4 Things That Maximize Studying in the Library
Studying here is fraught with obstacles.
Every student knows the struggles of exam weeks. Somehow, all of your professors decide to schedule their exams on the same exact week, and you’re left wanting to cry and immediately drop out of school because each of these tests are back-to-back and are the “hardest” of the semester. It’s like these professors had a meeting and plotted your demise via endless studyguides, 100-page chapters, and impossible essay prompts. I get anxiety just typing this out (as I study for 4 tests). And so, because of this terrible coincidence and horrendous week to follow, you’re left with a couple options: move into the library, get together with some friends and complain about your fate for 75% of the study session, or suck it up and wing it.
Most likely, if you’re a true college student, one of these study sessions will be one by yourself in the library, the go-to place for all-nighters and mental breakdowns. It’s thought to be the best place to be the most productive, but that’s only if you have excellent studying skills. Most will admit to looking at their phone for a good majority of the time, browsing the web, and finding every excuse to not focus on their study material. Based on my own personal experience, I have come up with some tips to make the most of your time in the library so that you can avoid being stuck in this study dungeon for more hours than necessary.
Turn Off Your Phone
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s probably the best thing you can do for yourself when you’re studying. Whether you’d like to admit it or not, you probably glance at your phone for texts and social media notifications far more when trying to study than when your sitting in your house watching TV. It’s okay to own up to it, because we all do it. It’s the fastest, easiest way to turn our attention away from studying because, well, studying sucks. Instagram and Twitter become FAR MORE interesting than filling out a study guide, and stalking your bestfriend’s boyfriend’s little sister’s gymnastics album on Facebook will seem so much more important than practicing math equations. Simply turning off your phone eliminates SO many distractions, including: texting, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Google, Pinterest, Snapchat, and any other gaming application you can find.
Close All Tabs Unrelated to Your Studies
Just like your phone, having tabs open on your browser that have nothing to do with the subject your studying for are only going to seem more appealing to click on. Everyone knows how easy it is to get lost in a website, even if it was only because you wanted to read one article. After finishing that, every procrastinator would agree that those links attached below what you just read all of a sudden seem SUPER intriguing. Suddenly, you’ll find yourself reading DIY’s on how to make your own toothpaste (guilty).
Facebook is probably the worst tab to have open, but Youtube is definitely up there as well. By just exiting out of these distracting web pages, you’ll be forced to focus on exactly what you need to, and you’ll have less gaps in between content exposure. Therefore, you’ll be spending less time sitting on your butt and will have better retention of the material.
Give Yourself a Break
If you’ve made the most of that hour or so of reading and reviewing, a break from staring into a textbook can help give your mind a break. Over-doing anything is never beneficial, and everyone knows that a quick 15 minute break can help relieve some stress and give your mind a breather. In my experience, taking a few minutes can actually help wake my brain back up if I started to drift off, because let’s be honest, no one’s attention span can last for that long.
Bring (healthy) Snacks
My FAVORITE part. Hate to burst the bubble of every college student, but coffee is not going to get you through the cram jam alone. Not having food on you will only hinder your studying process. You could either experience light headedness, an annoying (and loud) stomach growl, or moments of exhaustion.
In case you didn’t know, you’re brain needs substance to function to it’s maximum capabilities. Carbohydrates fuel your brain, protein and fat keep you feeling full, and this combination will help you get through a night in the library without any hindrance. And no, ordering a pizza or devouring a bag of chips is not the perfect meal for your studying woes. Try to keep your choices as healthy as possible.
There really is no magic solution to make a day/night in the library more enjoyable, nor is there one way to make everyone’s spend their time as efficiently as possible. Unfortunately, no matter how much we try to avoid it, college is going to take over our lives at some point in the semester, and we have to suck it up and dedicate a chunk of our time to worshiping the credit hours. By making an effort to rid our hours in the library from distractions, we can help ourselves get as much studying done as possible in minimal time.
