The clock says it’s been two hours since you started studying, but you still feel just as confused. Well, maybe an hour and 50 minutes, counting the ten minutes you spent scrolling on Instagram. Or perhaps an hour and 30 minutes, due to that study snack that was calling your name. OK, maybe it was just an hour?
It’s easy to lose track of time, unintentionally procrastinating when your homework load is overwhelming. Thankfully, your fellow Pacers have study suggestions that might end up working for you too.
If you’re reward-driven and appreciate positive reinforcement, you may consider adopting sophomore Clara Schaff’s method.
“I have a jar of M&M’s in my room, and when I get a few problems or flashcards right, I eat one or two,” said Schaff. “It gives me good motivation.”
She also has found an AI study tool that works for her called RocketLearn. Out of all places, it was recommended to her through an Instagram advertisement.
“You can upload your PDFs and it makes flashcards and problems for you,” Schaff said.
Senior Beckett Godfrey has a similar quick memorization approach, but he instead uses different flashcard programs and compiles his own study material.
“I use a lot of Quizlet,” said Godfrey. “And then I take all my notes and I make packets out of them.”
For those who don’t benefit much from the rote memorization flashcards and packets offer, senior Helena Du recommends another way of remembering information.
“Something that helps me study is repeating the material to myself when I take a break to scroll or do something else,” said Du. “When I get more familiar with it, I go through all of the material like I’m teaching it. If I really need to study something, I will write down everything from my memory about that topic after I review it.”
This method of active recall has been proven to enhance information retention, as it forces us to mentally conjure up information rather than simply recognize it. Something that helps with active recall and prevents distractions from interfering is finding the right study music that works for you, whether that means ones without lyrics or ones that you’ve heard before.
“I usually listen to slower songs that I’ve listened to a lot so that I don’t get too distracted by what’s playing,” Du said. “Sometimes I will just put on a Study With Me video and listen to that.”
Besides your sonic musical environment, it’s crucial to find a physical study environment that enables you to focus.
“I really like the library at school because it forces me to lock in,” said Godfrey. “I don’t like moving around a lot.”
For others, studying with friends can help make the study process more bearable.
“If I go to study with my friends, we will go to a cafe or a library,” said Du. “I like having a table that’s pretty large and I can just spread out all of the material I need to study.”
Finally, to craft the perfect study environment that’s tailored to you, having study snacks and a drink can contribute to the quality of your study session.
“I like to drink lots of water, and I get snacks from Trader Joe’s,” said Godfrey. “I pour it in a bowl that I snack on while I study.”
After hearing the variety of study techniques and advice your fellow Pacers have to offer, hopefully you feel motivated to find your own study methods that work for you. You get out what you put in, so why not make the process enjoyable?
