University Life - Blog Posts

An Absolute Guide To Manage Your Time And Energy For School

If you struggle with time management and are still struggling, then maybe this short guide can help you become better, not perfect but better.

These are not time management techniques, no. None of the techniques personally worked for me because let's be honest. It's not that practical. I'm someone who does not get Pomodoro, nor can i get anything done if i write it down.

It's a mockery really but here are some adjustments that i made that helped me manage my time and energy.

Between classes/breaks/lunch

Have some incomplete work? Do it between classes. The short breaks. The teacher is 5 mins late? Complete at least some of the work, you might not believe it but you get a lot of things done when you add the spare time.

Travel

If you have a lot of travel time, do some of your studying then. If you get headaches, just do active recall or skim through notes, try to revise. You can even practice for tests, take your question paper and try answering the questions in your head.

Home=Studies

I personally only prefer studies at home. All written assignments, essays, extra curriculars, everything is only during school hours (If you don't have the "time". Do it during breaks). Because home is the one place you have minimal distractions beside your gadgets so use that opportunity in any way you can.

Mental lists and Accountability Partners

Normal to do list never work for me so i always keep a mental list of tasks i have to do every single day. It helps. An additional tip is to keep an accountability partner, share your tasks with each other and keep each other on track. Make it more challenging by making each other do something like a dare or something stupid if you don't complete your lists.

No time allotments

I personally feel that keeping a time allotted for every subject/topic is unnecessary like it doesn't work for me. I'll change the subjects when i'm bored. I'll take a break when i feel tired. Having time allotted is like a barrier. (At least for me) It will take time for you to understand difficult topics. Easy concepts can be fitted in the allotted time but difficult ones need more time and energy.

Only important things in the morning

Mornings are the best things that can possibly happen. I'm generally not a morning person, seriously but if you have to study complex topics or if you have some kind of important work then do it in the morning. Nobody disturbs you. Everyone is asleep. You can concentrate on your work and your mind is fresh, you can grasp more things and get your work done by the time everyone gets up.

Get in the flow

Learning things is not difficult. Making aesthetic lists and vision boards is not difficult. Anyone can do it, hell, everyone does it. Sticking to the process consistently is difficult.

You won't see results right away. It will take you time. It will take you energy so take a breath. Stick to the stuff longer than an hour and you'll actually see how difficult topics turn into easy ones. It normally takes 20 mins for you to actually get into "work" mode and it would take another 20 mins to actually get what you're trying to do.

Mindset Shift

What i realise when i look around me is that literally no one actually wants to do the hard work. Many of my friends literally give up after studying a hard topic, they don't put in the effort and the only thing i hear is "It's too hard and i don't have the time and energy right now" and that is the exact mindset that leads them to unwanted stress and cramming before a small test or an exam.

The thing is time is going to pass anyway so might as well get things done. And get it done in the best possible way. Period.

Get Assignment Done In Advance

My school gave me around 5 assignments every week or so, the only way i got them done was through doing all of the work during school hours. Complete them during breaks or free periods, after school or just between classes. And i know, sometimes you'll feel like "This is weird" because everyone else is relaxing and talking. You know what i did? I just sat with my group of friends and i just did my work (written work) while also talking to them. It's not as difficult as you think it is. It's more fun honestly. Honestly, after a while, they too joined me.

One Step Ahead

Look, it's really easy. Set what i call a "One In Advance". Your assignment is due in two weeks? Complete it by next week. Project due in one month. Complete it a week in advance. This is necessary because, when you start early, you finish it earlier than others so you can actually focus on some studying rather than wasting your time managing assignments and tests. You'll actually notice the difference in your stress levels when everything doesn't pile up. The trick is to complete everything before one week.

When You Feel Tired? Rest. Period.

This is non-negotiable. You don't force yourself to work when you are really tired. There is no use doing work when you feel exhausted.

The only thing i did for me to have a few extra hours per day is just allot my time. When i'm at school, it's fully work mode. Do your work and get things done. When i get back home, it's rest + study.

