Top Study Tips

The sun’s out, the evenings long and the pub gardens are full – which means it’s resit exam season at uni. But how can you study smart to give yourself time to enjoy a bit of the summer?

At Clifton Short Lets, we’ve welcomed many students through our doors and we’ve picked up a thing or two over the years. We’ve put together the six most important things to optimise your study experience.

Create the perfect study environment

Revision and studying when everyone else is enjoying their summer can feel like an impossible task. That’s why you need to prepare the perfect study environment so you can avoid distractions and make the most of every minute.

The perfect environment allows you to sit and focus for long periods of time. Before you settle in, ask yourself:

- Is the temperature in the room right? Do I need a breeze?

- How’s the lighting? Do I need to open/close the blinds?

- Have I got water in case I get thirsty? How about a banana or other healthy snack?

- Is the seat comfortable? Desk height? Will I be able to sit in this position for more than an hour?

- Is it quiet enough? Do I need headphones?

- Have I turned off notifications on all my devices?

Schedule effective time management

There’s a reason that people are advised to schedule breaks into their study time – the human brain can really only ingest and retain information for short periods of time. One of the most popular time management techniques is the ‘Pomodoro method’. This basic practice means focusing for twenty-five minutes then taking a break for five minutes to allow the brain to reset. After two hours, take a 30-minute break. If you struggle to work to timings, there’s a whole host of websites and apps designed to take you through the process. We like pomofocus.io.

Pro Tip: Start your revision in the morning. Get it out of the way!

Your body is a temple

It doesn’t matter how effective your time management is or how beautifully detailed your revision cards are – if your body isn’t receptive to receiving the information, you’re not going to be able to study effectively.

- Are you getting enough sleep? Aim for around 7 hours.

- Are you moving? NHS guidelines advise thirty minutes of exercise (where you’re slightly out of breath) five times per week

- Are you eating healthily? It can be tempting to snack on junk food while studying – replace those crisps with fruit and make sure you’re taking longer breaks for proper meals.

- Are you hydrated? Studies show that you only need to be 1% dehydrated to experience a 5% decrease in cognitive function. Not ideal when you’re trying to study! Make sure you’re drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day.

Trim the information

Time is of the essence and there’s no point in wasting it by ploughing through pages and pages of notes – or, even worse by just re-reading the textbook. Think about the essential pieces of information you need to know. Look back through the syllabus and specifications of your course – what are the key things you’ll be tested on?

Use flashcards and other tools to supplement your revision. There are a whole range of ways they can be used effectively – there seems to be another hack popping up on TikTok every week…

Pro tip: One of the best ways to learn something is to try and teach it to someone else – can you do this using your flashcards or by creating a presentation?

Start in the right frame of mind

We’ve already talked about the importance of optimising the body and the environment – but you also need to make sure you’re in the right place mentally. Make sure you’re taking regular breaks to give your brain a chance to relax. Treat yourself every day – whether it’s a favourite film, going for coffee with a friend or just playing a favourite game, it’s important you have something to look forward to.

We’d also recommend introducing some mindfulness or meditation practice into your day. If nothing else, it’ll help your brain flex its muscles and improve your focus levels. Students can take advantage of great discounts on apps like headspace or calm.