New Semester Study Tips

07Aug,2024

New Semester Study Tips

BY : Rhiannon Nevinczenko

"This year, I'm gonna really get it together and get straight A's!"

It's great to have goals going into the new school year. Here are a few tips for students looking ahead to the coming fall semester:

• Set realistic expectations. Everyone has unique strengths and weaknesses, so your best bet is to set the bar high enough that you are challenged, but still within reach of your capacity. For example, if you tend to make C's and B's, aim for mostly B's and A's this year.

• Have a designated study space. It can be somewhere at school, in a library, or at a work desk at home, or somewhere else - just not your bed! The important thing is to train your brain to go into study-mode in the right context. This makes it easier to get into study mode and stay there!

• Have a routine. If your schedule for studying, engaging in hobbies, exercise, chores, and free time is consistent, it will be easier to maintain. Once it's a habit, it takes less effort to start!

• Prioritize getting enough sleep. This can be incredibly hard when you've got a lot on your plate, but it is just as important as your to-do list! You cannot spend energy that you do not have, so be sure to set aside time for rest.

• Support your needs with regular exercise. This helps keep the brain on-line and engaged, and can even help it make deeper connections. You don't have to spend an hour a day at the gym for this, either. Taking a 20-minute walk, or even just popping a few squats can be enough to get your blood flowing again and help maintain your attention span.

• If you struggle with anything that may impact or be impacted by your academic performance (e.g., anxiety), mindfulness and breathing exercises can help manage this. Just a few minutes a day can make a huge difference in learning how to self-regulate and manage strong emotions. (This can even be done during a walk!)

• Lastly, if you need help understanding something in school, remember that it's okay to ask your instructor, peers, or tutor for help! Human beings are naturally social - we are meant to seek help and to help each other out.

Photograph credit: Anastasiya Gepp via Pexels.

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