Hope this helps! :)

(By the way, in no way am i promoting toxic productivity. Rest when you need it and take time off. It is a crucial part. Don't. Forget. That. I'm providing you some daily adjustments that made my life easier and can do that to yours too)

How To Study For Longer Hours

These are some of my tips that I used for studying for longer hours during my junior and senior year in high school. I generally studied 4 heavy content subjects and 2 languages. And, yes, i did get good grades.

Studying is a task that requires you to be consistent and driven. That is why, I want to make one thing very clear. This is not a promotion of toxic studying when you feel too tired.

I will start with a simple process that i formed.

Work => Compensation => Repeat.

Quality Matters

By quality I mean. One hour spending time recalling facts and answering questions and filling gaps is better than 5 hours of reviewing notes. Just focus on improving your focus and methods. I call it the "FM Method"

You choose one specific method, and you consistently follow it for a specific period.

Longer Hours Should Not Exceed 5

If you have to study for long hours, don't let it exceed 5 hours. The reason is simple. It's useless, and your body will drain up and use all your energy. I used to study for 9 hours some days in my junior year. Now i study only for 3-4 hours every day. The results? Practically the same. My grades didn't drop but i feel more motivated to study and complete everything.

So, don't extend the hours you study. Make your focus and methods better.

20 Second Breaks

When you complete a topic, small or big. Just close your eyes for 20-30 seconds and lean back on your chair and calm your breathing. Process the information. Let everything sink in. Take out the tension. DO NOT TAKE YOUR PHONE. And then after those 20-30 seconds, just glance through the topic before moving to the next one. So, take 20 second breaks.

Active Studying > Passive Studying

This is the same thing i spoke before. Use active methods of studying. Active recall and filling gaps, visual representation, learning through stories and mnemonics.

Passive studying is when you learn through notes, repeating things over and over again, trying to memorize instead of learning and understanding the concepts.

One hour of active studying is better than 5 hours of passive studying.

Rewards

When you complete an hour or two, give yourself a small reward. But the reward should be as productive as your time spent. If you spent the last two hours studying and then you watch 3 hours of your favourite tv show then that is not a good reward.

A reward should actually compensate, you need you calm your brain, not indulge yourself in instant dopamine hits.

Actual Rest

A reward is different from rest.

Rest is essential for your body. Sleep is the body's soother. You used your brain for hours and if you don't let it rest than definitely it doesn't matter how well you're actually studying. You. Will. Feel. Tired.

Burnout Effect

In one way, burnout is good. Honestly, some people's highest point is 30 mins or an hour. They find burnout creeping in after some time had passed. And that is why, if you want to reach at least two hours of studying. You need to push that limit. Every single time. Try moving 30 mins every week. Your max limit is 1 hour. Then this week, study for 1 hr 30 mins. The next week, study for 2hrs. then 2hr 30 mins. Do it for a few weeks.

If you don't push yourself to the max limit. Then you'll never actually reach your goal.

Consistency

This is an indefinite rule. You want to improve your grades. Do it every day.

Your work ethic and your willingness to stick to habits will determine your success.

Make a "Your" Environment.

This is a very underrated thing; you must have a "you" environment. It doesn't matter what it is. Basically a "you" environment is whenever you're there, you're motivated to do work. It doesn't have to be a place really. Another example would be, whenever i'm on my phone, i'm likely to waste my time doing unnecessary things but whenever i'm on my laptop, i'm automatically in "work" mode. So, for you it might be your study desk or even school sometimes.

(I remember, during the last 2 months in senior year, i used to go to the very corner of my classroom, sit on the ground, face the wall, put my headphones on, placed my bag in front of me as a table and just solve accountancy sums because that place was my "work" environment. Honestly, it looked so weird but whenever i was there, my focus was just amazing)

Additional Posts That Might Be Helpful:

Study Trick That No One Told Me How To Use Previous Year Papers Tips To Understand Complex Topics Small Things To Get Additional Points In Exams Questioning Method

Hope This Helps!! :)

Tips To Study Concept-Oriented Subjects

I've always struggled with this. Everything is concept oriented but there are only a few that come to mind when i think about this topic. Maths. Physics. Chemistry. Economics. Accountancy. These honestly eat our heads so here are a few tips of how i study them.

