Study Methods Worth Trying
- Kendall Chastain
- Aug 10, 2024
- 2 min read
Written by: Kendall Chastain
Position, Member Since: Treasurer, Joined Spring 2023
Major & Track: Health Science, Pre-Med
Current Year: 2nd Year
Do you struggle with distractions, mental exhaustion, and lots of tests with little time between? Then you sound like you could benefit from a few new study techniques! Studying is inevitable, but it shouldn’t consume every second of your life, or you will quickly become burnt out. The study methods below are just a couple examples of techniques to use to shake up your usual monotony of studying. Hopefully, they can help you stay focused and better retain information for exams!
The Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Method works like this
Personally, the Pomodoro Method is my favorite! By breaking up your studying, you lessen your overall mental strain and saturation. This technique is especially beneficial if you have a large, time consuming task like studying. Instead of reading the textbook, slides, reviewing flashcards, and doing practice questions in one sitting, you can easily break these down into “Pomodoros” or segments. This has been shown to be effective by reducing procrastination and increasing concentration because “the timer instills a sense of urgency” that other study methods do not (Boogaard, 2023). If you struggle with getting started on tasks, try out this method next time.
Studying with others
Working with your peers can be incredibly beneficial for several reasons. First of all, other students can help fill in knowledge gaps that you didn’t even know you had. For example, your friend may ask for help on a topic that you missed one day. Now, you realize you also need help with that topic and would have otherwise missed out. Another benefit of group studying is social interaction. Let’s face it, sometimes staring at a textbook or slides for hours can cause mental exhaustion. By working with peers, you can interact socially in addition to learning and ease some of this mental strain. Sometimes a break laughing with friends is needed to regain concentration. Lastly, peer studying can be beneficial because you may have to explain a topic to someone else. A good rule of thumb is if you can explain it to someone else, you have a good understanding of the subject. Explaining topics to others could provide a confidence boost that you thoroughly know the material, and you are well prepared for the test.
Overall, if you find yourself in a studying rut, try a new study method! There are plenty more in addition to these posted online. You never know what method might be your new favorite way to study!
Comments