3
Get rid of distractions. That’s right.
Turn off your phone, television, or iPod.
I may sound like your mom, but she
has point. The constant noise, text
beeps, or notifications make you loose
focus. How will you remember that
King Louis XIV built Versailles if your BFF
keeps texting about “hot boy” down the
street? Well, you won’t. And “hot boy” probably won’t be the best answer to put on your history test unless your teacher has a really good
sense of humor.
If you need to use a computer for your studying, make sure to close all social media and
stay on task. You can reward yourself at the
end of your study session by checking in on
your lonely BFF.
And if it’s just too tempting to check your
phone or messages, give them to your mom
for a “Time-Out.” The shock on your mother’s
face will wear off eventually, promise.
4
Take breaks. During long study ses-
sions, your brain might need a break.
And that’s perfectly okay! A five or ten
minute break here and there is a great
way to recharge and power up for more
intense studying. And if you have a
long day of studying ahead of you, like on a
Saturday, schedule in a couple of longer
breaks so that you aren’t falling asleep in your
books. Here are a few ideas for fun and simple
breaks:
Five or Ten Minute Break:
• Lay out on the grass
• Blast your favorite song
• Eat a power snack
• Have a mini-dance party
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• Watch a short video clip
• Do some yoga
• Take a few laps around the house
• Paint your nails
• Do a crossword puzzle
• Have a cup of hot chocolate
Half-Hour or Hour Break:
• Read a “fun” book
• Write in your journal
• Go for a bike ride
• Play an instrument
• Clean your study space
• Take a nap
• Bubble bath!
5
Get enough sleep. I know, what
about those late-night cram sessions?
Research done in 2012 actually shows
that sacrificing sleep for study does
more harm than good. Teens who
loose sleep for studying will be more
likely to struggle the following day on assignments or tests.
So how much sleep should you be getting?
The National Sleep Foundation states that
teens should get 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep but
share that only 15% of teens get that much.
When you’re planning your daily schedule as
mentioned above, put your sleep into the equation. If you’re going to wake up at 7:00am,
you’ll need to go to bed 9 hours before
that...which in this case would be 10:00pm.
Lots of rest makes for better tests!!
Keep in mind these 5 study tips and you’ll be
prepared and ready for whatever your teachers
throw at you! Unless it’s an eraser. Then duck!
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