Practice everyday

These subjects require practice. Most of these require a deep understanding of topics, so that's why practice it daily. Every single day.

Basic Concepts Are Your Weapons

The basic foundation must be strong because that's how you build your pillars. Understand the ground so you can build your pillars on it. You should have the foundations like the back of your hands.

Maintain a notebook for formulae and theory

Keep a separate book for all basic concepts, another book for formulae and another book for your notes. When you have to revise, you have all the materials and they're organised.

Maintain a separate notebook for concepts

The main concepts are everything in these subjects. If you get your foundations strong then viola, you're all done. Maintain one book that is fully concept based. Everything that is related to the foundations are supposed to be in that book.

Past question papers

Past Question Papers = Grade Booster. The thing about past papers is that they're literally indicators of how you exam would be. They tell you crucial elements of your whole syllabus. Important chapters, topics and repeated questions. You practice papers and you can automatically see how beneficial they really are. If you want to know how to use practice papers. Click here.

Do it. Just do it

For a procrastinator like myself, let me tell you. It is hard. Even now, i'm writing this instead of studying like a normal human being who would when there are high school finals going on so let me just say this. Get up and do it for sometime. Just some time and you'll automatically get invested in it. It may take some time but it will happen eventually. I personally just do it due to fear. I don't really wanna fail my exams so align your goals with some kind of emotion so it gets you going.

Watch videos

This is like the interest booster. You may not realise but when your teacher teaches you the subjects, it gets awfully boring and confusing. When you learn it through videos and visuals on YouTube, you know what it is, you know additional details and it sticks to you. So, watch and try not to get distracted. Period.

Break It Down

Not your chapter. I mean the topic itself. Line by line if you have to. I did this exact thing for accounts whenever i had to do ratios. It was a pain. An unwanted pain. I couldn't understand anything. But i sat down one day and read every single line of the textbook for that topic. I made what i call "Line Visuals". This is simple.

You read a paragraph => You don't understand anything.

Read every line => Draw it

Understand the key terms used there

And then draw a single visual representation for that entire topic.

I'll guarantee you, you will understand it. Review it once a day for a week and then once a week.

____________________________

Hope this helps!!! :))

How To Self Study

This is coming from a girl who spent her fresher and sophomore year studying at home and yes, I got good grades. So, here are some tips that I followed for studying by myself without depending on any teachers.

So, let's get into it!

Gather and organise material

This is important, why? What are you going to study if you have absolutely no idea what your syllabus and study material is? By materials I mean:

Textbooks (If you have any)

Practice papers

Previous year papers

Extra reading materials/ Reference books

If you don't have any textbooks. Go through the topics that you have and gather resources from different sources.

Tip: Have at least 1 extra reading material for every subject/paper. It helps you understand some topics that are explained in a complex manner in textbooks which is almost all the time.

Don't depend on your teacher

Teachers are good. Seriously. But their attention will always be shifty. They have a lot of students to teach, from many other classes so if you depend only on your teachers for clarifying your doubts or being at the back of you to study then newsflash, its going to be hard. Rather, be your own teacher. Don't go "I'll ask this to her/him tomorrow after class" because that will be your answer every time you have even a small question which can easily be solved by a simple search. You're saving your time and theirs.

Tip: If you're someone like me who gets distracted when you take up your phone even for a second then write down all your questions in a paper and search them later after your study session.

Make notes

I usually say this because notes help you understand topics. There are many methods of taking notes. I usually don't follow any structure for note taking, I just read and write keywords under the topic name, linking a few things here and there.

Tip: Notes need not be aesthetic. Seriously. You can be as messy as you can.

Watch videos related to concepts

This helps and I know most already do this.

Tip: When you finish watching a topic, close the video and write down what you understood and then play the video again, fill in the gaps that you missed and watch it again.

