Don’t miss classes
You need to set a tone for the day. Value your education and the funds that go into it enough to wake up on time and get to class. Listening to the lectures and being actively involved in the assignments is what you need to do. Let your teachers explain the course material to you and look at the notes they’ve made for you. It will help immensely get a general idea of the material and help you find the focal point.
Make notes
You have to take challenging semesters by the horns and steer your course yourself instead of letting it overpower you and leaving you far behind. Read your course material attentively and make notes. Then afterwards, condense these notes again. Remember, notes aren’t meant to be studied. They are necessary revision material. They are meant to trigger your memories and reactivate the topics in your mind.
Start early
It is impossible to read the whole book a few days before the exam. So don’t hold off on the matter and start early, if you can. It’s much more effective to read something slowly over time than cramming it in your head in the last few days. It’ll be easier on your mental health in the long run if you can study periodically with breaks. So stop procrastinating and start.
Don’t spend time unproductively.
Speaking of procrastination, that can be a very tempting thing to do. It’s straightforward to run away from life with friends and have fun or try to distract yourself with videos and social media. But at a stage of life where everything you do and the choices you make determine the quality of your adult life, you need to make sure you’re spending your time wisely. You don’t always have to study. Relax. Go somewhere nice to wind down. Enjoy afternoons with friends in cafés. But always come back to the things you need to do.
Organization
Pick out a lovely space to study. It could be in a café, your desk, the library etc. Designate this space as your study place. It’s important to distinguish between work and play environments. You’re very likely to get distracted from studies in places you usually have fun. Having a specific workspace will condition your brain to focus every time you go there.
Books aren’t the only way.
Don’t forget that there’s plenty of videos and different books for the topics you have gotten to learn. Try out various resources, and you’ll find some that are easier to understand and more fun to use. A lot of reading material can be dry and complex. You can consult your teachers about that and get some hands-on help. Teachers are here to help you. Make use of that privilege.
Take care of yourself.
Shower daily, brush your teeth, eat, drink enough water, exercise and relax now and then. Your physical health and state strongly affect your mental health. If you’re physically in a state of discomfort and disorganization, your brain will not categorize the information you feed it properly. Good circulation, nutrition, sleep and cleanliness are vital for making sure your mind works at its optimum. Treat yourself like you want yourself to grow and succeed, not like you’re trash.
