This week, with its bombardment of tests and papers, has left me frazzled and exhausted. I’ve waited until the last minute to do everything, and now I’m feeling those effects. Studying isn’t exactly a God-given talent for me. I heard it all the time in high school– “You’ll have to learn to study for college!” You hear it from people after the first semester–“I just didn’t know how to study!” Well, that’s me. I heard all that, but for some reason, still thought I could get by without really putting in the time.
Actually, right now as I write this blog, I’m dreading my psychology test tomorrow that I haven’t really studied for. Study habits are something I really struggle with, and apparently a lot of other students have the same problem. Here are two good rules to follow to stay ahead.
Number one: Don’t procrastinate. If you wait until the last minute to write a paper, you won’t have extra time to think about it or edit it. Of course it won’t be your best work if you don’t put your best effort into it. Also, our brains don’t work that way. We remember things better if we learn them over a long period of time and store it in our long term memory. If you cram the night before, the information will only be in your short term memory, meaning it won’t be there tomorrow when you actually need it.
Number two: Actually do your homework. Even if you think you can get away with not doing the assignments or the readings before class because the teacher doesn’t check it, still do it. I struggle with this too. I get lazy or find other assignments to do instead of reading about the French Revolution. Don’t do that. The more you hear it or see it, the more likely the information will be stuck in your head. If you read it, do homework assignments, hear it in lectures and write papers on it. When it’s time for the test, you’ll know that stuff backwards and forward.
So really, just don’t be lazy. That covers everything pretty much. Don’t be lazy and procrastinate or not do your work at all. Seriously, it will come back to bite you. I’m learning that the hard way now, so I’m going to study.
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