Study hacks

Simultaneously juggling my degree with my job, photo shoots, going to the gym, socialising and remaining sane, all whilst living 1635km away from my parents has been more difficult than what I anticipated. I’m currently in my final year of studying at Vega and even though you hope that motivating yourself to study gets easier, it doesn’t. Whether you’re a university student or about to write your Grade 12 finals, studying is near impossible.

I’ve never believed in tests and exams, in my opinion, they’re a complete waste of time – all that’s being tested is our memory and not our knowledge. Why are we expected to study fifteen odd chapters for one module, let alone keeping some brain power for the remaining four modules, and then having to remember it all as well as apply ourselves in a time-restricted setting?

No matter my argument, the education system remains unchanged (at least in my lifetime), therefore, to make yours and my life a bit easier, I’ve compiled a few study hacks that have helped me so far.

1. Learn what your ‘zone’ is. Some students are more effective at studying in the evening whereas some are better at studying in the morning. Some students prefer to have some sort of background noise whilst studying whereas some need complete silence.

2. If you have electronic textbooks then ‘Times New Roman’ font is the easiest and quickest to read.

3. Make notes! I’m a visual learner, I cannot simply read the content and turn the page, it just doesn’t stick. I read the content, write it out in a simpler form and then re-read my notes out loud to myself.

4. Use colourful pens and highlighters to make your notes, it enhances your visual memory and makes the process of note-making less boring.

5. Take a ten-minute break every 30 minutes. I struggle with this because I prefer to sit for hours at my desk and study without breaks longer than going to the bathroom or making a quick snack to eat.

6. YouTube’s ‘study music’. I can’t study in absolute silence because my mind starts to wander so I play the study music in the background, it’s my go-to for concentrating.

7. Try not to give into those unhealthy cravings that sneak up on you when the stress really kicks in. Opt for healthier snacks, I find that smoothies and small pieces of fruit are ideal.

8. As soon as I’ve been given permission to start writing the test/exam, I immediately write down all the formulae I can remember for reference later on if needed. 9. Don’t abandon your sleep. Your memory is enhanced whilst you sleep, therefore, you shouldn't pull unnecessary all-nighters. Getting a decent amount of sleep is more beneficial than cramming from dinner time until the test the next morning.

10. Make lists when you feel overwhelmed. If every other part of your life is organised then you feel more in control and capable to tackle the studying.

I hope these help, all the best with exams!