How to Maximize Your Study Time

While May and June signal the beginning of summer for most people, these months also mean the start of final exams for college students. How does an already busy student balance studying, classes, exams, papers and partying? Simple, you just need to maximize your work time. Here are some helpful times to get you through exam week:

Budget time
Budget your study time. No one is going to be able to study for five hours straight, let alone all day. Instead, try to study each subject or work on each project for an hour to two hours at a time. This will keep your mind fresh and help keep you focused on the subject. Be sure to take at least a fifteen minute break in between sessions. During this break take a walk outside or chat with a friend to take your mind off of your work. By having a shorter set amount of time to work you will be more motivated to study during your study session.

Prioritize
Instead of trying to complete all of your assignments at once, make a to-do list and prioritize what needs to be done first. This way you can be sure that you are studying for your first exam or starting the extra long project in time to actually finish it. If at all possible, start assignments early - even if that means setting an earlier due date for yourself. Once you've made the list, keep it where you can see it. If you're using a Mac, then make a stickie out of it. Most importantly, stick to the list!

Find a secluded place to study
Study groups can be beneficial and fun, but chances are will get less work done with so many distractions. Instead, try finding a secluded place in the library to study. Without any social distractions you will be able to focus on your work. Turn off your cell phone or disconnect your Wi-Fi if you can. Without the lure of social networking you will be surprised at how much easier it is to focus. If you can't survive without your study group, then make sure to stay on topic.

Proofread Papers
This goes without saying - always proofread your work. Get a friend or parent to read it. Many schools have a writing advisor service. These peer advisors are usually available free of charge, and have been chosen by the school based on their editing skills. While they cannot write a paper for you, they can sure help you through it. If you have to proofread your paper yourself, print out a hard copy and edit it that. You are more likely to catch mistakes on paper then on your monitor. Reading out loud can also help you catch grammatical errors and fix sloppy sentences. If you're using a Mac, take advantage of the speech function. Your computer will read the paper out loud an all you have to do is listen for the errors and correct them. One little know trick that really helps is to start at the last sentence and read your way up the paper. By reading the sentences in reverse order, you can tell if each sentence in your paper is coherent enough to make sense without the proceeding one.

Get plenty of sleep
While the thought of leaving an assignment to the last minute and then pulling an all-nighter may be tempting, do not do it. Not only will your work at four in the morning be sub par, you will be drained for the rest of the day. Instead start the project early, and get a good night's sleep. If that is not possible, then consider waking up early to complete the assignment. You will probably feel more refreshed in the morning and be able to think and write better.

Make sure to have some fun
While your social life will defiantly be on hold during exam time, you shouldn't become a hermit. Schedule some time to do something fun with your friends. Time off from studying will refresh your mind and can help reduce stress. Just make sure that you finish your work when you're done hanging out.

Good luck!