Study in chunks

I always believe that whatever you do, you should do in chunks. Instead of doing one chapter, divide it. Into small bits. I'll tell you, you'll see the difference. I don't usually recommend Pomodoro since it doesn't work for me. I don't keep a time limit or a set number of breaks. I finish a chunk and if I am tired, I take a break otherwise i continue.

Tip: Self quiz yourself after each chunk and then take a break. Then after you finish the chunks for the whole chapter with the self quizzing then self quiz yourself randomly for every chunk. Here's an additional tip. Take 20 second breaks.

Period of deep work

This is not a new concept, i didn't realize i did this at first. Basically, when you start your work. You do nothing but work. Like nothing else. No phones. No snacking. No unwanted thoughts. Just nothing but what you have to do. That is to study.

Tip: It is difficult to implement this right away especially if you have a habit of it getting distracted easily so i just suggest => Start smaller. One topic with full concentration. It would usually take you 20 - 30 mins to get immersed in the work. 40 mins if it's something you don't like but once you get the momentum? An unbelievable achievement really. And then, change your environment.

Quality > Quantity && Consistency> Cramming

One hour of productive studying is better than nine hours of useless studying. I feel like it's better to study 20 mins everyday rather than the whole night before an exam. It just causes stress.

Tip: Start early. Your teacher is on chapter 5? And you still don't get chapter 1, it's fine. Start learning. Seriously, it's okay to be behind. You just have to stick. Do it everyday and you'll see results that is better than those who are just keeping up with the teacher.

Deadlines Are Mandatory

Have deadlines. There are a number of ways to do this. I'm a person who is really lazy and a weird soul who would never complete their to-do list for the day if they write it down. It would always be left unfinished. So i just keep a mental time limit and the thing i have to get done.

Tip: Overestimate your deadline. Like, let's say i have to complete around 15 lessons that week. I keep my deadline to around 25-30 and i eventually complete 15. It's about adapting to what works for you. Just change according to what works for you.

Practice questions / Previous Year Papers

I can never emphasize this enough. The best way to prepare for any exam is just do practice questions or previous year questions. You will learn a lot of things. The topics that are important or repeated. The topics that are never asked.

Tip: Grade yourself on each paper. Circle the questions in your textbook while you are studying and practicing. Then when you have to actually study then you can actually revise the topics a bit more thoroughly. If you want to know more, click here.

It's okay to be behind in class

During my first term in senior year, the whole class was around 5 chapters ahead for every test and exam while me? If they were on chapter 12, i was in chapter 4 or 5 but i understood the concepts and took my sweet time with each chapter. Because the more time you take for a chapter, the better it stays in your memory.

Tip: Here is where active recall comes handy. When you revise one chapter, take a 2 day break and study another subject and then go back to the chapter and answer the practice questions. If you're able to do them, great! If not, revise more and then look at it after 3-4 days. Repeat until you have no mistakes in your answers. This helps in long term retaining.

Make It Interesting

How do you study boring subjects? You adapt. Mind maps don't work for me. Neither does flash cards. So, i found something that did. Storytelling. Take your most boring subject, turn it into a story. Make it bearable.

Tip: Tie it somethings that you like. For example, business studies was the most boring one for me so obviously, every topic was a story for me. HR Theories and Processes? ==> An office romance story. Management Principles? ==> A fantasy story where a group goes on a quest. Make It interesting. Make it gripping. And let me tell you, this actually works because our minds grasp stories better than just normal theory jargon.

Difficult Topics Are Only Difficult Because You Think They Are

This was something that i learnt the harder way. Everything looked difficult at the beginning. Everything. But the most difficult paper was maths. Because i had no teacher. Literally. I was learning from YouTube, searching different sites for tips and tricks. I thought it was too difficult and then i was like "i have to do it anyway no matter how much i brood" so i started from scratch like 3 months before my exams.

Tip: A mind set change is everything. If you think it is easy. The topic will be more bearable. If you think it's tough, it's going to be more tough. If you want some more tips for complex topics, click here.

Hope this helps !!! :)

Study Tip 6

Keep a small notepad with you so you can write down important things. If you don't write down things, you will definitely forget. It's gonna be helpful for you to stay organized.

You're not obliged to live your life fulfilling other people's dreams.

