Hacks for Students: Boosting Study Efficiency and Productivity

As a chartered accountancy student, I've spent the last 9 months preparing for my Intermediate exams. Although I am not an expert, I'd like to share some strategies and techniques that I used to increase my study time to 10 hours a day. These tips might be beneficial for you as well.

1. Creating a Study Plan for Tomorrow

One of the most effective methods I used was creating a detailed study plan for the next day before going to bed. This practice significantly reduced the time wasted in transitioning from waking up to studying. By setting clear objectives the night before, my subconscious mind was already prepared for the day's tasks. As a result, my mind and body were more focused and ready to tackle the goals set for the day.

2. Setting Unrealistic Plans

Another technique I found incredibly helpful was setting unrealistic plans. For instance, if your routine study load is completing 2 chapters a day, I would suggest creating a plan to complete 4 chapters. This might seem counterintuitive, but it challenges your mind and body to expand their limits. The discomfort of this approach pushes you out of your comfort zone, fostering growth and improving your capacity to handle more work.

On the first day, you may fall short of your goal of 4 chapters, but you might still achieve 2.5, surpassing your previous best of 2 chapters. Repeatedly setting higher targets gradually enhances your efficiency and capability. By pushing yourself to do more, you'll notice improvements over time, making your study sessions more productive.

3. Making Short Notes and Marking Key Questions

A strategy I could have implemented more rigorously is making short notes and marking key questions. During class, it's crucial to identify and highlight important questions that your teachers emphasize, or those you find challenging. These questions are often recurring themes in exams and mastering them can significantly improve your exam performance.

Creating concise notes is also invaluable. When you have limited time to review the course material, these notes serve as a quick reference, allowing you to maximize your revision time. This method ensures that you retain crucial information, even when you can't devote extensive time to studying.

Conclusion

These techniques are not just for me; they can be adapted by students across various fields. By implementing better planning, setting challenging goals, and taking notes, you can significantly boost your study efficiency and productivity. Remember, the key is to start small and gradually build your capacity.

Would you like to share any other study tips in the comments? I'd love to hear your experiences and insights. Please upvote if this post was helpful and follow me for more valuable content.

Thanks for reading!