As an A-level student, I have been forced to find a way to find the school system bearable. It can be hard to juggle school with your other priorities, but I've been given some tips along the way that have made life so much easier for me. So, naturally, I thought I'd share.
Work it like a 9-5
Bare in mind this is for out-of-exam time. However, this tip really works for me. Treat every hour you're at school (except lunch) like you're getting paid for it. Use all of your free periods, spare minutes between lessons and study halls wisely. Even if you have no homework, crack on with some revision and flashcards. Even the bus home presents as opportunity for extra time. Every. Minute. Counts. And yes - this mean 9-5, not 9-3:30 (Or whatever time you finish.) Get home/to the library/to a coffee shop, drag your school bag to a table and work until it's 5pm. Schedules don't work for everyone, but I know this has worked for me. If you don't give yourself a chance to think about stopping, you won't. Don't have a relaxing break on the sofa, don't call up your best friend - just work. This way, you know it's only until 5pm and then you can have your evenings to yourself.
Part time job?
If you're anything like me, you spend your spare time lusting over new clothes, makeup, dreaming of saving up for a splurge-worthy designer purchase. Of course, unless you're Blair Waldorf your parents likely won't fund your self-indulgence, so a part-time job is the other option. I think the main thing to remember when working & studying simultaneously is to set yourself sensible minimums. For me, 15 hours a week is more than enough. It really depends on your work-load week to week, and of course, you should definitely take some time off when exams roll around. Don't let your job let down your grades.
Study dates
However lame, grabbing a friend and heading off for a study-date can be entirely beneficial. Try to keep it to one or two friends, as a bigger group encourages procrastination. Libraries and calm coffee-shops are both good learning environments, or even your friends living room floor. Treat yourself to lunch out after a few productive hours. Seeing your friend slaving away beside you if often the best kind of motivation - or competition, if you view it that way.
Past papers & Examiner's reports
Bare in mind this is for out-of-exam time. However, this tip really works for me. Treat every hour you're at school (except lunch) like you're getting paid for it. Use all of your free periods, spare minutes between lessons and study halls wisely. Even if you have no homework, crack on with some revision and flashcards. Even the bus home presents as opportunity for extra time. Every. Minute. Counts. And yes - this mean 9-5, not 9-3:30 (Or whatever time you finish.) Get home/to the library/to a coffee shop, drag your school bag to a table and work until it's 5pm. Schedules don't work for everyone, but I know this has worked for me. If you don't give yourself a chance to think about stopping, you won't. Don't have a relaxing break on the sofa, don't call up your best friend - just work. This way, you know it's only until 5pm and then you can have your evenings to yourself.
Part time job?
If you're anything like me, you spend your spare time lusting over new clothes, makeup, dreaming of saving up for a splurge-worthy designer purchase. Of course, unless you're Blair Waldorf your parents likely won't fund your self-indulgence, so a part-time job is the other option. I think the main thing to remember when working & studying simultaneously is to set yourself sensible minimums. For me, 15 hours a week is more than enough. It really depends on your work-load week to week, and of course, you should definitely take some time off when exams roll around. Don't let your job let down your grades.
Study dates
However lame, grabbing a friend and heading off for a study-date can be entirely beneficial. Try to keep it to one or two friends, as a bigger group encourages procrastination. Libraries and calm coffee-shops are both good learning environments, or even your friends living room floor. Treat yourself to lunch out after a few productive hours. Seeing your friend slaving away beside you if often the best kind of motivation - or competition, if you view it that way.
Past papers & Examiner's reports
The most essential study tip I could give you. Use your resources! Examiners reports literally let you read the minds of your exam-markers. A quote I love from thestudentroom: 'What baffles me is that, year upon year, the exam boards make a public document that is, wait for it, written by the people who are going to mark your papers. And in it, they tell you what they like to read. They also give you example of what not to do.' The main idea here is that you can absolutely walk into your exam hall knowing what they like to hear. And you should say just that.
Helpful apps & Websites
My Study Life - A place for your timetable, schedule, assignments, exams etc. Aesthetically pleasing and really helpful organisationally
Timetable - A beautiful, simple, colour co-orindated school timetable app which allows multiple week timetables. Lovely.
Stay Focused - Cute app which allows you to virtually plant trees in return for not touching your phone for a certain amount of time. Great study incentive...don't kill the cute little tree!
Work Hard Anywhere - Lists laptop, wifi-friendly cafes around the world. People leave reviews, it's quite a new app but really innovative and useful for students.
thestudentroom - I highly recommend you exploit this website for all of it's use! A huge forum of students from all over the world. Includes basically everything you could ever ask for to help you study, but also is a great community to ask for help on various topics.
your exam boards website - Don't forget to download your syllabus. This is where all of your glorious past papers and examiner's reports are kept.
http://tumblr.com/tagged/studyblr - The studyblr community take pretty, inspiring pictures of their notes for everyone else to see. They also post tips and answer queries. Joining this community is a great motivator! My studyblr is here.
My Study Life - A place for your timetable, schedule, assignments, exams etc. Aesthetically pleasing and really helpful organisationally
Timetable - A beautiful, simple, colour co-orindated school timetable app which allows multiple week timetables. Lovely.
Stay Focused - Cute app which allows you to virtually plant trees in return for not touching your phone for a certain amount of time. Great study incentive...don't kill the cute little tree!
Work Hard Anywhere - Lists laptop, wifi-friendly cafes around the world. People leave reviews, it's quite a new app but really innovative and useful for students.
thestudentroom - I highly recommend you exploit this website for all of it's use! A huge forum of students from all over the world. Includes basically everything you could ever ask for to help you study, but also is a great community to ask for help on various topics.
your exam boards website - Don't forget to download your syllabus. This is where all of your glorious past papers and examiner's reports are kept.
http://tumblr.com/tagged/studyblr - The studyblr community take pretty, inspiring pictures of their notes for everyone else to see. They also post tips and answer queries. Joining this community is a great motivator! My studyblr is here.
Hope you enjoyed this post! Leave me a comment if you have any study tips. :)
Heidi :)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Don't forget to give me a follow. I read all my comments :)