Study Tips from a Nerd
Growing up I desperately wanted to be cool. I thought that by wearing the right jeans (Guess at the time this picture was taken) or watching the right shows, I could somehow purchase the good graces of the cool kids. It didn’t work.
At some point I stopped trying and slowly accepted that I was a nerd. I played the viola in orchestra. I liked to read and study. Peers aside, I liked school. As a result, I learned a thing or two about being a student that served me well. These study skills took years to acquire and would like to share those skills with you. As a side note- I did my library science degree online, so I learned how to be an online student.
My friends and I sometimes had to study and practice under some pretty subpar circumstances. One friend practiced her flute in the barn and I in the garage. I once studied in an unfinished attic. You shouldn’t strive for this. The point of this blog entry isn’t to shame or encourage you to “make things happen” no matter what. I wanted to share some things that work for me. The fact that you are doing the thing even under these circumstances is quite enough. As always- take what works for your life and leave the rest. Here is my advice from one online student to another in no particular order.
Write down everything you need to do. This is simple, and it works. In fifth grade I was generally a good and conscientious student and then I started forgetting to do one of many homework assignments for a few days in a row. My teacher asked me if I wrote down my homework and I said that I didn’t. So I got a small notebook and got positive results. If pen and paper isn’t your thing, now I create blocks of time on my calendar for what I need to do, which acts like a to do list. My Homework (https://myhomeworkapp.com/) is a student planner app that can provide reminders, track classes, and assignments for free. 
Find a good time of day to study. I know you don’t always have a choice when you study; keep reading if you do. I majored in music during college. This meant hours in a practice room alone, doing the work. Most people picked a time of day to practice when they were at their best. Some strange people liked getting up early and getting it out the way. Others would stay in the building all hours of the night, closing the day with their practice. I do my best work in the late afternoon, and if I had any say, I would get a cup of water, a diet soda, and practice at that time, going from 3-6 or so, and then having dinner. Do the work when you are at your best. If you are a morning person, do it then. If you are more of a night person, pick that time. And for those of us in the middle? Find the time that works for your circadian rhythm 
Set a timer and block out distractions. I recommend setting a timer. It can be an old-school egg timer, a kitchen timer, or one on your phone. Start setting it for a small amount of time (20 minutes, or even less) and only do your work during that time. Then take a couple of minutes, and restart. You’ll be able to gradually increase your time, but most people can’t do this deep work for too long at a time. Continue resetting until you are done. If the internet is too tempting, then you can use a plugin on Chrome like BlockSite, or even turn off the WIFI connection on your computer. 
Figure out how to prioritize deadlines. If there is anything that I have learned from my years of music training, it is how to take a big project, and break it into smaller tasks. What does this have to do with studying? If you have a research project in the form or a paper due at the end of the semester. How are you supposed to know what to do when!? This guide (https://www.lib.umn.edu/ac/research-paper?d=2021-02-03.2021-02-10) can help you figure out what steps you need to take to break down a long project into smaller tasks. Schedule a regular slot of time to dedicate to just this longer project on those days. As for shorter-term deadlines, I would prioritize them in order of deadlines, provided everything is of equal importance. For example, I have 4 classes that meet Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Each has weekly readings. Read them in chronological order. Don’t overthink this. 
This one is hard, if not impossible according to your living situation, and I want to recognize that. Also some people do well with some noise- to each their own. Here are some things that have worked for me to create quiet when I couldn’t get it. I’m a big fan of ASMRs to calm myself. Put on your headphones (not too loud) and do your best. Another are ear plugs. These are cheap and safe, whereas cranking up your headphones can damage your hearing. If you need to double up, you can easily use ear plugs and put larger headphones over them to block out even more sound. White noise machines are great, but they do cost money. If you already have a fan, exhaust fan, air purifier, or dehumidifier you can create some white noise to block out others. 
