7 answers
Halani
Student
Modesto, California
3
Questions
Updated
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Whats your best studying tips for late night study sessions?
Many people have healthy study habits i need some need ideas so i can study longer and actually understand my work
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7 answers
Shirley L
Accountant
64
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Shirley’s Answer
Hi Halani,
In my opinion, cramming for an exam the night before may help you pass the test, but it doesn't set you up for success. When you're cramming, your primary goal is memorizing facts or formulas without taking the time to understand the meaning and how the details paint a bigger picture. As you take on more challenging courses, it will build upon your previous knowledge from earlier classes and ideally, we want to retain as much as possible.
Try to break your study sessions into an 1.5 hour intervals, and build in breaks to recharge. For example, Pomodoro method might be perfect where you study for 25 min, 5 min break, study for another 25 min and 5 min break. After you read a section in the textbook, try to summarize it in a few sentences. These are the highlights/main points of your reading. Study for an exam over the course of several days, a few hours a session. Your highlights will help you keep your information fresh in your mind.
The best tip I can offer is: put your phone in a different room or away from where you're sitting and studying. If you need to look something up on your phone while studying, make a handwritten list of what you need similar to an old fashioned shopping list. It sounds silly, but it works! You can look up everything you need in one shot and maintain your focus while studying. If your phone is within reach, you are distracted and just waiting for the next phone notification as an excuse to drift away from studying.
In my opinion, cramming for an exam the night before may help you pass the test, but it doesn't set you up for success. When you're cramming, your primary goal is memorizing facts or formulas without taking the time to understand the meaning and how the details paint a bigger picture. As you take on more challenging courses, it will build upon your previous knowledge from earlier classes and ideally, we want to retain as much as possible.
Try to break your study sessions into an 1.5 hour intervals, and build in breaks to recharge. For example, Pomodoro method might be perfect where you study for 25 min, 5 min break, study for another 25 min and 5 min break. After you read a section in the textbook, try to summarize it in a few sentences. These are the highlights/main points of your reading. Study for an exam over the course of several days, a few hours a session. Your highlights will help you keep your information fresh in your mind.
The best tip I can offer is: put your phone in a different room or away from where you're sitting and studying. If you need to look something up on your phone while studying, make a handwritten list of what you need similar to an old fashioned shopping list. It sounds silly, but it works! You can look up everything you need in one shot and maintain your focus while studying. If your phone is within reach, you are distracted and just waiting for the next phone notification as an excuse to drift away from studying.
Martha Kramer
Corporate Training, Communications
334
Answers
Stamford, Connecticut
Updated
Martha’s Answer
Good for you, Halani, for seeking study tips! We all need to continue learning, even after school, so good study habits will continue to be relevant. Shirley gave you solid advice; here are some other thoughts:
- Try out different tips and notice what works best for you - how long for each session, which time of day works best, quiet or background music, etc.
- Pick a place (or places) where you feel comfortable to study. It should be organized and not have a lot of distractions. In college, I liked switching up where I studied based on the content and my mood at the time.
- Don't neglect your health, meaning eat healthful foods, get sufficient rest, and get some exercise / time outside. It is tougher to concentrate and retain information when you are hungry or exhausted
- Use your support system, either to study together or at least encourage each other. If studying together would be too distracting, consider planning breaks or rewarding yourselves (e.g., eat ice cream, watch a show, etc.) together
- Take advantage of resources on campus from tutoring and writing centers to office hours with professors or teaching assistants. To make effective use, you need to do work ahead of time to determine what you know and what you need help with.
I have put links below to tips from well-known colleges and there are many more tips out there. Good luck!
Harvard tips - https://summer.harvard.edu/blog/top-10-study-tips-to-study-like-a-harvard-student/
UNC tips - https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/studying-101-study-smarter-not-harder/
Dartmouth - https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/studying-tips
- Try out different tips and notice what works best for you - how long for each session, which time of day works best, quiet or background music, etc.
