How to Study Smarter, Not Harder (5 Tips)

Hello everyone!

Are you tired of spending hours at your desk “hitting the books?” Are you looking for a better way to get your work done and still succeed? Are you trying to maintain your sanity but at the moment losing it? If any of these apply, keep on reading- there’s a better way to do things.

You’ve probably heard “study smarter, not harder” at some point, maybe from your teachers or parents. If you haven’t, then that’s cool too- you’ll still be able to reap the benefits of this strategy. The goal isn’t to spend the most time possible working; it’s to be as efficient as possible with the time you do have. Spending hours in the library or reading a textbook doesn’t necessarily equate to the best grades or the most success.

Here are the best tips to employ this strategy of doing less work in less time, all while still getting the necessities done and achieving your academic goals:

Work in chunks of time and take scheduled breaks – Set a mini schedule for yourself: work hard for 30 minutes then take a break for 5, etc. If you’re working in shorter chunks of time, you will stay focused and accomplish more within that period. The break helps you recharge for the next chunk- I promise this saves time.
Give yourself breaks!! – I know this is part of the working in chunks of time thing, but I can’t stress how important this is. If you don’t take breaks or you take them for the wrong amounts of time, you won’t be motivated enough to go back to working hard. Find the right length for you (5-15 minutes depending on the situation), and once you’re done with work for the day, give yourself the rest of the night off to recharge.
When you’re confused, don’t just struggle with it- go straight to the teacher (or the Internet if the teacher isn’t available) – It’s important to clarify any confusion or questions you may have. Stay after class to talk to your teacher if you’re having trouble, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. This can save you a lot of time in the long run- if you get your question answered before you even leave the classroom, it won’t be a problem you have again!
Study without distractions or interruptions – People definitely work differently in different environments, but if you really need to get things done quickly, I think it’s best to work alone. Listening to music, having some background noise, etc. is up to personal preference, but find a comfortable space where you won’t be interrupted and you can grind out the work.
Work actively, not passively – Don’t sit back at your desk on your phone in the middle of doing work- I know we’re all guilty of doing this (some more often than others), but this is a time KILLER. If you use the focused chunks of time method, stuff will get done so much faster and then you will be free to go on your phone. It’s so important to be intentional in how you spend your time, as it’s too valuable to waste.

I was introduced to this strategy by a couple YouTube videos and articles online, but the person I found who explained it best was Cal Newport. If you want to read his explanation or more of his articles (he has a lot of great stuff on productivity, etc.), check it out here: https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2007/09/13/three-ways-smart-students-reduce-study-time/

This strategy takes some adapting at first since it might be really different from what you’re used to, but the payoff is great. I hope you give it a try and it works out for you! Keep in mind you don’t have to use any single study method all of the time- if your current method is a little time-consuming but you’re still partial to it, you could save this for days where you’re in a bind.

-Brooke