Have a ritual for your studying. When I start my work day, I make my bed. I never did this before the pandemic, (ever), but my choices of places to work were limited to the kitchen table or the bedroom. I picked the bedroom, but it felt overly personal to have an unmade bed in the background. I drink my second cup of tea and do a short mindfulness exercise to get my head ready for work, and then I read my email. Create your own set of rituals to get ready to work. They don’t have to be big things, in fact- small ones are better since they can’t be used as easily to procrastinate. Pick some small consistent gestures to set the stage for your work. Maybe wrapping up in the same blanket, because it is February and you are at home. Or pouring yourself the same beverage, or starting the day with the same music. I highly recommend starting your session with this song (https://youtu.be/UbxUSsFXYo4). Find what works for you. 
Read the syllabus. The syllabus will give you a list of expectations for the class. It will tell you exactly what you need to do, so use it as a way to manage your expectations throughout the semester. It should include a weekly list of things for you to do, use that to schedule what you need ahead of time. 
Figure out how to prioritize deadlines. If there is anything that I have learned from my years of music training, it is how to take a big project, and break it into smaller pieces. What does this have to do with studying? Say that you have a research project in the form or a paper due at the end of the semester. How are you supposed to know what to do when!? This guide (https://www.lib.umn.edu/ac/research-paper?d=2021-02-03.2021-02-10) can help you figure out what steps you need to take to break down a long project into smaller tasks. Once you get into the routine of the semester with work and any other commitments, you’ll have an idea of how much you can dedicate to one class and when. Schedule a regular slot of time to dedicate to just this longer project on those days. As for shorter-term deadlines, I would prioritize them in order of deadlines, provided everything is of equal importance. For example, I have 4 classes that meet Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Each has weekly readings. Read them in order and don’t overthink it. 
Find ways to bond with your fellow students. This is tricky right now. When I got my library science degree we were online, it was perfectly safe to gather in person. That isn’t the case now. I can give you these tips, but I’m not going through this experience with you in the same way. Only your classmates really understand what it is to be a student at PSC during a pandemic and what that means. They get it, so get to know them and lean on one another. Study groups. With your PSC Gmail account you have access to Google Meet, which is free and can allow you to get together and figure out a difficult assignment. Or study together to hold each other accountable. I had a friend I studied with most Sundays and couldn’t have gotten through without my study buddy. Video games. Want to bond with classmates online while staying in the comfort of your own home? Play Among Us, or whatever you want! Social Media. Form a group on social media with your classmates, study group, friends, or those in your major. We had a group for my cohort and later it became a support group as we job hunted. It started out as sage advice, a place to form study groups, a forum for complaining, and turned into a support group as we were job hunting. 
Review your notes after each class. After every class, take a quick look at your notes. This will help you to retain what was covered and make sure you understand it. If something isn’t clear, either email your professor, or you can put it in the class discussion board on D2L. I would encourage you to put it out there, because someone else probably had the same question. If you don’t feel comfortable doing either, then your group on social media can be helpful. 
Ask for help early. If something is unclear, ask for help sooner rather than later. Of course we can help you at the last minute; that’s why we are working during finals week. It does give us more time and the ability to help you more if you don’t wait. This includes help at the library, help from your professor, or help in the form of an extension. 
Get to know the library. The library has information and a collection that was built with your needs in mind. We have the research, the books, the information that you need. We also have staff to help you use it because we know sometimes finding information can be complicated. We aren’t just for the end of the semester. We’ve got resources online 24/7 too. Want to check out an eBook at 2 a.m.? The library is here for you. Need to delve into some research? The library is here for you. Want to read something for pleasure? The library is here for you.
Interested in reading more? Cal Newport talks about the paradox of productivity in the modern office. We have more technology to make tasks easier, but what if this is just creating more make-work? Check out his article in Wired. We also have some of his ebooks, including, Digital minimalism Choosing a focused life in a noisy world.
Pioneers 