As the 2025 spring semester commences, many students already know how much time and effort will be spent studying and doing homework for their courses regardless of how many courses students are taking. Many students will be changing their previous studying habits to reflect the new workload of readings, assignments and more.
However, many students will agree that all the tips and tricks for forming effective study habits or any academic habits are hard to keep when you are the only one motivating yourself to keep the habit. A lot of the academic habits I was taught and kept from high school did not translate well into college. However, there were a few that proved to be still effective when putting in the effort to retain them.
Study Groups
Starting with the most common and classic habit, study groups. Study groups can be formed in many ways; some are formed based on who you are sitting with in class or with any friends you may have in the same course. This is especially useful if one of you is in the morning section or the late one, so the study group is on the same page when it comes to the assignments and readings, especially if you have to miss a class due to an illness or other unexpected circumstance. However, one of the many issues with study groups is scheduling a time to meet depending on the individual’s schedule and if they have other commitments like a part-time job, a lab or an away game just to name a few.
Body Doubling
This method is similar to study groups but can be done with one or two people. It works well if you and the other person have the same assignment for a class you share due or you both have similar assignments that both require focus. This not only provides you with a person to talk to about areas within the assignment where you have difficulties but also provides a motivator to keep studying. The nice thing about this method is that it can be done in person or virtually to fit schedules and living arrangements if one person lives further from campus and has a long commute to and from campus. Some issues with this method come down to who your body double is, for example, if you choose to study with a friend. Studying with a close friend can act as a double-edged sword: it can help but could also lead to you both getting distracted and focusing on something else together.
Interval Studying
Interval studying, more commonly known as the Pomodoro technique, is another way to create an effective study habit. This method helps break down a study session into smaller increments of time and is flexible enough to accommodate any other commitments. The most common breakdown is 25 minutes dedicated to studying or working and taking five minutes for a break; all that is needed is a timer. However, this method is not for everyone. It requires you to stick to the timers you set, either on a device like a phone or using an actual timer that students may have. This method also requires that the student has the willpower to stick to it and not extend the break past the set time. One thing I would recommend is picking different ways to spend the allotted break time. For example, instead of doomscrolling or choosing to be on your phone, I would recommend trying a non-electronic break. This could be many things like stretching or taking a quick walk around your space.
Dedicated Study Spaces
Now when it comes to studying, sometimes having a place that you purely dedicate to an activity, like reading for example, helps you focus on doing that. The same can be applied to studying; while some students can easily study where they are currently, it is a skill I certainly have not achieved yet. For many students, the Bush Memorial Library offers an easily accessible place to study or work on assignments in between classes, especially with the third floor being dedicated to quiet study for those who work better in quiet spaces. The first two floors can still be used as study places if students do not mind the occasional quiet chatter from others in the space. While the library is just one of the many places students can choose to study, some prefer a location off-campus to study. One example would be a nearby coffee shop like Ginkgo’s or Groundswell, which are perfect for those who like to have a certain aesthetic or vibe while studying—especially since local coffee shops sometimes have music playing already and I do not have to spend time picking the perfect song to play on a loop or spending an entire minute choosing a playlist.
When all is said and done, no matter how you choose your study habits or how you choose to keep them, I want you to remember two main things from this article. The first is that habits require effort and it is okay if you have to try multiple habits before you find the one that sticks because only you know strengths and limitations. The second would be to give yourself some grace; we all wish we had the “perfect” study method and the ability to stick to it. But we are all human, and even our professors probably felt the same way when they were in our shoes.
