Ep. 005: My BEST study tips after studying for almost a decade.
Something I'm learning after 3 years of educational burnout post lockdown/A-Levels is how to actually do academic boundaries.
The past couple of weeks have been spent deadline crunching, and when the motivation just isn't there it. is. hard.
Something I'm slowly implementing into my life is self-kindness. When I was doing my A-Levels, if I was having an off-day I would get super anxious and guilty that I wasn't doing enough, and then push myself to mental exhaustion when all I probably needed was a night off.
Don't get me wrong, A-Levels are brutal. Especially during lockdown, when there was no one to reassure you that you were doing enough studying in such a stressful time.
After A-Levels, I completely lost my enthusiasm for learning. It didn't help that I went straight to uni, but I just needed some structure after lockdown.
So if you're feeling the same way, know that you're definitely not alone.
Here are some of the study tips I have tried over the past seven years of learning that I've found ACTUALLY WORK (i.e move over classical music and overnighters):
If you can, separate your study and relaxing spaces. The amount of times I've fallen asleep at my bedroom desk has forced me to work in other places. It's hard to find the perfect place, so try out cafes, libraries, the kitchen table until you find what works for you. Personally I can't focus in libraries (too quiet) or my house (too loud) so I prefer my local coffee shop.
Move during your break. It's so tempting to whip out your phone and scroll at your desk during breaks. Don't. It won't feel like a break at all. Go get a drink, go outside, step away from the desk. I mean it!
This one's a hot take. I don't like physical phone barriers i.e locking it away, putting it in another room. I know it’s so bad, but I get PSA (phone separation anxiety). I much rather have it face down on my desk. Giving myself the mental barrier of study time weirdly takes up less space in my brain than "omg where is my phone".
I don't like pomodoro. There, I said it. For me, 25 minutes is not enough time to get into deep concentration. I prefer to set myself a tiny achievable task to get motivated off my to-do list (as simple as booking an appointment or answering an email) before sinking into the most important thing to do that day.
Romanticise studying!! It actually does work (just don't be reliant on it, and don't let it take up too much study time). Light a candle you only light when you study, make a mood board, say your study affirmations, wear a cute outfit, make a matcha… the list is endless.
I work with myself, rather than against. I know I can't listen to music, and I flag between 2-4 pm. Practise to see what works for you and don't force yourself to do something just because someone else said it worked for them. If you hate 5AM starts, don’t get up to study at 5AM?
Look after your soul please (you only get one)
Thinking happy thoughts for you,
She Wrote Her Twenties
