Healthy Study Habits
By: Mallory Johnson
As we are approaching final exam season, it is important to have healthy study habits. The most important healthy study habit that I want to emphasize is to make sure you are taking care of yourself. The end of the semester can be a hectic time with courses wrapping up, final exams, final projects, and term papers, and it is easy to forget to take care of yourself in the meantime. A part of taking care of yourself is taking breaks when you need them. For myself, when I notice that I am having trouble focusing on my schoolwork, that is when I take a break. I also take short breaks before switching from class to class. For example: if I finish an essay for my Contemporary Literature class and want to start one for my Sociology of Emotions class, I take a break to relax my brain in between.
I also recommend having snacks and drinks handy when studying. I have been drinking a LOT of tea recently, specifically Christmas tea that I got from Walmart. I also have a water bottle and maybe another drink handy, so I have a range of flavors on hand and do not have to interrupt my writing flow to get a new drink. For snacks, healthy ones are important, but it is always nice to have some candy now and then.
I listen to music (with lyrics) when I am writing because it motivates me and drowns out background noise. When I am reading academically, I listen to a playlist of instrumental focus music. I only recommend listening to music if it will not distract you too much. I have started listening to the soundtrack of Hamilton again, because the music is motivational to me. I recommend listening to a long playlist, so you do not have to interrupt your flow with changing the song constantly. I also do not recommend listening to the radio or the free version of Spotify, as the ads are distracting. I personally love Apple Music.
I enjoy rewarding myself for the work I get done. I tend to do my homework during the morning and afternoons, so I can reward myself by watching television with my family during the evenings. Relaxation is a great and healthy reward. It is important to not cram for an exam the night before, space out your studying!
In conclusion, it is important to build healthy study habits as we are approaching summer break. We are in the home stretch, we got this! Keep working hard because there are only a few more weeks left! Summer break is right around the corner!