Study Tips

So… it’s that time of year again. Christmas time yes, but also the run up to exam season in January. If you’re anything like me you’ve got a bit of an inner battle going on; panicking and feeling quite overwhelmed with everything you have to do, as well as wanting to have a nice Christmas, relaxing with friends and family.

For some of you, this will be the first time you’ve tackled the January exam period, and for some of you it will be the third time, but that doesn’t make it any less stressful. Here in drama we tend to not have January ‘exams’, and instead focus more on both practical assignments and written essays. The written side of our assignments can appear at first incredibly daunting and hard to motivate yourself towards as the work is individual and completed within your own time. But fear not, I’ve created a list of studying tips that will help you complete your work in time and without too much stress, fingers crossed. .

Write a to-do list

Writing a to-do list will make sure you don’t miss anything. These could be small tasks you need to complete, for example some specific reading for an assignment, but could also include the assignment itself. It’s incredibly satisfying when you can tick completed items off and helps you understand what you have left to do. I tend to write out my to-do list in a specific notebook and colour code it, but there are several online websites and software you can use for this and I will link these at the bottom of this page.

Write a list of deadlines

Writing all of your deadlines out means that you know which you need to prioritize first. This is incredibly beneficial as it ensures that you don’t miss anything out and you can plan and manage time effectively. As your GRC Costume Rep Charlotte notes, “Organisation is key, make sure you write everything down and keep up to date.”

Having a designated study space

Making sure that you have a designated study space will help your mentality when you are getting ready to study. I would advise using a desk to work on and leaving your bed to relax. As you associate your bed already with sleeping and chilling out, it will be harder to find motivation whilst working there.

Remove any distractions

This tip could look like turning your phone off or switching it to silent. You could also try using an app such as ‘forest’ which grows virtual trees that are destroyed if you try to use your phone. Perhaps you could also try telling your housemates or family that you are going to study so they should not disturb you.

Changing your surroundings

Often working in the same place all day can become tiresome and boring. You could try using the library, or if you are home for Christmas a kitchen or dining room table. Your GRC President Keala recommends the University Library, she says, “‘Personally I found that when it comes to studying and getting work done it’s easier to book a space at the library as a change of scenery really helps to get work done. Sitting within your accommodation there are so many more distractions so by removing those and changing the atmosphere you’re in it becomes a lot easier to focus.’”

Sticking to a routine

This one feels like GCSE revision, but I genuinely do believe in it. If you try to stick to a routine of getting up at a similar time each day, then maybe going for a morning walk to get some exercise then sitting down to work for a few hours before having some lunch; it will trick your brain into being motivated as it’s simply part of what you do everyday. You can choose your routine to be however you fancy, just make sure you schedule it in a way that works for you.

Study date

If you struggle to motivate yourself, you could try asking one of your friends if they fancy a study date and you can help motivate each other. This could be in the University Library or in a cafe either on campus or nearby.

8. Work in time slots

Amy, a third year joint honours student has an interesting method you could try, “Try setting a timer for 20 minutes of focused work rather than expecting yourself to study for hours in one go. Breaking down work into smaller chunks with periods of relaxation or other things between these focused periods may help you study more effectively.” In between these periods of concentration you could make a snack, chat to your housemates or family or get some fresh air, for example.

9. Learning lines

If you are focusing on learning lines for shows in January, there are apps you can download that can help with this. I will link a free one down below. One way I find it easier to learn lines is reading and recording the scene with all of the lines and then speaking my lines over the recording when I play it back.

10. Assignment referencing

I would recommend checking out the library guide for Harvard Referencing as it includes examples as well as telling you how to do it. I would also suggest that you reference your sources into your bibliography as you’re going along, so you don’t have to spend ages doing it at the end.

11. Relax

And most importantly… relax and take breaks! This could be through exercising, which is a natural de-stress, or by taking a nap, watching a film or chilling with friends. However you relax, make sure that you schedule time for it, especially at Christmas time. The holidays are there for you to chill and reset for the next term, so make sure you have a nice time as well as getting on with assignments!

Media Rep Love (Jenny Smith) x

If you ever feel as though the stress of the exam period, or anything else is getting too much for you, our lovely EDI Rep Connie is there to help. Or alternatively please get in touch with any of our GRC, they are all lovely and are very willing to have a cup of tea and chat with you x

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