As a university student and a working woman, I sometimes find it difficult to focus on my academics. Occasionally, the falling grades and rapidly passing time overwhelms me and I find myself in the middle of a studying block. If you also get demotivated like me, here are some studying tips for university students that I use to encourage myself to study

1. To-Do Lists

To achieve more goals in a limited time, try making a to-do list. I know this sounds like a cliché but trust me, this is a great tip for students in university. Setting a goal stimulates your brain to achieve the goals quicker and the satisfaction of ticking a task feels like a reward which makes you want to accomplish more goals. 

It also organizes all your chores of the day so you don’t forget any of the tasks. I make my to-do lists on my phone but you can also make one on a page. Making a time-based to-do list by adding timers to your list is an efficient time management tip for students to make sure they get all their work done in time.

2. Breaks 

Taking breaks in between long work sessions gives your brain a much-needed rest. The best time management tip for students is to take short 5-minute breaks after every 30 minutes of studying. Studying for long hours and then taking a long break will exhaust you more easily.

I take food and shower breaks in between to help me relax for the next study session. Make sure not to overwork yourself and work to your best potential to get better outcomes.

3. Healthy Habits

Living a healthy life is vital for you to be happy and feel good in your present and future life. Once you choose to live a healthy life, it lasts all your life.

• Healthy food

Healthy food is important to keep you functioning all day long. Eat foods packed with nutrients to nourish your brain so it performs better. Eating cashews, almonds, avocado, bananas, salmon, eggs, broccoli, and spinach can make a massive difference in your academic performance. Drinking enough water also helps your brain to respond reasonably. Drinking tea coffee or chai also enables me to work better for a longer period. Eating healthy is an important tip for students in university as they often tend to ignore this tip.

• Regular sleep

I understood the importance of regular 8 hours of sleep in my first semester. Without proper sleep, you are going to feel too exhausted and demotivated to perform well and it will affect your grades. Sleeping early and waking up early can improve your mental capabilities as well as your skin and hair. Sleep on a comfortable bed so your muscles can relax before another hectic day. Short naps in-between study breaks can also make you more efficient. It’s a scientific fact that taking a nap for exactly 26 minutes after lunch can improve your memory.

• Positive affirmations

An important tip for students in University is; if you want to get through the tiring university days, practice gratitude and make sure you think positively. Celebrate small accomplishments, give yourself a break when required, don’t criticize yourself, and don’t stress about the past or the future. Work towards your dreams while hoping for the best. Take time out for yourself and do what you like, talk to your friends and family, and enjoy your time as a student.

4. Academic Assistance

If you are having difficulty understanding a topic, try getting assistance from someone, it could be a senior, a teacher, or even a friend. It is a good time management tip for students as it will take you less time than trying to understand something on your own without grasping its basic concept.

You can also consult your local library or search engines to get more detail on the topics. For a better understanding, I used to take online lectures on YouTube. Many other platforms like Coursera, edX, Skillshare, Udemy, Khan Academy and future learn also provide academic assistance on a variety of topics ranging from accounting to medical fields.

5. Surroundings

Your surroundings affect your brain’s capacity to focus. If you are unable to focus on your work it might be because you have been working at your desk for too long, try changing your location. You can go to your local library, a café, or even a friend’s house for a change of scenery.

Another reason why you probably can’t concentrate could be because your phone keeps buzzing and distracting you, if you want to achieve better results try to switch off your phone for some time. Another studying tip for University students is to study with your friends as it will make you understand the concepts better and remember them for a longer period.

Conclusion

I hope these studying tips for University students were as helpful to you as they were for me. It takes self-discipline to get through the university years, but if you utilize these study tips as a jumping-off point, it might be a little easier to navigate your way through the coming years.