- Pick a place (or places) where you feel comfortable to study. It should be organized and not have a lot of distractions. In college, I liked switching up where I studied based on the content and my mood at the time.
- Don't neglect your health, meaning eat healthful foods, get sufficient rest, and get some exercise / time outside. It is tougher to concentrate and retain information when you are hungry or exhausted
- Use your support system, either to study together or at least encourage each other. If studying together would be too distracting, consider planning breaks or rewarding yourselves (e.g., eat ice cream, watch a show, etc.) together
- Take advantage of resources on campus from tutoring and writing centers to office hours with professors or teaching assistants. To make effective use, you need to do work ahead of time to determine what you know and what you need help with.
I have put links below to tips from well-known colleges and there are many more tips out there. Good luck!
Martha recommends the following next steps:
Emily Anderson
Bakery Lab Technician
2
Answers
St. Louis, MO
Updated
Emily’s Answer
Hi Halani!
In my personal experience, getting a good nights sleep is way more important than studying too long to the point you only get a few hours of sleep. If you are a night owl and prefer studying, than by all means do so. Work when you are productive. I often find that working in the library or some other academic building helped with my focus. Only do so if it's safe to get back home at night. Another tip is setting a timer for 30-60 minutes to study distraction-free, take a 15 minute break to get up and walk around, and repeat as long as you need. Laslty, I recommend setting boundaries where you study and where you relax in your home; this helped tremendously with my focus.
In my personal experience, getting a good nights sleep is way more important than studying too long to the point you only get a few hours of sleep. If you are a night owl and prefer studying, than by all means do so. Work when you are productive. I often find that working in the library or some other academic building helped with my focus. Only do so if it's safe to get back home at night. Another tip is setting a timer for 30-60 minutes to study distraction-free, take a 15 minute break to get up and walk around, and repeat as long as you need. Laslty, I recommend setting boundaries where you study and where you relax in your home; this helped tremendously with my focus.
Sushant Khetamar
Civil engineer
1
Answer
Karad, Maharashtra, India
Updated
Sushant’s Answer
You want to study late night then you have to avoid drinking to much tea or coffee. It can be addictive. You can water instead. Drinking lots of water so it can help you study late. Take the break after some time like 1hrs. Change the pattern of study. Don't use sleeping beds for study. Use table. Listen some songs that you love after some study. It can refresh you more. Avoid study late night before exam.
Patrick Meyer
Executive - Data Analytics and AI
750
Answers
Naperville, Illinois
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Halani, it's crucial to know that late-night studying, while sometimes needed, should be done carefully to boost efficiency and limit harm to your health and mental abilities. Here's how to get the most out of your late-night study sessions:
Start by setting up a good study area. Make sure your space is well-lit to fight off sleepiness. Use a desk lamp with a cool, bright light to stay awake. Keep the room a bit chilly to avoid getting too comfortable and falling asleep. Cut out distractions by turning off your phone and blocking distracting websites if needed.
Next, Halani, you need to sort out your study materials. Concentrate on the hardest or most important subjects when you're most alert, usually at the start of your study time. Divide your study time into small, manageable parts using methods like the Pomodoro technique - study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. This keeps you focused and stops you from burning out.
Use active learning methods to better understand and remember information. Instead of just reading, try things like putting information in your own words, making mind maps, or explaining the material to an imaginary class. These techniques make you think about the information more deeply, helping you understand and remember it better.
It's also important, Halani, to drink plenty of water and eat properly. Regularly drinking water keeps you awake and helps your brain work well. Avoid sweets that can cause energy crashes. Choose brain-healthy foods like nuts, fruits, or a little dark chocolate instead. But be careful with caffeine late at night because it can mess up your sleep.
Include some physical activity in your study routine. Every hour or so, take a short break to stretch, do some light exercise, or go for a quick walk. This gets your blood flowing, wakes up your body, and can help you focus better when you get back to studying.
