3 Common Students’ Questions About Studying

Today we discuss some general questions among students and try to answer them. These questions are about motivation, study techniques, and relaxation in situations of academic stress.

How do I motivate myself to study?

We often come across phrases like “it bores me to study,” “I don’t like to study,” and “I get tired of studying,” but we are going to see a couple of tips that can help us to change these phrases for some more positive ones.

Set short and long-term goals. If we set short, medium, and long-term goals, it will be much easier for us to want to study because if we achieve some of them, we will see the others closer, and we will know that we are capable of achieving what you set out to do.

The goals must be short, possible, and as detailed as possible. In this way, if we achieve our daily goal, we will be closer to the weekly one and, in the same way, the quarterly one.

Put motivational phrases in my study place. Take a few post-its and write phrases that motivate you, such as “I can do it,” “I will achieve everything I propose,” etc. The ones that most identify with you and so when you feel that you can’t do it anymore, that you are tired of studying, when you read them, you will know that you can do it and that you will achieve everything you set your mind to.

Motivation is a fundamental factor in the study but not the only one. Let’s continue a little more.

How to relax before exams?

It is widespread to hear phrases among students such as “I go blank”, “I block when I’m in the exam,” “I do not remember anything when I have to expose,” and “I get very nervous .”If this happens to you, the best way to get rid of those nerves is relaxation through diaphragmatic breathing.

This technique consists of breathing deeply until raising the lower part of the lungs, so we reduce the size of our diaphragm and, later, expel all the air very slowly. This process should be repeated between 3 and 5 times to be completely relaxed.

If you still cannot relax, it is best to consult a professional and learn how to do it in the best way to get the most out of this valuable and everyday technique.

If you have many assignments piled up before exams that you haven’t had time to do, it can put you under additional stress. In this case, it would help you use study assistance services. Many students ask, “Which service to use to get writing help” or “Is the paperhelp reliable service?” Indeed, there are many different options, but you should choose the one that is acceptable to you in terms of price and has enough good reviews.

How can I remember a study material better?

Read carefully and underline what is most important. We usually read in passing, without paying attention to what the text says, and we highlight an obligation of the teacher or directly we do not do it. Underlining is essential because, in that way, our eyes catch what we tell them to see. In addition, using several colors also helps a lot. Put the title in one color, the keywords in another, the dates in another, etc. When looking for a specific piece of information, we know where and how to find it.

Make your notes: Your notes summarize what the book says but in your own words. The technical terms are retained more quickly because you introduce them directly into your everyday vocabulary. 

The magic of outlines: Outlines are the easiest way to give a pre-exam review because it contains everything you need to know, but you can remember the whole topic at a glance.

There are many outline models: little boxes, keys, clouds, etc. The important thing is to find the model we feel comfortable with and the one that is most pleasing to the eye (this way, we make it easier for our brain, and it thanks to us by remembering everything we have learned).

Use mnemonic rules: This is usually the technique most used by students because it requires ingenuity and fun. When it comes to memorizing and repeating the phrase or set of words, you have to learn it is repetitive and boring. That is why using this technique is much more helpful for memorizing. For example, if we want to know the first column of the periodic table, we can do it in the following way:

Record or sing it: It may seem silly, but anything with a minimum of rhythm or intonation is retained much more quickly in the brain than others that we read with monotony. 

That’s why all of us who have gone through the body parts English song remember “head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. Head, shoulders, knees, and toes. Eyes and ears and mouth and nose. Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.”

Make a study group: Your classmates study the same things you do but, as with everything else, everyone studies differently and retains some concepts more quickly than others. Looking with classmates makes each of you contribute what you know to the rest and give more ideas on how to study efficiently or to learn more quickly by talking to each other.

We hope that our analysis of the most common students’ answers has helped you and that you have used it to improve the quality of your studies!