Studying has never been my forte. Until recently, I’ve been the type of guy to “wing it” and miraculously get an acceptable grade. This complacency, coupled with distractions, kept me from ever studying to the fullest. However, I’ve done a complete 180°. As it turns out, studying isn’t awful when you change your mindset. Whether it takes a bit of whimsy or a smidge of creativity, all it really takes to shake those study sessions up is breaking the monotony and cutting out those distractions. Today, I’ll be sharing ways that I reignited that studying spark of mine, and ways you can, too.

The Multitask Method

Multitask as much as you see fit. That’s the goal of the multitask method. I find myself wanting to do other things like reading, watching videos, or talking on the phone when I should be studying. Then it hit me, “duh, just do everything at once,” and the rest was history. By all means, channel the jack of all trades you’ve always wanted to be, but I recommend using this method for cases where you don’t need to review rather than study. That way, you can refresh yourself on concepts, but can be simultaneously productive on other things you’d rather be doing. Put that show you’ve been binging in the miniplayer and get to work!

The Caffeine Method

I wouldn’t really call this a method; just drink caffeine when you really need that extra boost. The pinnacle of my studying was the week before I took my first ACT. I had never had caffeine before the test, and let me tell you, that first sip of caffeine hit like a truck. I studied for 8 hours from 6 PM to 2 AM on a random Thursday night. I got a 33 on that exam, by the way, so if it works, it works. I realized that caffeine is pretty helpful, so I decided to take full advantage of this newfound knowledge. Caffeine (in moderation) really helps to give that extra boost of energy after a long day, giving you that extra push to get the job done.

The Jazz Method

If you know anything about me, you already know how much I love Japanese jazz (subtle plug). The simplest and most flexible of the methods, the Jazz Method is perfect for any situation you need. This is because all it really boils down to is putting on your headphones and playing literally any song by Ryo Fukui. For me, setting an atmosphere (as you’ll later see) is an amazing way to spice up studying. Jazz is the perfect music for that because it’s oftentimes calming, yet focused. There are no lyrics to distract you, just a reassuring sense of peace to help ease the stress of studying. I could talk about jazz all day, but my words cannot do it justice. Just hear me out on this one and give it a try. 

The Atmosphere Method

A quick disclaimer: This method takes a little imagination–that smidge of creativity I previously mentioned– and a lot of open-mindedness. The goal here is to set up a situation in your mind/environment that puts you in a better position than you would normally be. Yeah, I know it’s vague, but I’m not finished: let’s dive in.

Let’s set the scene: you’re studying for your AP Biology test tomorrow, and you can’t even name three organelles. Disregarding the massive elephant in the room, you need a miracle here, so you’re desperate for anything to help. But have no fear, ingenuity is here. Knowing you’re going to be the reason the class average is under room temperature if you don’t lock in, you picture yourself, in your madness, as a Victor Frankenstein-esque mad scientist deep within their secret dungeon lab. You set the mood by blocking out all the lights except that decrepit, jalopy of a lamp that gives off the nastiest light possible. You put on opera and classical music because that’s what you envision a mad scientist listening to, and you go into a frenzy, clobbering your work like it’s no one’s business. You crush your work like the maniac you sought out to be, and now you know 4 organelles instead of 3. Don’t judge. You know who you are. After all, I said I’d help break the monotony of studying, and this is anything but boring.

The Ice Bucket Method

Turn pain into progress. A little pain can go a long way to retaining information. The strategy here is to fill up a bowl or bucket with ice water and then put your hand in it while you study. When you’re mid-test and forgot the difference between hypotonic and hypertonic solutions, just think back to the pain/mild discomfort you felt during your studying, and hopefully you’ll remember. Just make sure you don’t freeze your hand off: it’s hard to write without a hand.

Setting Switchup Method

For those who want a normal study hack, just change your settings. Sometimes, it really is as simple as a change of settings to cut out your distractions, and you don’t need to pretend to be a mad scientist either. I’ve set a precedent that my room is a place of rest, so I find myself often getting distracted there when I try to study, making it by far the worst place for me to get things done. Because of this, I often sit outside on my deck, where I find myself significantly more productive due to the lack of distractions. Just get away from what distracts you.

Just Do It Method

You know you have to study; your grade depends on it, but as the deadline approaches, you keep putting it off. “I’ll do it later,” but there is no later. Procrastination is a silent killer, but it doesn’t have to be. I’ve found the best way to counter procrastination is to just start. Just put your pen to paper on anything to get the ball rolling. Start small, knocking out the easy concepts you already know. Work your way up to the harder concepts, dividing the work up into bite-sized chunks. That way, that intimidating workload seems much less scary and much more manageable. Just put that pen to paper and get to work.

No Phone Method

Get the phone out of the picture. No, that call or text from whoever can wait. Studying matters more. I’ve found that even having my phone in the same room when I’m studying is tempting enough for it to be a distraction. It’s so simple, but just having my phone out of my sight has been incredibly liberating. If you take nothing away from this article, please, please, PLEASE remember this: get the phone OUT.

Summary

Studying doesn’t have to be miserable; Whether it’s breaking the monotony or creating new habits, studying can go from your worst enemy to your best friend. The value of studying comes down to how much you put into it, so give it your all. Your limit really is your imagination, so go out and find exactly what works best for you.