Use memory tricks and techniques to help remember information. Things like acronyms, rhymes, or linking new information to things you already know can make difficult material easier to handle and remember. Also, try changing up your study methods - switch between reading, writing, and listening to use different ways of learning.
Lastly, Halani, you need to know when to stop. Pushing too hard can backfire. If you're reading the same paragraph over and over without understanding it, it might be time for a break. A short power nap (15-20 minutes) can be refreshing, but be careful not to oversleep. Set an alarm and have a plan to get back to studying quickly after the nap.
Keep in mind, these tips are meant to make late-night study sessions better, but they shouldn't become a regular thing. Regular sleep and a balanced study schedule are key for long-term success in school and for your overall health. If you're often cramming late at night, you might want to look at your time management skills and get advice on how to study more effectively.
Start by setting up a good study area. Make sure your space is well-lit to fight off sleepiness. Use a desk lamp with a cool, bright light to stay awake. Keep the room a bit chilly to avoid getting too comfortable and falling asleep. Cut out distractions by turning off your phone and blocking distracting websites if needed.
Next, Halani, you need to sort out your study materials. Concentrate on the hardest or most important subjects when you're most alert, usually at the start of your study time. Divide your study time into small, manageable parts using methods like the Pomodoro technique - study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. This keeps you focused and stops you from burning out.
Use active learning methods to better understand and remember information. Instead of just reading, try things like putting information in your own words, making mind maps, or explaining the material to an imaginary class. These techniques make you think about the information more deeply, helping you understand and remember it better.
It's also important, Halani, to drink plenty of water and eat properly. Regularly drinking water keeps you awake and helps your brain work well. Avoid sweets that can cause energy crashes. Choose brain-healthy foods like nuts, fruits, or a little dark chocolate instead. But be careful with caffeine late at night because it can mess up your sleep.
Include some physical activity in your study routine. Every hour or so, take a short break to stretch, do some light exercise, or go for a quick walk. This gets your blood flowing, wakes up your body, and can help you focus better when you get back to studying.
Use memory tricks and techniques to help remember information. Things like acronyms, rhymes, or linking new information to things you already know can make difficult material easier to handle and remember. Also, try changing up your study methods - switch between reading, writing, and listening to use different ways of learning.
Lastly, Halani, you need to know when to stop. Pushing too hard can backfire. If you're reading the same paragraph over and over without understanding it, it might be time for a break. A short power nap (15-20 minutes) can be refreshing, but be careful not to oversleep. Set an alarm and have a plan to get back to studying quickly after the nap.
Keep in mind, these tips are meant to make late-night study sessions better, but they shouldn't become a regular thing. Regular sleep and a balanced study schedule are key for long-term success in school and for your overall health. If you're often cramming late at night, you might want to look at your time management skills and get advice on how to study more effectively.
Jerome Dees Jr.
Sales Professional and Networking Expert
607
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Jerome’s Answer
I think the first question to be asked is "are you a morning person"? If you are not a night owl, studying at night could be setting yourself up for failure. I found that studying during the mid morning was ideal on my end. If you can align your study time with when you are your best; that helps.
Otherwise, limit distractions, find a place you feel comfortable and have healthy snacks.
Otherwise, limit distractions, find a place you feel comfortable and have healthy snacks.
Alyssa Alejo
Supervisor Gaming Audit
51
Answers
Las Vegas, Nevada
Updated
Alyssa’s Answer
Nourish Your Body. Who doesn't love a late-night treat like energy drinks, coffee, candy, or chips, right?
Discover Methods to Remain Alert. Many folks find reading a relaxing way to drift off to sleep. ...
Brighten Your Surroundings. ...
Stay Active, Don't Get Too Snuggly! ...
Never Compromise on Your Sleep.
Discover Methods to Remain Alert. Many folks find reading a relaxing way to drift off to sleep. ...
Brighten Your Surroundings. ...
Stay Active, Don't Get Too Snuggly! ...
Never Compromise on Your Sleep.