To get good grades in college you need to learn how to study in the college environment and develop good study habits.  There are three questions you must answer about how to study. Where to study, when to study, and how long to study?

Where To Study

The best environment to study in is one of isolation so you can fully concentrate on your work. You’re not being antisocial, you are making the best use of your study time by avoiding distractions. If you can’t avoid the distraction of your cell phone, turn it off when you study.

Your dorm room may be convenient, but it is often a poor place to learn. There are too many things in your dorm room to distract you from studying, your roommate, your friends, social media, the temptation to nap, etc.

Here is how to find the best places to study. Get a map of the campus and your schedule. Look for several places around campus where you go to just to study. Try different ones and see which ones work best for you. Use your schedule to find places close to your next class to maximize your study time.

When To Study

Not at night! It may seem logical but nighttime hours are not the best time to study. At night your body and mind are starting to wind down and temptations to do fun things rise. You should try to do all of your studying before you eat dinner. This leaves you with worry free nights for fun knowing your studies are out-of-the-way.

Study during the daylight hours when you are more alert and your mind is in an academic mode. When your schedule has an hour or two open head straight to one of your study areas and get to work. Even if you can only get 30 minutes, take it.

How Long To Study

Break your study time up into chunks of 30-50 minutes then give yourself a 10-15 minute break. The ideal is 50 minutes of study followed by a 10 minute break. Taking a break gives you mind time to recharge and regain your concentration. Try out different times and see what works best for you.

Don’t procrastinate! When you have a paper or exam don’t wait until the day before it is due to start. Break it down into little chunks and fit it into your study schedule. Cramming and all-nighters at the last-minute are not effective ways to study.

Develop a Study Schedule

Once you answer the where, when and how long to study create a schedule and stick to it. Plan around your schedule and block out free time to study in one of your locations. A study schedule allows you to make the most out of your study time and develop good study habits.

For a college student time is a one of your most valuable and most wasted resources. Develop good study habits and stick to your study schedule and you will do well in academics and still have time for fun.

Study Habits Resources

• How to Become a Straight-A Student
• How To Relieve Exam Stress

Related posts:

1. Music Can Help You Study
2. How To Pull All Nighters
3. How To Relieve Exam Stress

The most cited study is the “Mozart effect” a set of research results that indicate that listening to Mozart’s music may induce a short-term improvement on the performance of certain kinds of mental tasks known as “spatial-temporal reasoning” which is the ability to think out long-term, more abstract solutions to logical problems that arise.

What Kind of Music Helps You Study?

There are many types of music that have been shown to put your mind in study mode. Here are a few of the most mentioned.

• Baroque classical music is said to have mind-boosting effects. Productivity writer David Allen of “Getting Things Done” fame has said he prefers music like Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto #3, and other Baroque tunes.
• Others say that music at 60 beats-per-minute is required to put the brain in a “bright and breezy” frame of mind. In this state your thinking and creativity are said to be easier. Concertos for Recorder – Telemann & Vivaldi is recommended.
• Since classical music may not be your thing there are other types of music that have been shown to increase your concentration levels. Ambient music or sound is designed to keep your brain engaged at a lower, subconscious level. Waterfalls, rain, seashore, whatever your taste.
• More modern electronic “Chill out” music genres such as Trip-hop, Nu jazz, Ambient House, Ambient Trance, New Age and other sub-genres of Down tempo are designed to relax the mind and allow it to roam.
• Eno’s “Music for Airports” has been noted as being useful for serious studying and deep concentration. This music was designed to relax stressed out travelers at the airport and put them at ease.

Okay, so most of these listed you may have never heard of or even care for. Just give them a try and see. It really does not matter what kind of music you listen to as long as it puts your mind in study mode.

Where To Find Music To Help You Study

SOMAFM.COM offers free streaming music and a iPhone app as well as apps for other types of phones. Suggested playlists are Drone Zone(Served best chilled, safe with most medications. Atmospheric textures with minimal beats.) and Secret Agent (The soundtrack for your stylish, mysterious, dangerous life. For Spies and PIs too!). Most music players are supported. I know it works with iTunes.

WWW.DI.FM – Digitally Imported offers free streaming electronic and dance music.

