I need some studying advice :')
My name is Daia, and am currently a high school student. In the past I was not really good at studying on my own (or studying at all for that matter) because I just didn't see the point in it. I understood the basics, and that was enough to do well in my classes.
Fast forward to now, taking two college level courses and notes are required! (>:o) In one of them we don't even talk about the subject (if at all) and it's definitely taking a toll on my grades. I've also been bad at turning in (and/or doing) homework, but still do great on tests and quizzes.
So, I need some studying advice. How does one sit down at a desk for hours and study? And, how to make notes that would be good study material for later?
@sxndaybonbon
Hello! It can be extremely tough to know where to begin when studying and taking notes for school. A lot of people get caught up in the thought of wanting to study, but not knowing how to start, which feels daunting. I completely get it!
Would it help you to watch videos on YouTube of how other people take their notes? You could see how others outline their notes or decorate them and organize them in a way that makes sense for them. This could help you figure out what works best for you!
Sometimes, my brain goes much faster than I can write or type, so I tend to “word vomit” and write any and all notes without being organized, then I go back over them later and make them more neat and understandable. I REALLY like having my notes neat and organized, but for me it isn’t practical to do that from the beginning since I know i have to process the information first and then organize it.
You’re doing great, its a battle itself to just begin, believe me!
@AmethystUnicorn Thanks so much for the advice! I admit since in both of my classes I have a textbook, summarizing it to the most important parts can be difficult at times. I'll give it a try :)
@sxndaybonbon makes your notes colourful! You can always listen to Darren's browns memory boot camp! He says you remember more if you sing!
@ThreecoolOne Colorful notes are a requirement for one of my classes, and they do help! Remembering from what you sing though...that's a new one LOL. If only AP Bio was singable..
Hi there! So when I was in high school I learned this technique called "talk to the text" and I still use it to this day. See, I remember conversations way easier than just text, so I keep a notebook next to my textbooks and act like the textbook/handouts were a friend talking to me. eg:
"Alexander Hamilton was born in the 1700s."
Me: "Oh man, I wonder what that was like...?"
Or...
"When Europe was going through the Dark Ages, the rest of the world was thriving. Trade routes were thriving in South China seas, running water and impressive floating farms were being made in Central and South America, and mathematics were making massive advances in the Ottoman Empire as well as most of Central Asia."
"Okay so literally the rest of the world was doing great but we think of it as the 'dark ages' just because England was gross and didn't wash their hands? Lol bet."
See how much more engaging that can be? Try it!
@endearingWaves15 gorgeous
@endearingWaves15 it depends - in the exams of my country we have to learn word by word
@endearingWaves15 I do some form of this too, except it's mostly tying concepts I had already learned to new ones (like order of operations and algebra, if that makes sense :')) I'll give it a try!
@sxndaybonbon I need advice to how u can wake up by alarms I manage my time to sleep for 4 hrs only then I slept for 9 hrs and spent my whole day unhappy
@IIdkko why would u want to sleep for 4 hours? that would ruin ur efficiency
@Someoneneedshelp I feel like it matters more that a day ends productively <3. Ending a day satisfied usually helps me fall asleep easier. Otherwise, get into a comfortable position and don't move! (I've fallen asleep too many times that way LOL)
For the alarms problem, I usually set multiple. One for 5:30 to wake up, and one for 6:00 if I hadn't woken up to the first one. If you wake up early, just remember to sleep early I guess? :') I average 6-9 hours of sleep during school, and immediately sleep in (anywhere from 10-12 hours) on Saturdays. Different methods work for different people, but these are just some that have helped me.
@Someoneneedshelp I’ve got two alarms – one to remind me it’s bedtime and another to wake me up. I tend to lose track of time when I’m working, but I try to get 7 hours of sleep. So, I set an alarm for - let's say - 10 PM to wind down – no screens, plan for tomorrow, or just stare at the ceiling. For waking up, I use an alarm clock across the room so I can't snooze it. It’s loud enough to make me get up, turn it off, and then I end up making my bed. I never sleep in, even on weekends, but I’ll nap if needed. I know it sounds brutal though- Waking up at the same time daily works for me.
Hey Dania 👋🏻
I totally understand your concerns and sometimes it does feel pointless to study when you can just click for tests and quizzes without much effort. College level courses are different and you're already recognizing that you need to change your approach which is the biggest step.
I can't really give you an advice but here is what i would do if I were in your shoes
I would not force my studies as it's hard for me to sit for hours so I'll study with small intervals like taking small breaks every 30 minutes.
I would use colorful pens and maybe enjoy the music while I'm studying. Colorful pens helps you make things enjoyable and stick with longer.
During class i would just note any confusion or important questions that i am curious about, after class I would summarize my notes in a way that makes sense to me at least.
Sometimes it helps to involve someone if you hav some good friends find a study buddy for yourself because it makes it easier when you have someone else involved.
To me it's ok to struggle and not be perfect, i focus on small wins just showing up to study or mastering one topic etc. Progress beats perfection you know.
Good luck and Happy Studying!
@iNomNom Thank you so much <3! I get distracted pretty easily by the music I listen to, so I'll try lofi when I study LOL. Unfortunately though, in my college Biology class I have literally no one to study with, my friends took Chemistry or Anatomy and my class is filled with higher-year students :'). I'll try to find someone and see how it goes.
