Productive study tips

academic advice College study skills

I always like to start off my study sessions with a bit of music. Especially if I know I need to focus up later, starting off in a light, comfortable mood helps to take the pressure off a bit. 

After the tunes have permeated the space, I begin laying out my goals for the session. Will I learn a new topic? Finish a homework assignment? Start a project? Each task out of the mind and on to a to-do list helps to get some of the clutter out the way.

Next comes the ranking of tasks, from difficult to easy. I usually start with the harder tasks first and try to break them down into easier tasks. Maybe instead of solving a nasty differential equation, I'll start by understanding known solutions and re-work them. Like lifting weights, a few warm-up reps can do wonders for overall development and can let you know which aspects of the process require more attention to progress.

Lastly, and most importantly, I take breaks when I feel like I’m tired of fighting against a wall. I’ll take a walk or eat some food, anything to get my mind in a calmer place. Then, I’ll come back in a lighter mood and restart the process.

Gregory is a GEM PhD fellow and a PhD candidate in Applied Physics at Harvard University. Previously, he received his undergraduate degrees in Electrical Engineering and Engineering Physics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

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