If you are a fan of Pandora (who isn’t) try out a playlist created by a Pandora employee Michael Zapruder called Ovals.

MUSOPEN.COM is a site that offers free MP3 downloads by many of the composers mentioned above.

Related posts:

1. How To Study – Develop Good Study Habits
2. How To Pull All Nighters
3. How To Relieve Exam Stress

With the importance of exams it is understandable that you are stressed. However you need to be operating at optimal academic performance and this can be hard when you are under stress. Remember stress is a result of the “fight or flight” syndrome. When confronted with something stressful your body reacts. You just need to understand this is a normal reaction and take steps to deal with it.

Yes You Can!

Believing in yourself, that you can pass the exam will help. If you were not capable you would not be in college. Don’t let the little nags of doubt overcome you. They are natural anytime you are facing a challenge. Rather than focusing on how bad it will be for you if you perform poorly, instead focus on how good it will be when you do well. A lot can be said for positive thinking and there is no sense in adding undo stress by questioning your ability.

It is normal to feel nervous before and during an exam. Don’t let it get to a near state of panic though. This is counterproductive to good performance. Just close your eyes and take long slow breaths. Doing so will calm your nerves and help you get back your focus.

Don’t Cram For Exams

Research has shown that cramming at the last minute for exams is not productive. That does not mean that you should not study, but all nighters (See post How To Pull All Nighters) are not a good idea. Long hours of cramming are not likely to yield any results except the additional stress you add to your body and mind by lack of sleep and poor nutrition.

Instead of cramming, review your notes, read, or do what you would normally do to study for a test. You have likely have already retained all of the knowledge you will need. Instead plan on getting a good nights sleep. A rested body and an alert mind will be put you in a state of optimal academic performance.

As soon as you feel you are losing your concentration level, take a power nap or go for a walk. Get out and get your head clear. Go grab a quick snack (healthy). When you come back you will feel refreshed and ready to continue.

Maintain a Normal Life

One of the best ways you can relieve the stress of exams is to maintain a normal social life. After studying you should reward yourself. Go out with friends, get a good meal or however you like to get some downtime and enjoy yourself. It will do wonders to relieve your stress, but be sure you get back in time to get a good nights sleep.

Eat Well , Exercise and Sleep

Food is energy for the brain so be sure and eat well. Energy drinks are NOT food. In fact they can do more harm than good. Sure they will keep you awake, but that is not what you want to be doing. The primary source of “energy” is caffeine that will wear off and then you will have a crash. It is best to minimize your caffeine intake to normal or even less so you will be able to get a good nights sleep. Instead try brain foods such as bananas, other fruits and foods high in carbs.

Exercise is also a great way to relieve stress. Shooting some basketball with friends or working out at the gym will help raise your energy level and reduce stress. Get away from the books for a while. Even a walk around campus will raise your energy level.

Research has also shown that retention of what you learn requires sleep. If you cram all night and get little or no sleep you are not likely to retain much because you brain has not had the sleep you need to file away the knowledge. Having your body rested and your mind alert for an exam will put you in the best position to do well.

It Will Be Over Soon!

Nothing bad lasts forever and neither do exams. Take heart that they will be over soon and just the thought of that should give you some relief. Just try and maintain that positive “YES I CAN” attitude. Stress is all in your mind and the more you fuel it the worse it will become.

Yes, exam time is stressful, but you will survive. Nothing is ever as good or as bad as you think it will be. The longer you are in college and the more exams you take the more you will learn about how to deal with them. Do you have any tips for relieving exam stress?

Related posts:

1. How To Study – Develop Good Study Habits
2. How To Pull All Nighters

All college students want to become a straight-a student. It is hard to balance college life between classes, studying and trying to have a social life. Many college students struggle to find a balance that allows them to do well in their classes and still have a social life. Cal Newport wrote a book called “How to Become a Straight-A Student” that has helped many college students reach this balance.

“A common complaint I hear from students is they never seem to have enough time to finish their work. They vent about how many hours they spend—late nights reviewing in the library, weekends sacrificed to paper writing—but no matter how hard they try, there always seems to be something else due. They believe unless they forgo sleep or any semblance of a social life, there are simply not enough hours in the day to stay on top of their schoolwork.”

