Study Tips for Students
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11: 28-30).
Jesus never promised that things would be easy, but He did promise to be with us always. The teenage years can be extremely stressful for students. Exam time is one of those seasons that can cause intense anxiety and stress. Students respond to stress in many different ways. Some may shut down while others act out. While I can’t take away the stress of those long testing days and late night study sessions, I can offer some ways to approach high school exams that just may help now and in your future college exams.
Here are five study tips as we enter exam season for our high school students:
Make a plan.
Someone once said to fail to plan is a plan to fail. I encouraged you to sit down with a calendar and write down all of the things that you need to do over the next week as your exams approach. Are there Christmas parties that your parents are expecting you to attend? Are there games that you need to play in for soccer or basketball? Put those things on your calendar first. Then look at your week and decide when you’re going to study and what you’re going to study. Based on when each exam is, you can spend an hour or so each night on a different subject and manage your time so that you’re not overwhelmed and you don’t get behind. For example, you wouldn’t want to spend three hours preparing for a math test that’s two days away and neglect studying for the test that’s tomorrow. That’s a habit that some of you may get into, but you need look over the material for each test so that you are confident going into the exam.
Do the review.
Most of your teachers are going to give you a study guide or a list of things to review for the exam. That is what you need to study. Don’t get in the habit of procrastinating on those reviews or copying answers from someone else. Put the time and effort into the review and this may be the only studying that you really need to do for that class. The purpose of the review is to help you recall the information that you’ve already learned. This is a sure key to success.
Eat, Rest, and Hydrate.
Students often overlook their nutrition and rest habits when they get stressed and overwhelmed. I see so many students get sick during exam week and this often stems from neglecting these things. Eat. You want to make sure that you’re still eating balanced meals and snacks throughout the day. You may want to keep snacks at your desk or in your study area so you can take a quick snack before you start your studying. Your body needs fuel to be able to think properly. Rest. Please do not get into the habit of staying up until two or 3 o’clock in the morning cramming for exams just to have to turn around and wake up at seven. That is not a good habit. Teenagers need much more sleep than adults in order for your body to recover and be rejuvenated for the next day. You’re not going to be able to focus if you are exhausted. Hydrate. Hydration is also key to keeping your mind sharp and your body feeling like it has energy. When you get dehydrated, you feel weak and tired. This cycle is going to sabotage your efforts to focus when studying and testing.
Take breaks.
It will actually help you focus more if you take breaks before you start studying and frequent breaks throughout. When you get home from school, don’t go straight to studying. Go for a walk or a bike ride. Do a quick work out. Visit with your friends or family. Watch a program on TV or listen to music. While you are studying, take breaks throughout. You may feel refreshed after you’ve disconnected for a little while. Limit your time on these breaks, but it is important for your mental health to disconnect briefly and this will help you focus better when you return to your studies.
Call your mama.
I don’t mean the mama that you live with or your biological mom. I’m talking about your heavenly mother. This is a reminder to pray for before and during your study sessions and exams. Prayer is our connection to God and opens us up to the graces of peace from our Lord. Try to pray a decade of the rosary before you start studying. Say a quick prayer before you start your exam. If you have a chapel on campus or an Adoration chapel near school, visit Jesus before you start your day. Use prayer as your way to rest your heart, to calm your mind, and to ask God for the ability to focus and recall everything for which you have prepared.
I know this can be a tough season. Practice these habits and you just may find yourself remembering more of what you studied. This may make the time you spend studying more effective and require less time overall.
I care about you and your well being. This time will pass quickly. Most importantly, know that your value is not based on your grades. Your parents want you to succeed, but not at the risk of your health and wellness. If you are extremely stressed and overwhelmed, you may need to talk to your parents about meeting with a youth minister, priest, or counselor.
You are all in my prayers. I wish you the best of luck on your exams and the gift of a restful break when it is over!
