5 Study Tips for College Students

Let's face it, no one likes to study. It's repetitive, dull, and uneventful. It gets even worse if it's a class you don't even enjoy. Luckily for you readers, there are others out there that suffer from the same effects. Here are 5 of my most effective study tips.

Tip 1: GET TO KNOW YOUR LIBRARY
I know this may sound a little repetitive, but there truly is no alternative to the good 'ol library. When you need to get stuff done, get yourself down to the library, sit down, do work, and get it done. The benefits of the library should be readily apparent. First, the library is quiet. In fact, at my local university library, they staff a small amount of student "library security guards" to ensure that the nose level is kept down. Second, the library is structured. What do I mean by this? Well, the library is a commonplace for other students who want to do their work. With a collective group of students all working towards the same goal, it makes it a lot easier to focus and get your things done.

Tip 2: PUT DOWN THE ELECTRONICS
I challenge you, count up all the time you spend surfing the internet, updating facebook, or sending a text message while you are supposed to be studying. I'd be willing to bet it's a pretty big number, and that's the point. If you leave your computer at home, and turn off your cell phone, you'd be amazed at the amount of time you'll have for homework! When you need to get work done, you need to give yourself the best possible chance, and to do that, you need to limit your distractions.

Tip 3: SLEEP, SLEEP, AND MORE SLEEP
This one might seem a little less obvious. I mean, this is college right? Don't college kids stay up night after night and study for their exams? Well, you're not wrong, but it doesn't mean that they're right. As a personal preference, one that I've gained from experience, you'd be amazed at how much more effective you can operate after you get some rest! You can stay up all night and pummel yourself with information, but if you're tired, you aren't going to retain much. Instead, when you get real worn down, set down the book, get some rest, and try again in the morning. A tired brain is a wasted brain when it comes to studies.

Tip 4: H20, BABY
Definitely one of the more unorthodox tips you can receive, but actually, this has been a very effective tool for me. I noticed that after long hours of studying, I was thirst. Really thirsty, and my brain seemed to be just as thirsty. Not for knowledge, but for water. After a little refreshment, I felt much more alert, a lot less fatigued, and ready to learn. This tip not only applies to liquid refreshment, but also to physical food. A quick snack, a quick pick me up, and you're fueled up and ready for more learning.

Tip 5: BREAK TIME
It might sound crazy. Why would someone suggest that you actually stop studying to improve your ability to study? Does that make ANY sense? Well, actually, it does. When focusing on a particular topic for such a long time, you begin to lose interest in the topic and drift away. By breaking up your study time by taking short breaks, you can take some time to cool the jets, recharge the batteries, and go at it again.

There you have it. 5 effective study strategies from a studying college student. It's important to keep in mind that whatever strategy works best for you is the strategy you need to work with! If you study better with headphones in, then go for it. I always study a little better with some sort of ambient noise, be it a fan, or the tv on real low, just something that breaks up the utter silence of the room around me. So good luck students, hopefully these strategies will help you out.