Does this sound like your life?

The book explains how “pseudo-working” is the common approach used to study. For instance trying to study and watch TV at the same time. You lack the focus and concentration needed so you do not accomplish much. Many students put themselves in situations that cripple their brains ability to think clearly. The result is fatigue, headaches and lackluster work.

Chapters include

• Study Basics
• Quizzes and Exams
• Essays and Papers

Within these chapters you learn how to gain efficiency by compressing work into focused burst. The formula is work accomplished = time spent X intensity of focus. Using this formula you can spend less time studying with better results. This leaves you more free time to enjoy the things you really want to do.

If you are looking for an academic and college life overhaul you really should read this book. It does not cost much and many reviewers on Amazon.com claim it has turned their life around. You should also check out Cal Newport’s web site Study Hacks. It is an excellent resource for tested strategies for getting more out of the college experience and life in general.

Looking to jump start your G.P.A? Most college students believe that straight As can only be achieved through cramming and painful all-nighters. But Cal Newport knows that real straight-A students don’t study harder — they study smarter. A breakthrough approach to acing assignments, from quizzes and exams to essays and papers, How to Become a Straight-A Student reveals the proven study secrets used by real straight-A students across the country. You will learn how to:

Streamline your study habits to learn more in less time.

• Take smarter notes (Hint: Less is more)
• Provide A+ answers on quizzes and exams
• Know which reading assignments are critical — and which are not.
• Choose an A-worthy paper topic.
• Write stellar prose without the agony.

A strategic blueprint for success that promises more free time, more fun, and top-tier results, How to Become a Straight-A Student is the only study guide with the insider knowledge and real-world methods to help you master the college system and rise to the top of the class.

Related posts:

1. How To Study – Develop Good Study Habits
2. How To Relieve Exam Stress

You have a report due at 8 AM and you have just started. Your exam is in 10 hours and you need to study more. These are situations nobody wants to be in, but try as we may they do come up.

Your battle will be with your mind. It knows it is time to sleep and will try everything to get you to do so.

So what are the best ways to keep yourself awake and alert so when you have to pull an all nighters you can still get work done and retain the knowledge?

How To Pull All Nighters

Eat a meal – If you are like most people you are on a 3 meal a day diet. By extending your day you will require another meal. Do not to eat fatty foods that will make you sleepy like a burger and fries. Foods that are high in carbohydrates such as cereal or pasta will give you the energy you need to keep you going.

Drink fluids – The natural inclination is to load up on caffeine and/or energy drinks. This is okay, but you must do it in moderation. Too much caffeine will get your heart racing and even break your concentration level. Some green tea would be a good alternative.
Take a shower – a nice cold shower will help to refresh you when you start feeling tired. Even if you just wash your face off it will help.
Take breaks – you will want to take breaks to avoid fatigue. DO NOT TAKE NAPS. Instead go for a brisk walk or do some other sort of activity that will keep your mind and body active. Walking will get the blood flowing and help recharge you.
Listen to music – the louder the better to keep you alert. Of course be respectful of others and do not keep them awake as well. Use your headphones.

Any of these ideas should help keep you awake and alert. If you expect to get done then there are some things you should not do.

• Do not lie down even for a second. Your body will react as if it is time to go to sleep even though you may not intend to. The next thing you know the sun is up and your work is not done.
• Keep your work area and if possible the room bright. Do not sit in the dark with a single desk light. Your mind is already triggered to want to go to sleep. Keep it alert by keeping the lights on.
• Keep it cool! Crank down the heat and keep the room cool. A warm room will get you cozy and sleepy.

Hopefully you do not have to pull all nighters often. They are very unhealthy and lower your immune system making you more likely to get sick. Do everything you can to avoid them. Studies have shown sleep is very important to the learning process. One study showed that you will retain more knowledge of what you have studied the next day after a good nights sleep. Sleep is when the mind processes what it did during the day. All of the studying gets filed away in your sleep so it is there when you need it.

What are some of your tips for pulling all nighters? Share them in a comment.

Related posts:

1. How To Relieve Exam Stress