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6 Unusual Yet Effective Study Hacks For College Students

college student listening to music while studying in the library
Written by CB Community

Studying can be a challenging endeavor for college students. No matter how hard you try, you may still find yourself struggling with this task. Maybe you are easily distracted, your study notes aren’t organized, or perhaps you aren’t interested in your topic. Whatever your reasons may be, it’s imperative you find ways to improve your studying. Here are 6 unusual, yet effective study hacks for college students to consider.

1. Take down notes of all the essential points for the exam.

Before taking a test, it’s helpful to jot down all the essential notes in your notebook or index card. If you do this exercise on a regular basis, it can improve your long-term study habits. Taking down notes allows you to recall all the vital information as you engage your brain at a deeper level, rather than merely reading your study notes. If you want to exercise your brain while earning extra income, consider applying for online tutoring jobs for students. If you plan to pursue teaching as a profession, you will also be able to use this experience as a reference.

2. Jot notes using colored pens and markers.

Colors don’t just brighten up your life, they can also be beneficial in your learning process. The type of color you use in your study notes can impact your memory and performance. For instance, using a white background with a black foreground is proven to be useful for memory retention. Using different colored pens and markers when taking down notes can be quite useful for remembering key facts and important details while studying.

3. Take short breaks.

Cramming for hours may seem like a good idea, but it doesn’t necessarily provide an excellent benefit for your learning process. This is because your mind tends to lose focus after a certain point, and requires a break to reboot. Instead, take short breaks in between to recharge, and increase your concentration for when you go back to studying. Experiment with different time limits in order to find your brains threshold, and in future study sessions, ensure you stay within your limits. For example, you can utilize your 15-minute break to make money with sharing economy sites from the comfort of your home, or just read a book to clear your thoughts.

4. Utilize “difficult-to-read” fonts.

Regardless of the subject you’re studying, using fonts that are hard to read can boost your ability to remember notes and other relevant information. However, these fonts shouldn’t be too difficult to read, as you still need your notes to be legible. If you’re searching for a particular font that may promote deeper cognitive progressing while resulting in good memory retention, some researchers have revealed that Sans Forgetica is an effective font for your studies. This font possesses a desired level of difficulty to help college students more easily recall typed study notes.

5. Listen to music while studying.

Listening to music doesn’t only improve your mood, it also serves as a relaxing background when you’re at home. Research also suggests that listening to different preferred music genres while studying can boost focus and lower stress levels. Create a playlist that will keep you awake and relax your mind while reviewing your notes. However, studying with music yields different results depending on the circumstances, so if it is too much of a distraction for you, then consider alternative methods.

6. Use aromatherapy.

Certain scents can improve your memory. Your sense of smell is one of the strongest among all senses since it’s directly connected to your brain. The receptors in your nose communicate with the parts of the brain where your memory is stored. Using aromatherapy can help boost mental focus, memory, and clarity. Some common scents and their effect on the study process are:

  • Peppermint – Smelling it can enhance alertness and concentration. Not only that but inhaling peppermint can also improve the accuracy of your memory.
  • Lavender – Using a lavender essential oil during breaks can also improve your level of concentration when you go back to studying.
  • Vetiver and cedarwood – Inhaling these essential oils can improve brain patterns and minimize levels of inattention.
  • Rosemary – An English study provides that the smell of rosemary can also increase your memory and alertness.

Generally, inhalation of essential oils comes with a variety of cognitive benefits. It’s been shown that they improve mental clarity, memory, and alertness – all of which can make you more productive.

Although everyone studies differently, these six unusual study hacks can be fairly beneficial for college students. These easy-to-do study methods help your mind to focus and help you revitalize and retain more information quickly while studying. If you want to make the most of your time in college and put forth your best work, experiment and discover the study habits that work best for you.

For more topics on all things regarding college life, check out the other blogs at College Basics.

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CB Community

Passionate members of the College Basics community that include students, essay writers, consultants and beyond. Please note, while community content has passed our editorial guidelines, we do not endorse any product or service contained in these articles which may also include links for which College Basics is compensated.