Sooner or later, a student faces the hard reality that there is no way around studying if good grades are the desired goal. In the end, no matter what subject is, staying organized and adequately prepared can boost performance and educational outcomes. Bryn Carden, a Neeley School of Business student at Texas Christian University, balances a busy life between her Delta Gamma sorority, entrepreneurship, and studies. Though some study tactics work better for some than others, she offers this variety of top tips with all brain types considered to help any university student to study more efficiently and effectively:
#1. Fuel the brain with the right foods
Instead of reverting to “fourth meal” at Taco Bell during a late-night study session, or throwing a bowl of instant ramen noodles in the microwave, fuel the brain with the best food to get mental gears going strong. Nutritious foods such as blueberries, nuts, yogurt, and seeds are excellent snacks that studies and research shows are beneficial for boosting memory and concentration.
#2. Keep a bottle of water-packed and handy
Staying hydrated is just as vital as eating the right types of food to reach maximum brain capacity. Students also benefit from drinking water during testing.
#3. Study with old exams
Old exams can aid with feeling better prepared and more confident going into an exam day. Using old exams to study is one of the most effective ways to get ready for particular testing formats or gain familiarity with how questions could be worded.
#4. Talk answers aloud to another
Explaining aloud to someone else the study materials in review is a proactive way to talk questions through on test day mentally. It also helps engage the memory and further grasp understanding around a topic.
#5. Study with a group of friends
Study sessions with friends can grant a comfortable and safe environment for any question to be asked and answered without holding back due to fear of others’ thoughts. It can be challenging to stay on task, but a good group of friends with an understood goal can motivate others to stay on track for success.
#6. Silence the cell phone
One of the biggest distractions from staying focused while studying is the buzz of a phone. Silence or even hide cell phones to avoid constantly refocusing back into learning mode.
#7. Flashcards
Though they might seem old school, they are still effective for multiple brain types. Creating flashcards aids in practice and personal testing, which leads to good test outcomes.
#8. Take breaks
Avoid frying the brain and take breaks when studying long hours. Every brain works differently, and being self-aware of how long one’s attention span lasts can assist in knowing when to take breaks. Some individuals have to take a three to five-minute break every twenty minutes to study proactively. Regardless of the suitable period, using a timer to notify when to walk away and return to studying is an excellent tool to avoid distractions between transitions. Besides, cramming for a test is a bad idea when trying to earn an ‘A.’
About Bryn Carden
Bryn Carden is a young entrepreneur and philanthropist with a passion for real estate and design. She is currently studying at Neeley School of Business, pursuing a major in Finance with a Real Estate Concentration. Besides working towards her degree, she has already begun her entrepreneurial journey as a co-founder of BF Hats and a creator of Styles for Smiles – a company selling bracelets to help fund cleft palate operations for children in developing countries.
