Alina's Study Hacks
A log of all my study hacks that I've used throughout my academic career
A log of all my study hacks that I've used throughout my academic career
7/3/2024 1:50 PM
When writing down notes on paper, you may feel the urge to add some color to your content. Although it may look nice and add some vibrance to your otherwise dull writing, I say stop this! Not only can it lead to distraction, but it also takes time away from writing down meaningful content. Just writing down simple but effective notes with either pencil or paper will allow you to focus on the content. However, don't completely cut out colors from your notes. Instead, add color while reviewing your notes. Adding color gives you motivation to look back over what you wrote down and also helps you memorize. Try to keep a color code for certain content to maximize retention when reviewing notes.
Need help with vocabulary? My favorite to master new words is to remember the SWS method. The first S stands for spell. How are you going to learn a new word if you can't spell it? This is why it is important to spell the word out on paper to engage your brain to memorize the correct spelling. Then you move on to the W step. W stands for writing. Now that you know the proper spelling of your word, you can practice not only writing the word out but also writing it within sentences. To more sentences you create the better; this is especially important to complete if the word you are trying to learn has multiple meanings. Lastly, the second S stands for speak. Speaking the word, the definition, and example sentence will ensure you to remember whatever word you desire to learn.
7/27/2024 2:48 pm
Like a lot of people my age, I sometimes have trouble finding the motivation to study. Whether it be daunting coursework or just trying to get a study session in, finding the motivation to actually do the work can be hard. This is why I suggest these time blocks similar to the pomodoro method to help find some motivation. For me, this method is used best before bed. I start at 7 pm and for 15 minutes I do coursework. These first 15 minutes are dedicated to skimming over the entirety of the topic that I am studying. Then when the those 15 minutes are over, I take 45 minutes to do recreational activities and hobbies. Then at 8, I resume my studies this time for 30 minutes. This time focuses on learning new materials based on my topic that I need to study. Then I take the next 30 minutes in the hour to do chores around the house before I go to bed. Now that those are out the way, I go back to studying at 9 and take 15 minutes to review what I learned and if you'd like, you can take an additional 15 minutes to test your knowledge with practice questions. With this, you have already done a 1-hour study session before bed! You can know take the remaining time to relax and prepare for bed as a great way to help retain information is getting a full 8 hours of sleep.
8/12/2024, 2:36 pm
For all of my friends who are looking to take a big test like an ACT or SAT soon, make sure to create a study schedule at least 6 weeks in advance from your test date in order to maximize your score. This schedule should factor in times for learning, review, practice tests, and of course, rest days. Having 6 weeks dedicated to your exam allows ample time to study and review at your own pace and avoids the need to cram. Dedicating over a month to one exam may seem daunting, but the time you dedicate will be more fruitful and not as stressful if you were to put off your studies for the week before your test date.
11/8/2024, 12:27 pm
With the holiday season coming up, make sure your study session are feeling that holiday cheer as well!Decorate your study space with festive lights, play calming holiday music, and treat yourself to seasonal snacks like hot cocoa or peppermint tea during breaks. Try scheduling study time around holiday events to keep balance, and set small, festive goals like finishing a chapter before watching a holiday movie!
2/2/2025, 7:13 pm
Hey scholars! It's been a while since I've shared some hacks but I hope you're enjoying the updates I've been making to the site. Are you having trouble putting your phone to the side during your study sessions? I do too and my favorite way to combat this is by making timelapses on my phone! To start is really simple. Just set it up in selfie mode facing you and as much of your study area as possible. Then go to time-lapse and hit record. Using the Pomodoro method is fun for this as I like to really concentrate when its time to study and then make funny faces in the camera during the breaks. It's a great way to make sure you're not getting distracted by it by incorporating it into your routine but also keeping it in arms reach in case something pops up that needs to be addressed immediately. Plus, the time-lapses are always really fun to watch and share when you're done.
2/18/2025, 4:04 pm
If you guys haven't downloaded Lyme AI what are you doing?? This AI notetaker is a total game-changer for studying! Stop struggling with messy notes and start using Lyme to transcribe, summarize, and organize everything for you. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out on this! Check it out and thank me later. Also make sure to use this tool wisely and take advantage of the flashcards and ACTUALLY study them. There's a free version to this app but I recommend getting the best plan for only 20 a month. It's really an investment to YOU and YOUR STUDIES so get on that train before it leaves the station.