Finals week is upcoming, and studying is undoubtedly the best way to prepare. Studying will help you remember all the things from the entire first semester and refresh your memory. What are some of the most effective and popular ways to study for the finals this time around? Is there a correct way to study? A correct amount of time to study? Is there a plain black and white, right and wrong, or is it all catered towards the individual?
Sleep is the number 1 best study method. Sure, you can’t sleep your way through finals unfortunately, but without a good amount of sleep, your brain will have a tougher time remembering things you are currently learning or studying. Medical News Today says, “On weeknights, 20 percent of students stay up all night at least once a month and 35% stay up until 3 a.m. at least once a week. 12% of poor sleepers miss class three or more times a month or fall asleep in class.” Falling asleep in class or getting poor sleep will not help you study. Getting a good amount of sleep is crucial to being able to learn successfully and retain information.
Now that we are well rested and ready to study, study methods can all be tailored to each person. Listening to music can help some study while other times pure silence is best. “Studying can be stressful, and excessive anxiety can hinder learning and memory consolidation. The right choice of music, such as instrumental or ambient music, can help block out distractions, improve concentration, and maintain attention during study sessions,” says Phyllis Medina, a program director at psychology at the University of Maryland Global Campus. This shows that music can be a helpful distractor instead of a negative one. While playing video games and trying to learn at the same time may not be the best idea in the world, listening to your favorite music or soundtrack might just help you remember the important details from your study session.
Consider using motivational tactics, as well, this finals season. You could give yourself a time limit or try to race studying against a melting glass of ice, seeing how much you could get done in that time. Then, take a well needed and deserved break! Giving yourself a goal or a time limit with no expectations for yourself can get you motivated. Seeing how much you can truly get done in that amount of time can be extremely uplifting. Don’t put your expectations too high on yourself, though. Set a reasonable goal and use your time before finals wisely.
Spacing out your study sessions can give you a reasonable amount of time each day to study. According to apa.org, “Decades of research have demonstrated that spacing out study sessions over a longer period of time improves long-term memory. In other words, if you have 12 hours to spend on a subject, it’s better to study it for three hours each week for four weeks than to cram all 12 hours into week four.”
Instead of dreading finals, come in prepared after a good study session throughout the next week or so, and don’t cram your learning the night before. Studying can be good and worth it as long as you find the right motivations and tactics. Feel prepared and ready without the worry of failure or overwhelming anxiety by studying right!
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