Efficient Study Sessions/Improving Focus

[HealthE]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I am taking a full course load and I am having a hard time remembering everything. Anyone have suggestions on making their study sessions more efficient.

My typical schedule is to go to class/work. Go home and study for 6ish hours most days.
For some reason, I am having a hard time with time management. I have work/school. I am trying to prioritize my science classes but now my other grades are not to hot. Then, I got one of my tests back and it wasnt as high as it could be. It is not that the material is difficult its more of a time issue.

So, I am thinking with the time I do have to study maybe I need to structure it or find quicker ways to learn. Additionally, I might need to shift the amount of time I spend on things. I know I can do well it is hard to find the right balance though.

Any ideas/suggestions?

 

[mouthwash4hobo]

How many classes are you taking? Make sure to review what you read later in the day, like perhaps an hour or two after what you had read, then review that material again the following few days. Use different methods. If after reading it doesn't stick, use different colors and pictures to help, speak out loud when reviewing, share with someone else (maybe a study friend or anyone that wants to listen).

Try not to overload yourself. If you're working around 30 hours/week, I'd personally say 4 classes max, but that is just me.

Also.. every try daily schedules/to-do lists? This helps me stay on track of what assignments are most important and what can wait. Can be used for everything else in your daily schedule - not just homework assignments.

 

[wholeheartedly]

One thing that I tend to get myself into trouble with when I get really busy like that is my exercise and social routine falls apart. I mean, I need to study right, and if I'm studying my butt off and not doing as well, then I need to study more so other stuff gets cut even more. Problem is when I don't exercise regularly or take some time out, my focus goes to heck. When I bring that stuff back all of a sudden more of what I'm trying to remember actually sticks in my brain and it takes me less time to accomplish the same study tasks.

So don't forget to do thirty minutes of exercise a day and try to have lunch with a friend once a week or something.


If you don't feel like you're remember stuff, try a different strategy. Just reading textbook chapters for a lot of things didn't really work for me. So I read with a dry erase board or notebook and jot stuff down so I'm reading more actively. I love my dry erase board. I also also rewrite stuff into summary sheets of the most important points and also things I'm struggling the most will until I have that stuff nailed. I don't just do problems but make myself try to explain it to myself different ways to make sure I really get how things are working. Everybody is different though, but that's what's been working for me.

 

[MissionalMed]

So don't forget to do thirty minutes of exercise a day...

Just reading textbook chapters for a lot of things didn't really work for me. So I read with a dry erase board...and jot stuff down so I'm reading more actively. I love my dry erase board.

These are two really good suggestions. I hadn't thought before of using a dry erase board while studying. This is a phenomenal idea, and I'm going to go and get one today!

 

[apt22]

I have ADD and my way to study that is the most helpful for me to study is little bits at a time. I read for 20 minutes then take a 5 minute break. If its something interesting I can usually read longer. I also keep myself away from the TV, phone, and computer. Computer is a little harder since some teachers do put notes for online for us but i usually print them off. You just need to find the best system for you. If I would have known what worked me in high school and my first 2 years I might have actually had a decent GPA. Also I never ever cram. I start studying the material as soon as we get on that chapter or section.

 

[wholeheartedly]

Oh I forget. I get distracted by the internet, go figure....


Anyway, there are two programs "Freedom" and "Self-control" that will block you from surfing the web when you should be studying. My biggest problem is that I study something, then go to the web to read something related, then an hour later realize I want of off on some surfing tangent. Freedom blocks the internet for whatever amount of time you desire, and you can only get out of it by shutting down your computer. Self-control allows you to make a blackout list of sites (like SDN) that it won't give you access to for a selected amount of time, but still allows you to surf other sites (ie pub med, school website). one or both are free, not advertising I swear 😛

 

[Gfliptastic]

I utilized several methods when I was a working guy taking post-bacc classes and even as a med student in basic sciences.

First, understand the "maturity" required to stay focused. The mental exercise I utilized involved asking this simple question: "Is this going to be on the test?" Meaning, no your friend's status or your FB status isn't. Clothes or gadgets on Amazon isn't! Fantasy football isn't. The rest of the exercise involves something along the lines of telling yourself, "If it's NOT on the test, F it!!"

In my time in post-bacc and med school, I became well-known for that. My buddies in med school almost made me a t-shirt w/ that mental exercise. lol

It's NOT easy, so the next thing that helped me is setting boundaries. Amazon, FB, fantasy sports, are terribly "addictive", so you need to curb yourself from it mentally and physically. What I did for myself was having a certain playlist (or my friend is a club DJ and he used to give me 60-85 min sets he'd mix). As long as that playlist (or club mix) was in my headphones I WAS STUDYING!!! Turn off the wifi card. Close all the browsers. Put my cel on airplane mode. STUDY!!! Then afterwards, give myself like 10 minutes of "break time".

Another thing is to set realistic but proper goals. TIME isn't the best thing. It's pointless to say "I'm going to study for 1 hr straight" if you don't utilize the time properly. Instead of that, say, "In this hour, I am going to learn aerobic respiration or Gram positive respiratory bugs, etc."

Also you would be surprised how those folks in college who once taught us how to "study properly" were actually right! Meaning, I remember receiving a "how to study in college" class as an incoming freshman (many many years ago lol), and they said, "Preview. Review. Test yourself." All be darned if I didn't end up doing that all thru basic sciences of med school. And if it works in med school, you can be sure it works in undergrad/post-bacc classes.

Preview the material. Go to class/lecture/lab w/ a good idea of what is going to be presented. Ask questions. Review what you gathered. Then find a way to test yourself on it. Could be flash cards or previous exam questions. Ask your professor for a couple of good "personal assessment" questions (they actually end up being exam questions most of the time).

Also, IDK where you work, but it might be helpful...IF POSSIBLE, to try to commute on public transportation every once in awhile, so you can study on the way to work. Forget the library, I think the CTA was where I got a lot of my studying done!

Good luck!

 

[HealthE]

I cant study without my Pandora though. I put on Pandora and zone out. I just have to make sure I dont look up anything else. Recently, I developed the attitude above if it isnt on the test screw it. I guess I will have to keep that one. Also, reading up on study tips for med students. I think another thing that helped me is having a specific goal for each study session. I just tried that recently it works well. Instead, I am going to read this chapter...I do I am going to memorize this 3 concepts so well I can teach it.