We’ll figure out what determines the success of learning and how to find time for everything.
Photo by Michaela from Pexels
When time is short, and there is a lot to do, it can be difficult to find even an hour a day to learn something new. Therefore, you need to increase the effectiveness of studying. In this matter, it will be helpful to consider college study hacks that will help you save time.
Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance
Studying takes time and effort, especially when you have a job, hobbies, personal life, and many distractions. To keep up with everything, it’s necessary to get help. For example, you can buy term paper at CustomWritings and find time for more important things. Don’t be afraid to ask for professional help when you don’t have time.
Prioritize
When you have a lot of things to handle, the first thing you need to do is understand what is important right now. The Eisenhower principle will help you cope with this.
According to the method, tasks should be divided into four categories:
Important and urgent. You need to complete tasks immediately.
Important but not urgent. You have more time to complete these tasks.
Urgent but not important. Tasks that require attention but do not affect long-term goals. This is cleaning, going to the store, or answering messages.
Not urgent and not important. You can eliminate such tasks completely.
Keep a calendar
Write down all upcoming events, deadlines, and study time. Plan flexibly: if one task takes longer, adjust the schedule, but don’t forget to record the changes. Start by planning your study activities for the week ahead.
Use time management techniques
Pomodoro Method. Study or work in short periods of 25 minutes. Then, take 5-minute breaks. After four such sessions, you should take a long break of 15-30 minutes. This way you will concentrate better and be less tired.
Time blocking. Divide the day into blocks of time in which you do only one task - study, rest, or work.
2-minute rule. If a task takes less than two minutes, you should do it right away. This will prevent the accumulation of small tasks that distract from studying.
Consider micro-times
They are short periods of time that we waste throughout the day. For example, this can be situations when we’re waiting in line, riding public transport, or taking breaks between classes. Use these time slots to your advantage: listen to podcasts on the topic, read articles, or review study materials. As a result, you’ll be able to get more done in just a few free minutes during the day.
Cut down on timekillers
Aimlessly scrolling through social media feeds or watching YouTube videos is a huge time sink. People spend about five hours a day on their phones, according to the State of Mobile 2023 report by data.ai. Cutting that time by just an hour would give you an extra seven hours a week to study. To do this, set limits on your social media use.
If possible, delegate some of the household chores, such as ordering cleaning or using grocery delivery, to save time for studying.
Organize your workspace so that nothing distracts you
On your computer or laptop, create a separate profile where only educational content will be on the desktop. This can be files, programs, and documents that are needed for work or study. This approach allows you to separate your workspace from your personal space and will help reduce the number of distractions.
Turn off unnecessary notifications and newsletters that are not related to your studies
Constant push notifications are distracting and reduce productivity. After each distraction, a person needs, on average, about 23 minutes and 15 seconds to return to full concentration on the task.
Turn off unnecessary newsletters, remove irrelevant chats, and set time limits for checking messages. For example, you can set aside certain hours to check mail and messengers, leaving the rest of the time to study. This will help you reduce stress and increase concentration.
Read at least 15 minutes a day
Reading is an effective way to develop yourself. According to a study by Yale University, regular reading helps improve cognitive functions and even prolongs life - people who read at least 30 minutes a day live an average of two years longer.
Daily reading of literature on topics of interest - be it business, science, psychology, or fiction - helps not only to broaden your horizons but also to develop critical thinking. 15-30 minutes a day is enough to read several important books in a year.
Keep a journal
Writing down thoughts and ideas helps you organize information in your head and better understand your goals. A journal can help you analyze your actions, track your progress, and improve your emotional state.
Start with a simple practice: write down three things you’ve accomplished and one new idea you’ve had each day. This process helps free up your mind for new tasks and supports creative thinking.
Use these college study hacks, and you will save much time!