@sxndaybonbon
Hey Daia,
Before you start taking notes, I want to remind you how important it is to really understand the material first. I know that reading for school can feel boring and pointless sometimes, especially when there's a lot to get through. It’s not always easy to stay focused!
A lot of students read for school the same way they read for fun, but that might not be the best way to learn. It could be helpful to set a clear goal about what you want to get from the text before you start making your summary or notes. Most textbooks do a good job of helping with this—they usually have overviews that give you a good idea of what the chapter is about, as well as questions and activities to keep you engaged. Some even have self-tests at the end of each chapter to help you check what you’ve learned.
These features are there to help you really understand the content and do well in your studies. The notes you take after grasping the material will be a lot more useful than those taken without that understanding. After that, you can try different study methods, like spaced repetition or active recall, to see which ones work best for you.
Take your time with it, and remember, you’ve got this!
@BluCheese94 Thank you for the comment! I admit reading for fun and reading for school are two different things entirely, my World History textbook is a beast in itself :'). The textbook doesn't really give any overviews though, they set the time period and where, but nothing about what happened, so it's really hard to start when they pile so many things in 9 pages. My teacher gets the essential parts when they go over it, so it kinda feels pointless to do notes when the important pars are given to you.
Biology is different, it's more concept based but they also get REALLY detailed. Trying to find the concepts in the lessons themselves is a lot, and the module numbers aren't linked to the modules we do in class. My teacher expects we do them, but not given a guideline or a lesson that explains anything it talks about, it makes things so much harder. Plus, not having taken Chemistry means I have no idea on things I (should?) know. Definitely having more trouble in this class than the other one.
@sxndaybonbon here are some tips
Get rid of all distractions around you
Try to find ways to enjoy a subject like make a game or something
some good ways to memorize things are by writing them down or doodling scientist found out that doodling actually helps you memorize things better because you are gaining a chemical compound known as Dopamine which makes you happy.
in English that means draw whatever ur studying and write stuff down be happy have fun.
@sxndaybonbon Hey Daia, here's a bit of advice for tackling your studies—it’s nothing groundbreaking, but I hope it clicks.
First up, sort out your syllabus. Break it into chunks, and if you know the dates for assignments or tests, slap those on a planner. Then, figure out what portions need to be wrapped up by when. Trust me, this makes life so much easier.
Once you’ve got a handle on the syllabus, think about your textbooks and professors. Dunno how it works on your end, but over here, professors have their go-to textbooks and quirky ways of teaching. Some have clear favourites and even biases you can work with. (Not saying you should become a teacher’s pet, but understanding what they want from you helps big time when it comes to assignments and grading.) Course objectives? Yeah, those are worth a read.
Next, dive into past year papers and, if you can, grab toppers' answer copies. This gives you a crystal-clear idea of what to learn, how to present it, and how much time you’ve got to sort it all out.
Now that you’ve got the lay of the land, it’s time to set weekly and daily goals. Then—no shortcuts here—sit down and study. Some people swear by the Pomodoro technique, but I’m not a fan. I just study until my brain starts to fog up, then take a break. Speaking of breaks, keep them clean—no music, no scrolling. That dopamine hit will make you crave breaks instead of focusing on your work.
Oh, and reward yourself for the little wins! It’s like training your brain to associate studying with good vibes. Replace caffeine with water, also exercise. Do not skip breakfasts- Your brain needs the fuel.
Mock tests? Non-negotiable. Ask questions too—no one gets everything on the first go. Skip combined study sessions unless it’s to discuss mock test answers or clarify doubts. Everyone has their own pace, and group study can end up being a distraction.
Now, about revision—don’t underestimate it. Forgetting is part of the process, and revision helps you focus on the stuff that actually matters. I’ve got this traffic light system: topics I’ve totally forgotten go red, the hazy ones yellow, and the confident ones green. The goal? Turn everything green, but keep checking back to make sure green stays green.
For facts, flashcards or apps like Anki are lifesavers. And notes? There’s no one-size-fits-all. Experiment—Cornell, Feynman, mind maps—see what works for you. I like breaking things down. For example, when I read about experiments, I don’t just read—I watch videos or try them myself. Laws and theories? I explain them to myself using analogies and jot down my own examples. Keep the core stuff and examples in your main notes (Make sure your note has the pareto stuff from your textboks - not just everything from it). Random facts? Stick those in flashcards or a separate sheet.
If you’re analysing past papers, check out Bloom’s Taxonomy. It’s a fancy way of breaking down learning, but it helps tailor your notes and understand different types of questions.
Apologies for the essay but at the end of the day, it’s all about the basics: syllabus, past papers, mock tests, solid notes, and smart revision. That’s it. Tweak it to fit your style.
You’ve got this!
@sxndaybonbon you can't suddenlystart studying 4hrs at a time. You should measure long you are able to focus and continue to increase that amount by 5 minutes at a time if you get used to studying for a longer periods of time. Increase the time for 5 more minutes and so on.. For example, if you can study for 30 minutes without getting distracted, study 4 thirty minutes and take 5 minute breaks in between. something I find that really helps with my productivity is using a 10 minute planner. I like to block my studytime and assign something I will do in each time block. This helps me stay on schedule and also get through all my work without getting overwhelmed.
As for notes it's more important that u use active recall to study those notes than actually making them look good or neat so write as much as u can then study it later. I like to pretend im giving lectures or "blurt" on a piece of paper to help me process the info.Hope this helps!
