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Doing a bit of planning for your study time is crucial! It’s the only way to make sure you get it all done, so you’ll learn more efficiently, rather than getting caught up in the stress of feeling disorganized and rushed. And when you get it done, you’ll be energized for what’s next. With these tips and a few Post-it® Products, you can improve your study habits, which will make prepping for finals your new favorite thing! OK, maybe that’s a stretch — but it’ll be way less lame.
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1. Study early and often.
If you're looking up an article on study methods, it might be too late for this, but we're throwing it out there anyway. If you can, start reviewing your notes and textbooks at least a week before finals. The more time you give the info to sink in, the more of it will stick.
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2. Stay organized.
So, organization is kind of our thing, we admit, but we make Post-it® Products for a reason. They help you keep track of priorities and to-dos (like when you write reminders on Post-it® Super Sticky Notes 3 in. x 3 in. and stick them where you can seem them), ideas you've had (like when you use Post-it® Notes 3 in. x 3 in. to write down thesis ideas at the end of a chapter without tearing the page), mark important passages to come back to (like when you use Post-it® Flags to mark pages by color so you can easily see them when you come back) or help you take notes along the way without writing in your textbook (like when you use Post-it® Page Markers and add notes directly to a page). But you know what? Organize however works best for you — just ORGANIZE!
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3. Go to sleep.
Seriously, staying up all night is not going to help you study better. You might feel like you're getting a lot done, but you're probably sapping your mental strength, not to mention getting cranky and annoying your friends. Close the books, turn off your phone and get some rest.
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4. Find some help.
Put together a study group (and not the kind where you spend the entire time talking about random stuff and drama). Other people's ideas, perspectives and even note-taking skills can help you test just how sharp your knowledge really is.
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5. Make a schedule.
Make sure you know which exams are coming up when and how much time you've got to study for each one. By using Post-it® Super Sticky Lined Notes 4 in. x 6 in. to create a study schedule, you can focus on what's most urgent and make sure no deadlines pass you by.
The lines will help you create neat, readable entries for each subject or exam, and the notes will stay stuck to your planner or desk and are easy to rearrange if things shift (and they always do).
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6. Draw a mental picture.
For that one tough fact, number or date you just can't remember, try assigning a mental picture to it — the weirder, the better. It doesn't have to have anything to do with the fact, but it can work surprisingly well to help you recall something later. So, if a fish in a bowler hat helps you remember that the Battle of Hastings happened in 1066, then a fish in a bowler hat is your new best friend. Draw your mental pictures on Post-it® Super Sticky Notes 2 in. x 2 in. and stick them wherever you’ll see them frequently, like your notebook or planner. You can stick and re-stick them almost anywhere, which will make sure that your drawings — however random they might seem — help you retain the pesky stuff that always seems to slip your mind.
Look, we get it — the one thing lamer than actually studying for finals is talking about studying techniques for finals. And yet, just a few tips like these along with the right tools really can make a tough process smoother. When you’re less stressed and more motivated, getting things done is super energizing — you’ll learn more efficiently, and ace those tests like it’s your job (because, well, it is). And when you do your job well, you’re ready to make your mark on the world. Follow these tips and thanks us later!
1. Study early and often
2. Stay organized
3. Go to sleep (seriously)
4. Find some help
5. Make a schedule
6. Draw a mental picture
