Tips for Stress-Free Studying from a Recent College Grad

While my time in school has passed, I am no stranger to the concept of stressful late night studying. Long hours of note-taking and cramming for exams can easily become consuming.

Here’s some things I wish someone would have told me to take some of the stress off of myself.

Don’t start from a place of exhaustion

Your brain cannot perform at its best when it is overworked and exhausted. Getting a refreshing night of sleep will do far more for you than staying up all night cramming information that you probably won’t even retain.

Related: How to take better naps for productivity

Create a system of breaks

Create a system to give yourself breaks throughout your study sesh. After 1 hour, go stand up and get a snack; after 2 hours, take a 20 minute brain break to scroll on social media; having some kind of reward to look forward to will give you motivation to make it to the next checkpoint.

Related: Lock in your focus with this method

Be kind to yourself

Be kind to yourself! If you didn’t do as well as you hoped on an assignment, don’t beat yourself up. Instead focus on how you can improve in the future and keep moving forward.

Location, location

Choose a fun study spot to spend the afternoon. Get a coffee, grab a friend, and make the most of your time!

Take care of your mind

Don’t forget to make time for the things you enjoy. Studying is obviously important, but so is taking care of your mind and doing the things that are fulfilling. Such a quick stress reliever to pick up the things you love doing, even if it’s just for a few minutes between homework.

Whether you’re in high school, college, grad school or beyond, these can apply to anyone. You are so much more than your grades and stress.

Related: Real College Talk with Lily Crowder