How to Study Effectively: 11 Hacks for College Students to Keep Stress at Bay and Get Better Grades

By Patrick Banks

Posted 7 years agoGROWTH

Being in college brings stressors which influence our grades. School work itself can become overwhelming. Add to that the need to stay within a tight budget, possibly to work part-time, the social pressures, navigating the whole financial aid thing, lack of sleep and poor eating habits and the toll gets taken – for all students. Dealing with bad stress means that students have to find ways to relieve it if they are going to avoid emotional crises.

Students are often preparing for exams in an atmosphere of unhealthy panic. They are convinced that almost all their future life depends on the result of their exams. Parents are nervous, the teachers whip up tension, tutors, training courses, and other commercial projects try to promise something. How can you focus on your studies while these things take place?

Life does not stop at the time when the exam is not passed but you still need to improve yourself and advance your knowledge. Maybe for someone, this situation is a chance to rethink their goals and desires. Once again, think about what you want to do what you want to be, which profession you desire to get. It is possible that the university will be far from your most cherished dream at this stage of life. Do not be scared by this and do not go the beaten track.

Can we just get over it? Guys struggle and become stressed just as much as girls, especially when they are in school and experiencing the same types of issues and crises. We are long past the old thought that guys should just “get tough” and put their big boy pants on.

Wondering how to study effectively? Relax and follow the advice below.

STEP ONE: Manage your stress

A little stress is a good thing – it pushes you forward. You will know when it is becoming too much, though, if you become irritable or experience sleep problems. If you don’t deal with it, you can then experience anxiety and even depressions. The problem with too much stress is that it stalls you – you become “frozen.” It stops you from reaching your highest potential.
Stress prevention is the key. You can take steps ahead of time to prevent stress from overwhelming you. According to the experience of the students, we can say: the psychological factor is what both parents and teacher should take into account. You must learn to control your emotions, seek those things, events, thoughts, memories, images (anything) that set you on a positive footing.

If something was not possible this year, do not try on the role of an existential character, that is thrown overboard.

Engage in favourite business, run a marathon, go to extreme trekking, become crazy for some time (in a good way, of course), fall in love, spend time with family. And then, when the condition is stabilised, think about what you want to focus on your efforts in the future. We admit that after a proper emotional unloading, you will be grateful for another chance, and you will not have to suffer because of the missed opportunities.

So, to cut a long story short, follow this list to never give up and prove yourself in the right:

  • Start making some notes, writing down some important info from books etc.
  • Read with interest and concentration otherwise, it will be in vain.
  • Do not think that you have no right to commit an error! You are not God and that is why may sometimes be wrong!
  • Keep calm. Being too agitated will only distract you!
  • Accumulate seminar notes, books, and research articles.
  • You may go to the library to be more concentrated.
  • Look through some writing services if you feel that you cannot handle your tasks on your own.

How to GetAway from Your Stressors

One of the best ways to step back and get some perspective on your life is to do some volunteer work with those less fortunate than you. You will be surprised how much stress you can relieve by doing good works for others.

  • Exercise
    You’ve heard this all before, but it is worth repeating. Staying in physical shape is really critical to dealing with mental stress because you feel better and actually have more energy to focus and work on challenging issues. And people who do not exercise experience far more fatigue than those who do.
  • Meditate
    There are as many ways to meditate as there are types of hamburgers. It can range from as little as closing your eyes and taking deep breaths when you feel yourself becoming anxious, to actually taking a course and learning how to practice deep meditation. The choice is yours, but the goal is the same – you need to quiet your “busy brain.” When it is filled with worry and anxiety, you will do nothing well, you will get stalled, and you will not find good solutions.
  • Get Help as You Need It
     If you get behind on assignments and you realise that there is “no way” all of this is going to happen, you and get some professional help. Lots of young people use professional writing services or gsce maths tutors for college students for their “overflow.”

STEP TWO:  Commit to Eating Healthier

It’s not just a question of the “Freshman 15.” It’s a question of keeping the nutrients in your system that give you energy and a sense of well-being, as well as prevent illness. If you are on a food plan, make the decision to eat a salad or two helping of vegetables during the day. And, take fruit back to your room – you paid for this – and you can have fruit available for snacks at any time.

Here are some delicious healthy alternatives to your favourite junk food.

STEP THERE: Make Quality and Regular Sleep Your Habit

Sleep is crucial. You can’t “make up” a week’s worth of no sleep on a weekend. It doesn’t work like that.

You need sleep on a regular basis to remain alerted and avoid anxiety. If you have to pull an “all-nighter,” make sure that you crash the next day after classes are over and get some of your sleep caught up. And try to balance late nights with earlier ones.

Taking “power naps” can also help when you are looking for a long night ahead.

STEP FOUR: Cut Down on the Booze

Too many nights of drinking and days of hangovers will take their toll on you physically and mentally. And, too much of partying can also put you behind on coursework – a major cause of stress when you face due dates and exams.

STEP FIVE: Get Organised

  • Set Priorities and a Schedule. You will worry less if you have a schedule of tasks and how and when you are going to attack them. Of course, the next step is to live by that schedule as much as possible.
  • Set a Budget. You will worry less if you have a schedule of tasks and how and when you are going to attack them. Of course, the next step is to live by that schedule as much as possible. Set a Budget. This is easier said than done for college students – there are always unexpected expenses and moments of impulsivity when you will go beyond your budget. But if you have one in place, It will be much easier to manage your money and get some extra cash in your free time.

STEP FIVE: Surround yourself by motivating people

Avoid people who bring you stress. Surround yourself by those who inspire and sooth you.

It is not pleasant to end friendships and relationships. But if there are people in your life who cause you stress, you need to reduce the amount of time you spend with them. They are not worth your well-being. Choose your friends in college wisely, your social network is much more important than you  may think.

STEP SIX: Learn That There is No Failure, Only Feedback

Accept what you cannot change. 

This is a part of a famous piece called “The Serenity Prayer,” but it is a universal truth. There are things that happen to you and conditions surrounding you that you cannot change. Identify them and let them go. This may be tough to do, but when these circumstances come to mind, remind yourself that you cannot control them. You can only control your own choice and your own activity. And then move onto some positive action of your own on a challenge you can do something about.
No one is protected against the failure of the final examination, but it is difficult to realise that a bad result on the exam is not a tragedy. What to do next and who is wrong and how to understand the true causes of failures – these questions disturb hundreds of students!

We want to drive the point home to all the students who failed their exams, remember, there is always a second attempt or alternative. Just sign up for training courses, get involved in the whole academic year, learn what you do not know or what you did not have enough time for. And always remember that there are always more chances than just one.

Many people think that not to pass the exam or to pass it and get a low grade is a “privilege” of loafers. This is a big misconception. Anyone can fail the exam, especially when you consider that knowledge is not the only thing and often not even the main condition for successful completion.

Take time to relax after your unsuccessful attempt, restore your forces and just normalise your emotional state,and analyse what you have done wrong. This will help you to avoid previous mistakes. Find out your weaknesses in order to devote more time to them in the nearest future. Take a lesson from your previous failures to pass your next exams with flying colours! Good luck!

About the author Patrick Banks

Patrick is a Berlin-based dating advisor, motivational speaker, a huge fitness and vegan diet enthusiast and the main editor at Wingman Magazine, specialised in men's health. His ultimate goal is to share with men around the world his passion for self-development and to help them to become the greatest version of themselves. He believes a healthy body and successful social interactions are two main keys to happiness.

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