Tuesday, January 11, 2011

my study habits

This crappy internet connection is really getting to me. I'm glad I've managed to fix it up in such a way that it doesn't disconnect me every few minutes.

Anyway, since I have a lot of schoolwork to do, I want to ask you guys a question, what are your study habits?


I like to read the material over and over again (if it's math, i practice over and over again) until I get it. I also write down important terms, dates, concepts and problem solutions on a separate piece of paper or on the margins of the material itself. I also like to keep the TV on when I study. I don't know why but it unnerves me when I study in complete silence. Since I am a really bad procrastinator, I usually study at the last minute and this usually comes back to bite me. I end up losing a lot of sleep or not sleeping at all and cramming chapters of several books into one night really does take a toll on both your physical, mental and emotional state. There was this one time, after an afternoon, late night and early morning study marathon, and I realized that it was time to get to school, I almost brushed my teeth with some hand cream. It didn't really help that it looked just like a tube of toothpaste and I was too groggy to really pay attention to whatever I was doing.

So why do I procrastinate so much? Well, there are just too many distractions in our world today that keep me from doing what I really need to do.

Here's my ideal study schedule for a test on a Friday, for example:
Monday afternoon: read through the material, skim it a couple of times, highlight/write down important stuff.
Tuesday afternoon: read through again and start really memorizing the material.
Wednesday afternoon: read again and review, quiz myself, get a good night's sleep.
Thursday afternoon: read one more time, review one more time.
Thursday evening: relax, get a good night's sleep.
Friday: take the exam, feel good

But here's what is most likely going to happen:
Monday afternoon: wonder if I should start studying, push this thought to the back of my mind, go on Facebook, read and reply to comments and start playing Sims 2 on my laptop, watch a movie (or two).
Tuesday afternoon: look at material to be studied, complain that it's too much, put it away, go on Facebook, update profile, go to Yahoo, read Yahoo news, go to Cracked and read articles, go to StumbleUpon, Stumble, Stumble, Stumble.
Wednesday afternoon: go on Facebook, stalk, go on Youtube, fangirl over kevjumba, skim through readings, fall asleep halfway through. wake up in the wee hours of the morning, read comic books until I fall asleep again.
Thursday afternoon: go on Facebook, ask everyone else if they'd studied yet, go to Yahoo, read Yahoo news, go to StumbleUpon, Stumble, Stumble, go on Blogger, update blog, Stumble, Stumble, wonder if I should study, Stumble, Stumble, try to read some of the exam coverage
Thursday evening: watch Family Guy online, look at clock, panic like heck, make a Nutella sandwich, eat Nutella sandwich, wonder if I should make another Nutella sandwich, resolve to not make another Nutella sandwich, read material for exam, highlight everything.
Early Friday morning: read material again, try and absorb everything, go on Facebook, read material again, cry, doodle around the reading material's margins, sleep for one hour, wake up, wake up for real.
Friday: take the exam, feel like crap.

So I guess you all know a bit more about me, eh? Which reminds me, I should be studying right now. Haha.

Here's to those sleepless nights devoted to studying,

11 comments:

  1. LOL we have similar study habits.If I'm not Facebook, I'm either watching Youtube videos or watching tv. I procrastinate and wait till the last minute to cram in everything in one night.

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  2. in theory subjects like economics, business studies etc i usually read everything and make notes on it in my own words, and study from the notes. it really helped in my O Level exams, i got good grades.
    in stuff like math and accounts i kept on practicing, though i really suck at them both :P i got satisfactory marks but not that great. i dropped both of them anyway :P
    for normal tests i used to study a day or two before, and managed to get good marks :D except in math. LOL.

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  3. @Rumana: haha. we procrastinators should unite. . . .tomorrow. xD

    @Furree Katt: well, at least you got good grades and you earned them, too. haha. don't worry, i hate math as well. it's my academic weakness. xD

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  4. Heya, thanks for following me. I'm following you back now. (wow, how stalkerish does that sound? xD)
    I feel ya, sister. But you know...the last minute study thing does work miracles. :)

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  5. Hi again. I would like to present to you the Stylish Blogger Award. I think your an awesome writer. If you've already gotten one, then make room for a second one! :)

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  6. I can't give you advice since I'm a little crappy too on studying.. and I don't know why.. even at the most hyper moment of the day.. just after my eyes came crossing through words on a book.. I will feel sleepy... and sleeping is my worst enemy in studying.. and internet is just distracting too for me.

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  7. I have to have everything off while I study. There has to be no TV on and ESPECIALLY no computer. Or else I'll get distracted and never study. I just study for hours everyday starting from about a week in advance. :P
    -Jodie-Ann

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  8. @smilelikewoe: thanks for following back. :)
    and yes, i guess the last-minute study thing does save me. somehow. :))

    @Rumana: thankyoouuu! :)

    @Kamila: i knoow! if i'm not goofing off on the internet, i'm sleeping, too. i feel sorry for my studies, they don't really get the attention they need. haha.

    @Jodie-Ann: seems you've got pretty awesome (and hardcore) study habits. keep it up. i should try and be more like you when it comes to studying. haha.

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  9. I study best with some good music on my noise-canceling headphones so I can go into my own little world.

    Bands I study to: Sigur Ros, Explosions in the Sky, M83, LOTR/Black Swan/Social Network/Inception soundtracks.

    Try them out! :) Awesome blog, followed.

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  10. @Samuel: nice! :)
    it is good to sort of cancel everything else out so you can be more focused.

    thanks for your suggestions. i will definitely try them out the next time i gather up enough willpower to study. haha.

    also, thank you for following! :D

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  11. Well, sometimes cramming works (for some). These usually get nothing done when they do things ahead of time. But when it comes to crunch time, all of the ideas just flow. But admit it, it's not tolerable as, most of the time, you should not do it. There are subjects that you have to invest time in to understand every corner of it i.e. math. Tuning up with music could help you loosen up and not get too pressured in studying. And oh, chocolates are great memory boosters. =)

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