We’ve all been there: Hours (or, let’s be serious, minutes) of sitting through a study session and it’s easy to lose focus. Don’t let distractions control you.
Get prepared for the study session. Set aside how long you want to study for and where. Make sure the location you pick allows food and drink because at some point you’re gonna wanna munch. One of the biggest distractions can be your growling stomach, so make sure to bring along healthy snacks.
The snacks should boost your energy. I’ve found through trial and error that I get the most from nuts, yogurt, bananas, strawberries. Quick, tasty and on-the-go foods like Chosen Foods Chia Bites are a great choice. Also stay hydrated with a water bottle you can fill as you go.
Set up your study station. Make sure that you set out the few things that will help you focus. Key things are blue or black pens, number two pencils, highlighters and other materials you would use to annotate your study material. Then make sure that water bottle is kept away from your work just in case it gets bumped, that way it won’t spill onto any papers but is still within reach.
I have found that when setting up my study materials, it benefits me most to set the things I will be writing on and writing with on the side of my dominate hand. That way it leaves my non-dominate hand free to type or scroll or flip through any pages that I may have to be multitasking with.
Remember to take that study break. You don’t want to study for hours with no break in between. That can lead to boredom and you’ll find yourself no longer concentrating on the materials. While taking your break and eating your healthy snack, that you take a moment to breath and remember that with every great study session comes even better snack opportunities.
When it comes to studying it can be hard and stressful, and if you’re not taking time to recuperate and boost your energy long study sessions can be difficult. Pairing that hard work with a healthy reward is a good way form a healthy habit.
> Check out NextStepU’s Study Tips & Tricks Pinterest board for more ideas.
Written by Jenna F., a junior at Churchville-Chili Senior High School in Rochester, N.Y. She is 16 (going on 17), and is Vice President of the Robotics team at her high school. As soon as she graduates from school, she hope to go off to college and double major in Literature and Marketing.
