If there was a class on Procrastination, I'd be topping it. In fact, I'd probably be teaching it. During exam time, my room has never been cleaner, my family never better-fed, my CD collection never more alphabetised.....yep, I am a world-class delayer of major tasks. Including studying. I'm actually meant to be starting to research for my Honours thesis right now...and what am I doing? Procrastinating, of course. So here are some of the best study tips I've received - make sure you let me know if I've missed any!
1. Study in a quiet place. No distractions. Not your living room, not your bedroom, not the bloody kitchen!!! Try a library, that's what they're there for. Fisher Library is tops for studying: the Library attendants are absolute nutbags about silence, so it is ALWAYS quiet. Plus, everything is there for you: reference books, computer access, AV access, course readers....
2. Come prepared. One of the easiest ways to get sidetracked is to stop studying to get a drink or something to eat. I myself am a huge fan of the Fisher Coffee Cart: but unfortunately everytime I leave the Library for a five minute break, I see someone I know, or even someone I don't, and start chatting. Before I know it, it's 5pm and I need to go home. So take a bottle of water with you, and a little snack, and you shall avoid my pitfall.
3. Schedule regular breaks: but keep them to a strict time limit. Take a ten minute break every hour. It will actually keep you motivated. Try to do something active, like take a walk, or stretch. It works, believe me!
4. If you're working at home, a clean study is a must. My brother thinks I am Jack-Nicholson-from-As-Good-As-it-Gets-crazy-neurotic during exams, as I am constantly telling him to clean his mess in the study. Last year, when he was doing the HSC, things got a little out of hand and books were flying. Clean places are the best to study in, and the J-Man just didn't understand. I think he got the picture, though.
5. Make little goals: with my degree, I need to do a lot of reading. So when I am reading for what seems like weeks on end (and very nearly is), I tend to get a little sidetracked. So I set myself little goals, like "Read Chapters 1-4 before lunch." You feel pretty good when you reach your goal, and if you don't, it just gives you more impetus to try harder.
6. Don't sweat the small stuff. Ah, this is rich coming from me. But really, during exams or busy periods of semester, the smallest things can seem mammoth. Like your favourite cardigan being in the wash: really, it's not the end of the world. There are other, though lesser, cardigans, to wear. Try a little of that golden potion of Perspective and you'll see that you're not the only person in the world to sit an exam.
7. Don't spend your life studying. Finally, one I'm good at it! It might seem like your world will crumble if you don't study like there's no tomorrow, but you'll only burn yourself out if you keep up this wacky behaviour. Take some time out to go watch a movie, or have dinner with some mates.
Comments
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Posted by: Koshkitko | February 23, 2006 10:29 AM
lovely study style, *note to self - always remember last point*, i'll put these in to practice while I do my exams this week!
thanks....
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