Leslie J. Savage Library: Study Tips

You can do it! Ensure your study time is beneficial and efficient with these helpful tips:

Sleep. Seriously, a good night's sleep does wonders. Studies show that pulling an all-nighter can impair reasoning and memory for as long as 4 days! And if you feel like you need a nap during the day, don't nap longer than 20 minutes. Get a good solid night's sleep, eat nutritious foods, and drink plenty of water.

Study when you are the most alert. The library is open long hours, seven days a week, and extended hours the final two weeks of each semester, so you can study when it is the best time for you.

Choose an environment that works well for you. Are you easily distracted? Perhaps you need to be in a study room. The library has many different types of spaces for you to choose from. Quiet spaces, open spaces, small spaces, group work spaces. Come explore and find your favorite spot!

You're not alone! Ask a librarian for help. Never hesitate to drop by the front desk or give us a call!

Take breaks! Your brain needs time to rest. Study for no more than an hour and then take a 5-10 minute break. Get up, walk around, stretch. Close your eyes to rest them. 

Break time is a good time for snack time. Drink water and eat healthy snacks. Fruit and nuts are great for long-lasting energy. Staying nourished and hydrated will allow your brain to function at a high level. You are more than welcome to bring food and drinks into the library. Just keep them in covered containers and away from our computers. And be sure to let us know if there is a spill. Thanks!

Avoid distractions. Put the phone away. Don't check social media or emails. Use a blocking app, if necessary.

Exercise. Don't just tie yourself to a chair for hours on end. Keeping your body active will help keep your mind active. Walk, dance, jog, bike. Get your heart rate up for at least 20 minutes a day. The library also has two FitDesks on our 1st floor.

Did you know:

For decades, psychological research has been able to explain procrastination as a functioning problem, not a consequence of laziness. When a person fails to begin a project that they care about, it’s typically due to either a) anxiety about their attempts not being “good enough” or b) confusion about what the first steps of the task are. Not laziness. In fact, procrastination is more likely when the task is meaningful and the individual cares about doing it well ("Laziness does not exist"). 

What can you do? 

1. Just get started. Give yourself 5 minutes to start work on a task, and let yourself stop after 5 minutes if you want. Most of the time, you'll find that you want to keep going! 

2. Break down the task into small pieces. This may include looking up the basic steps for a research paper, or how to study for a test. 

3. Make it interesting for yourself. If you're tired of doing the same things over and over, give yourself a different approach! Turn your exam review into a Jeopardy game with Factile, design an infographic or cheat sheet for yourself with Canva, make a practice test for yourself with Quizlet, or make a video about it (each of those tools has a good free version to use). 

For more strategies, watch the Library's YouTube videos on time management and other college advice. 

If you feel like you need music - keep it instrumental. Studies show that instrumental, ambient music is great for learning.  We have headphones available for checkout at the main desk.

Memory associations and mnemonic devices, such as acrostics, rhymes, or acronyms are also helpful. Example: If I needed to remember the number 504, I'd remember that May 4th is Star Wars Day. 

The sense of smell can be very helpful in recalling memories. Your brain likes to attach memory with the senses, which ends up making the memory more powerful. When studying, use your sense of smell to remember and recall what you have learned. For instance, you could sniff peppermint while studying for math and then sniff peppermint again before the exam. Pick your favorite scents and use a different scent for each subject.