As finals week approaches, many of us find ourselves studying for four, five, or even six classes, leaving us to wonder: How can we manage to complete all of this? Fear not, because I’m here to share some unique (and partly fun) study techniques to help you gain and retain information in preparation for finals.
Disconnect / Unplug.
While this may not seem like a method, it is an essential part of the study process. Spending too much time on social media can be detrimental to your brain health, especially during a time as stressful and demanding as finals season. Our timelines bombard us with “brain rot” and copious amounts of information that overload our cognitive abilities, making it seem nearly impossible to pay attention and retain important information, two skills vital to academic success.
Taking the opportunity to shut off your phone or silence all social media and call notifications will help you stay focused. As someone sincerely addicted to social media (namely TikTok), I know how difficult this can be, but it is necessary. Try setting time limits on your apps or offloading them for the week altogether. As GenZers, it’s easy to spend half an hour scrolling unexpectedly, so the best way to avoid this is to avoid social media altogether.
Take breaks.
In accordance with the previous method, if you find it truly impossible to stay off your phone for long periods, try working in intervals. Work for 30 minutes, then go on your phone for five (and try to avoid social media during that time). Eventually, work your way up to one-hour stretches and so on.
Write, Write, WRITE!
I cannot stress this enough: write down your notes! It has been scientifically proven (check the National Institutes of Health if you don’t believe me) that writing—not typing, but physically writing—is key to retaining information. If you typed your notes, reread them and write while you’re reading. If you wrote your notes, write them again. It will only help you. Once you’ve copied everything onto paper, I suggest switching to a whiteboard and practicing active recall.
Scribble.
Read your notes and scribble. While this may seem silly, it has proven effective for me, especially during last-minute study sessions. Like the typical act of writing notes, scribbling activates the parietal and central regions of the brain involved in sensory processing and memory, as well as the visual cortex, which processes written content. This mimics the memory recall and writing you’ll need during exams. Personally, I like to alternate between scribbling and drawing little doodles that I don’t allow myself to look at until I’m done studying.
Bonus Tips:
Hide your phone! Leave it in another room or put it somewhere out of reach. Even the mere presence of your phone in your line of sight is enough to distract you.
Study in a semi-unfamiliar place! Don’t study in bed, on the couch, or even in your room if you can avoid it. These spaces are associated with sleep and relaxation, making it much harder to stay focused when you’d rather sink into your sheets. Monmouth has more than 100 classrooms and numerous buildings. Pick one and study there!
Reward yourself! Put a box of cookies or a favorite sweet or savory snack in front of you, and once you finish studying for one class or get through half your sections, reward yourself. It helps you feel like you’re working toward something more than just a grade.
Remember: these study methods and tips will ONLY be effective if you take care of yourself. Over the next two weeks, eat balanced meals, get at least eight hours of sleep, and don’t overload your stress levels. We are not academic robots! Between study sessions, take time to watch a few episodes of your favorite show, read a book, or hang out with friends. Your finals will only go as well as you feel walking into them!