Just curious 0-0

Tips for before, during and after exams

Before (Night before and in the morning)

Pack your bag. Materials, supplies, everything etc.

Always take extra pens. If it's only an MCQ type, just take one extra pen but if it's a written theory exam. Take 2. (I always keep 4 pens with me and two in my bag just in case)

Sleep before 10:30 or max 12

I always recommend not to wake up too early during exams. Get a good 8-9 hours sleep.

Eat breakfast.

Don't drink/eat anything that will cause you have stomach upset or something. Cause you're already anxious, you need to be mindful of what you eat. I especially avoid coffee and tea.

Try to reach school an hour before the exam.

Revise things that you already know very well. DO NOT LEARN ANYTHING NEW.

Before (I'm talking about like 1 hour)

Take your water bottle. If your examiner doesn't allow it take 3 short sips before entering. If you are taking it, don't keep it on the table because there's a chance of spilling it.

Personally, I never ever revise before 30 mins of the exam. I just calm myself down repeating affirmations and duas.

Go to the bathroom and as much as possible try to avoid it during the exam.

Before entering, again make sure you have the supplies needed. Pencils, rulers, pens, erasers etc.

After taking your seat, just close your eyes and calm your breathing until you get the question papers.

Pray. I always pray. We need to be in our halls before 20-30 mins itself, so I just sit in my place for 30 mins and just pray and recite some duas. During this time, I also retain some important keywords and other things in my head

5 mins before, I take all my materials out and place it beside me with my watch.

During exam:

At the start, when I receive my question paper. I just look through the questions, I don't start writing immediately. I give a solid 5-7 mins for recalling the answers in short.

Then, start writing! Just write. Whatever you know. Puke it all out!

Always follow the question sequence.

If you don't know the question. Go to the next one and start from there. Otherwise you'll waste time. Come back to the question after you complete the paper.

Try your best to complete the paper before 20 mins till the exam ends. For 2 main things, presentation and cross checking.

I always underline my headings, subheadings, keywords etc etc and underline between each question so it looks neat. It looks good and it kinda covers for bad handwriting.

Cross check your answer sheet with the question paper. Are all the questions there? Have I accidentally written the wrong question number for the answer? Spelling mistakes? Grammar mistakes? Wrong answer? Just cross check and count the questions and see if you've written everything.

When you don't remember something or don't know something. Do not panic. Don't. Just take a breath and go to the next. After completing everything, write anything related to the word. Just anything. Try to remember if it is familiar and if it is, write the thing related to that topic. You will get a point for attending the question.

NEVER LEAVE A QUESTION. Just write something, it must be relevant but you'll get a point.

Set a time limit for each sections. Example: I have 4 sections in my exams, I always complete the first three in 1 hour 15-30 mins so I can have time for the last one which carries the highest points.

Stick to the time limit. Keep checking your watch in between and see if you're going according to plan. (It helps if you know how much time you take for each question.)

If you are writing an answer and you're kinda remembering another answer, write keywords in pencil on the margin so you won't forget it but don't forget to erase it before submitting the paper.

When you've completed. Just take a breath.

After:

Don't discuss answers with your friends. It's a waste of time, energy and causes panic.

Hydrate yourself. Drink water.

Get a small reward. Chocolate or any snack.

Be glad that you finished the exam.

If the exam didn't go well, just take some rest. Try not to think about it. Rant to someone because you'll feel better. No body is going to be asking you from years down the line about why you scored less in your highschool exams.

Watch your favourite tv show or something funny.

Take a walk.

Enjoy that it's over.

Hope it helps :)

The fact that you are not where you want to be should be enough motivation.

When things go wrong. Don't go with them.

Study Tip 5

When you're studying, most of you will probably focus more on the input. You'll take in loads of information. And i mean loads and loads of information. But do you still wonder, why am I not getting the grades for the amount of input I put in? Like, you study alot only to get mediocre grades?

Well, let me break it down...

Input is important but... output is more important.

Input is absorbing information. Committing it to memory. Remembering facts. It's a mental activity.

Output is how you communicate or display information.

