to complete it too! It's always a good way to start studying, too, when you have specific goals instead of staring at your laptop, not knowing where to begin.

6. Study away from your usual place 🌳

If you regularly study in your bedroom or the library, try something different and spend the afternoon in a café or at the local park. This way, you can create a work-only environment away from any distractions and keep your bedroom your relaxing place.

7. Teach a friend 📚

One really good technique for remembering topics is to teach someone else. Meet with a friend over coffee and teach them the content you're learning. This is a good way to test your own knowledge and practice recall. It may identify areas you need to spend more time on.

8. Avoid focusing on one subject 🍎

If you find yourself focusing on one subject, try switching to another. Sticking to one for too long can reduce focus and lead to a lower quality of study time. Switching topics can also help with brain block if you're struggling to remember specific content. It's always best to have a break from it and return later.

9. Remove distractions 📱

It might sound obvious, but removing distractions will do wonders for your concentration levels whilst studying. Switch off your TV, put your phone on do not disturb and let the focus sink in. You could even try moving to a different room, like your hall's kitchen area or the library.

Forest is an app created to help minimise distraction when you need to concentrate on tasks. Check out this article about Resources and tools to help you study for exams, which talks more about it.

10. Start early 🕔

To avoid any last-minute cramming, start studying for exams early. It's better to study a little bit over a long period of time; it goes a long way when it comes to exams. Plus, you give yourself more time to remember and retain information rather than quickly scanning keywords.

Exam season isn't easy, but finding a balance that works for you can help to manage your time better and reduce any unnecessary stress that comes with it.