By Temi Karim, BA Business Management
The dreaded time is upon us. Lockdown has eased and the sun is finally out, but we still have work to do. With time running out, we need to find ways to take advantage of the time we do have to put us one step closer to getting our degrees. Luckily for you, I’ve spent my time at uni testing out different study methods so you don’t have to. I’m here to share with you the top four things that have made studying WAY easier for me. You may have already heard a couple of these tips, but I’m hoping some of them can really help change studying for you.
#1 – ‘They Say, I Say’ by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein
Studying a course with a lot of analytical writing? Have no idea WHAT
analytical writing even is? Well, this book has got your back. ‘They Say, I Say’ tackles the mysterious topic of analytical writing and teaches you how to approach different subjects without feeling like you’re saying the same sentence over and over again.
And the best part about it? It’s got writing templates to practice with! It’s one thing to understand what to do, but it’s another to know how to do it, and this book teaches you both.
It’s definitely an investment, but it’s one that I have not regretted.
#2 – Plan Backwards
I can’t tell you the number of times I think I’ve done about 80% of an essay, then had to do an all-nighter to finish what I thought was 20% left. That’s why it’s extremely important to not just create a plan, but to plan backwards from the deadline. After breaking down the task into smaller sections and prioritising which ones are the most important, planning backwards from the deadline helps you identify when you need to finish each task, and you can set mini-deadlines for yourself. You can also build in some extra cushion and proof-reading time, so that all-nighters can finally become a thing of the past!
#3 – No Library? Use Focusmate
Chances are, going to the library isn’t the best option right now. Spaces are hard to find, and not a lot of people want to wear a stuffy mask while studying all day long. But it can also be extremely hard to work alone without a study environment. That’s where Focusmate comes in. Focusmate pairs you up with a random person around the world and the two of you study together for 50 minutes. I’ve found this to be perfect for getting work done, because otherwise it’s kind of embarrassing to say to your partner that you got nothing done the entire hour!
You get 3 free sessions a week, but for about $5 (roughly £3) a month, you can book as many sessions as you’d like. I’ll admit, at the start, I was a bit concerned about running into some creeps, but I haven’t really met any. Probably the weirdest person I came across did yoga the entire session, which was definitely a bit uncomfortable, but I’ve met way more people with cats than I’ve met creeps.
I’ve completed nearly 200 sessions since January, and I can definitely say that this helped me get through exam season at home.
#4 – The Pomodoro technique
If you struggle with focusing for long periods of time, or just don’t want to work with a stranger online, the Pomodoro technique can be great for helping you work without feeling burnt out. It breaks down work time and break time into short intervals, usually 25 minutes of work to a 5-minute break, but how you break it up is entirely up to you. The best apps I’ve found for this are Tide and Flora.
Tide has an entire catalogue of calming music to 
help you really zone into your work. On the other hand, a session on Flora grows a cute little plant which you can add to your garden for the week. Here’s one of my gardens!
I’ve tried and tested all of these tips, and can say for sure that each one has helped me study better in more ways than I can imagine. I know that this exam season is going to be a tough one for all of us, but I hope that some of these tips make it a little bit easier to get through it. Good luck!