Let's be honest, the teacher correcting your paper doesn't care if you studied the whole year or the whole night. They just care about finishing their task and whether you've answered the questions correctly. So, the way you communicate it is important.

When you study, give more focus on the output. If you're input is "x" amount of effort then your concentration and effort on output should be "2x".

How do you do that?

Well, after studying, spend a good amount of time recalling the information by giving the processed information back. Whether you do it by saying it aloud or writing it down or both. I prefer to say it aloud, write it down and then say it again and again. The main thing is...

What you learnt must be communicated.

It doesn't have to be through teaching. There are multiple ways. Notes. Drawing. Visuals. Mind maps. Audio recordings. Anything that works for you!

Written notes is probably the best because at the end of the day you are going to write the exam, even if you know the whole damn textbook, what you write in your exam is the only thing that counts.

So, here's the secret (which isn't a secret anymore) i use:- When you finish a topic:

Write the key words.

Say it out loud multiple times until you remember them.

Close the notes and recall. Aloud.

Repeat step 2 & 3 about 4-5 times.

Bonus: you can write the points without looking this time.

Basically... Write it. Say it. Recall it. Repeat it.

The first 2 steps are the means of inputs. You're getting information in.

The next three are outputs. You're getting the information out. See the emphasis on how you recall it aloud? It needs your 100% attention for you to remember the points. And when you repeat it, it's literally for you to process it. To let it sink in. You're less likely to forget it sooner too.

Remember. X input needs 2x output.

Whatever the output is. It needs to be multiplied.

Hope this helps! :D

Hey any last minute revision tips for tests/exams? I always struggle with it

Hey there Anon!

First of all, during revision, I try my level best to recall everything without actually going through the topic but it's kinda difficult so glance through the topic before you close the book and recall every single point.

Revise the chapters that you know well and are confident in first because it's better to thoroughly know some specific topics than being doubtful in every single topic.

Do not, under any circumstances, start to learn a new topic during revision (unless the topic is like really really important). It will only cause you panic.

If you find yourself distracted, move around alittle.

More distractions? Act like you're a tutor or teacher.

Don't study the whole topic line by line, recall important key words and examples.

Don't set a time limit for each topic. Set time limits for the whole syllabus. (Like, if you have 12 lessons. Think you'll complete 6 of them by the afternoon, allow 2 hours grace time and viola, you now know half the syllabus completely)

Take breaks. Both the 20 mins and 20 second breaks (-> 20 sec post)

Eat some snacks in between. I personally don't prefer meals because I get really lazy and sleepy after that.

Do not call your friends to ask how much they've revised because you'll definitely panick.

Go through your material. If you don't remember a topic which you actually have studied, write short notes just beside it.

Use past question papers and practice problems.

Quiz yourself. Say your answers out loud.

If you have no idea where to start, just go from the shortest chapters because then you'll feel like you have completed some syllabus.

Lastly, whatever you do, sleep early. Atleast before 11 pm because you need to be fresh for the exam.

Basically. Recall. Summarise. Quiz. Repeat.

Hope this helped! <3

You don't have to be great at something to start, but you have to start to be great at something.

I will succeed. Not immediately. But definitely.

Success is 1% plan. 99% action. Don't. Forget. That.

Study Tip - 4

When you're studying, it is advisable to take a break. I don't mean breaks which last around 5-15 mins. I mean breaks that last for 20 seconds.

Why 20 seconds?

Recently, i have discovered that when you're studying for long hours or even short, our brains are exhausted by the time we complete even a single chapter. It has too much of information to actually process it so i always use this method.

When you complete a topic, small or big. Just close your eyes for 20-30 seconds and lean back on your chair and calm your breathing. Process the information. Let everything sink in. Take out the tension. DO NOT TAKE YOUR PHONE. And then after those 20-30 seconds, just glance through the topic before moving to the next one.

How does this help?

Boosts attention.

Allows you to calm down from overwhelming emotions

Helps you process better.

You're likely to remember it more.

Helps you to study for longer hours.

Hope it helps! :)

Dreams don't work until you do.