How to Survive the School Semester

Perhaps you’re feeling a lag starting to come upon you, or maybe you’re not. I, for one, can tell you that my procrastination levels have gone up, and my productivity levels have gone down. And I’m getting distracted way more than I was in the fall semester, which is not a good idea, especially since the spring semester (or these last few months) means exam season! So, how can we overcome this? Let’s talk about how to study efficiently, and some tips to help you survive the rest of this semester.

How do I study effectively?

There is no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to studying. Everyone has their own preferences or methods that work for them, but might not work for someone else. The key to this is to understand your study habits; what works and what doesn’t, and to tailor them to fit you. For example, I know some students who like to drown their notes in multiple colors. This works for them, but it doesn’t work for me. I know that having too many colors on the page can overwhelm me, so I prefer to write my notes with one color and have a second color to highlight some key points.

But here are some general tips to help you study better.

1. Get organized

Having a planner really does help, whether it be online or on paper. Use your planner to write down any assignments or tasks you need to do. This makes sure you don’t forget anything, and it’s also a great way to just help you feel less overwhelmed with all the things you have to do.

2. Pay attention in class

This seems pretty self explanatory and pretty obvious, but make sure you’re actively listening to the teacher. I know we can get distracted sometimes, especially now that we’re virtual, but listening and focusing on what’s happening in class means that you don’t have to spend more time outside of class trying to figure out what you missed from class. This also gives you the opportunity to ask questions in class when you don’t understand something.

3. Steer clear of distractions

This is one of the biggest things that hurt a student’s focus, and I can definitely speak from experience, as I’m sure most of us can. Now that most of us are doing virtual school, it’s important to be self-disciplined and motivated, which I’m sure can be difficult at times. Know what’s distracting you and steer clear of them. If it means deleting social media apps, then do that. For me, it’s putting my phone on silent (to the annoyance of my friends) so I don’t get bombarded by notifications.

4. Take good notes

Writing clear and complete notes helps you process the information better (especially if it’s handwritten notes) and it allows you to review the material later.

5. Have a study plan

Even if it’s a simple plan like which assignments/tasks you plan to get done on that day, or what topics you will study each day, these schedules can be useful. For one, it helps you feel less stressed because you have a goal or a plan set, and two, you’ll have enough time to get what needs to be done.

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How do I survive the semester?

1. Sleep

Contrary to what a lot of high school students have been doing, sleep is absolutely essential. Adolescents need at least 8 hours of sleep per day (something most of us don’t even usually get), but even still, get some sleep. Your brain will not function properly if you’re lacking sleep, which can lead to your studying being worse.

2. Take a break

Yes, studies are important, but you need to give yourself some time to relax as well. This will allow you to feel refreshed and come back more ready to work. If you just keep studying for hours on end, you’ll most likely start to lag. Also know that school is not your entire life; spend some time on your social life as well.

3. Prioritize

I know we all want to just relax and not have to stress with school, but prioritize! Just push for a short period of time, and once this is over, you can enjoy all you want. Wouldn’t this be better than later regretting not having prioritized well?

4. Talk to people

Like I said before, spend some time on your social life, but what I mean by talking to people is to seek help when you need it. Talk about what’s making you stressed, or if you need help with anything. It is much better to have a support system instead of trying to accomplish everything on your own. There is no shame at all in asking for help!

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I hope these tips have been somewhat useful! Remember, there are only a couple more months left till the end of the school year (if you live in the U.S.) so all you have to do is hold out for a bit. Study well and focus right now, and you can have fun all summer (for juniors doing college applications, I’m in the same boat with you; good luck!).

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Works Cited

(1) "HOW TO STUDY EFFECTIVELY: 12 SECRETS FOR SUCCESS." Oxford Learning, Oxford

Learning Centres, 19 Apr. 2017, www.oxfordlearning.com/

how-to-study-effectively/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.

(2) Moira. "How to Survive a Busy Semester or Year." MyUVic Life, 22 Oct. 2019,

onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/myuviclife/2019/10/22/

how-to-survive-a-busy-semester-or-year/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.

(3) Wright, Sarah. "10 Ways to Make Sure You Survive End-of-Semester Stress."

Study.com, study.com/articles/

10_Ways_to_Make_Sure_You_Survive_End-of-Semester_Stress.html. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.