5 (actually helpful) study tips for college

I know you’ve heard it all - chew gum when you study and when you test, take notes the right way, join a study group... 🗣️🗣️🗣️ But these classic study methods may not be cutting it anymore for you, so here are some less cliched (and somewhat oddball) study tips to try in your next study sesh! 

1️⃣ Try listening to non-pop and non-traditional music to drive your focus and keep from your imagination running wild 

1. Brown noise: shown to be an effective way to block out external stimuli

2. Instrumental (scores, classical)

3. We’ve heard that listening to songs in a language you don’t know helps… sounds odd but try it out and let us know 😉

2️⃣ The Pomodoro Technique: study in a structured series of short periods of time with built in time for your brain to take a break, examples include:

1. Study in cycles of work on your to-do list: tick 2 items off your to-do list then take a break 

2. Study in 30 minute increments with 10 minute breaks in between

3. Study in cycles within an hour: study for 45 minutes, take a 15 minute break

3️⃣ Use your sleep cycle to induce better memorization

Part 1: Studying before bedtime can ensure your memory consolidation process is at your peak

Part 2: Sleep, then come back fresh to it in the AM. Your short-term memory and recollection ability is strongest in the morning after waking up.

Review notes or study a harder topic in the mornings!

4️⃣ Eat/snack while studying

Stress eating does not have to be a bad habit, and some foods can actually help keep your energy up, stay focused, and increase the brain’s ability to memorize information. Here are just some examples:

1. Avocados: It’s a monounsaturated fat that contributes to healthy blood flow to the brain

2. Leafy greens: Vegetable intake is an important factor related to improved brain function

3. Bananas: They convert to serotonin, automatically improving your mood and helping you study in a good mood

4. Cocoa or dark chocolate: with its highest flavonoid content compared to other foods, it is found to have a direct correlation to insulin sensitivity, which is linked to improving brain function and boosting energy

5. Green tea: Contains some essential components that boost brain power significantly, as well as enhances brain performance and helps manage stress

6. Citrus fruits: Rich in vitamin C and contain flavonoids like hesperidin, which help protect your nerve cells from injury and improve cognitive function

5️⃣ Some out-of-the-box ideas you can try that could work for you!

1. Take a time lapse of yourself working 

2. Leave the comfort of your home and find a spot that makes you a little less comfortable (aka that stiff chair in the library) so you want to finish your stuff ASAP 

3. Use that library or study room white board and colorful markers to make studying a little more fun

4. Switch study location every 1-2 hours if you’re cramming 

5. Verbally say things you want to memorize out loud, almost as if you’re having a conversation

Trust us, we understand college is not for the faint of heart, but we hope any one of these methods might be the key to your success (or at least a slightly more productive study routine!) If you try any of these and they work for you, tag us in a story or DM us @homefromcollege, we'd love to see!! 💙