1. Schedule, schedule, and schedule.
    Having a schedule saves time and gives peace of mind. Setting specific times for all activities, from your wake-up time, to mealtimes, study sessions, classes, is key. It may feel excessive, but it helped me to maintain a 3.98 GPA, work, exercise, travel, model, and graduate with Summa Cum Laude honors.

    I will recommend tracking your energy and focus levels throughout the day, scheduling study sessions around that time to boost productivity and efficiency. When you know exactly what you need to do and when, it becomes easier for you to adapt and stay on track.

  2. A warmup before class:
    Preparing before class may not always be feasible, but worth the try. This is like warming up before working out. By reading and reviewing content ahead of time, you expose your brain to new information, triggering new ideas, concepts, and questions. By the time you get to class, the material will already be familiar, and it will be easier to understand what didn’t make sense before.

    This is key because we often learn best from our mistakes. If you misunderstood something but then corrected it in class, it’s more likely that you will retain that information in the long term. This isn’t about becoming an expert on the topic but about breaking down the information into more digestible pieces, helping you understand it better.

  3. Romanticize your study time
    Create a study place you love for better focus and productivity. For me, a well-organized area with minimal distractions is key. My essentials are lo-fi beats, a pomodoro timer, good lighting and temperature.

    Make sure it is comfortable enough but not too cozy;, we still need to keep alert. A cup of coffee, some water, and comfy clothes (please, not PJs) can help you get started.

    I also try to keep my study space separate from where I sleep to avoid getting sleepy and have better night rest.

    Everyone’s ideal study environment is different, so I encourage you to experiment until you find what works best for you.

  4. Start studying ahead of time and review constantly
    Starting early and consistently reviewing helps me avoid feeling overwhelmed. As your classes become more challenging and concepts more complex, you will need more time to fully comprehend and practice.

    By starting to study ahead of time, I gave myself enough time to get familiar with the information, break it down and try different studying methods. This allows you to truly understand what you are learning, not just memorize.

    Regular reviewing reinforces the material and helps build confidence. Walking into an exam feeling prepared, confident, and even excited is worth it.

  5. Find a group of people with similar academic goals
    If you study in a group, choose your study partner carefully. Studying with friends can be fun, but if they don’t share the same academic goals, study time can easily become social time. Be honest with yourself and decide which people genuinely help you achieve goals. Studying with someone who is also focused on improving their grades can make all the difference, as they will respect the purpose of the study sessions.

    It’s okay to have different friends for different activities. Setting boundaries is a form of self-love that helps you stay on track with your academic priorities.

Some of my worst study habits you should avoid:

  1. Not prioritizing sleep
    One of my biggest mistakes (and I still do it sometimes) is not prioritizing my sleep or forcing myself to study when I clearly needed rest.

    Pushing myself only to drain my energy is a waste of time. I’d spend too much time on tasks that could’ve been done faster with proper rest.

    This is where scheduling comes in. Set boundaries for study hours and follow a sleep schedule to maintain better energy levels.

  2. Not having breaks during long study sessions.
    Studying all day without breaks isn’t realistic. It’s important to check in with yourself during your study sessions to evaluate whether you’re truly making progress.

    I use the Pomodoro technique and experiment with different intervals to find what works best. After each study session, use your break wisely. This rest is for your brain to recover and your body to move. Go for a walk, wash dishes, sing a song, or meditate. These will distract your brain from what you were doing and help recharge and reset the focus.

  3. Multitasking while studying
    Studying is hard enough without added distractions. I am not saying multitasking isn’t useful, but there is a time and place for it. If you've already scheduled a specific time for studying, respect that time. Trying to do everything at once only results in doing nothing well, or doing something poorly enough that you have to redo it later. Focus on one task at a time for better results.

  4. Keeping the same study strategy when it is not giving great results
    Not evaluating your study strategies to see if they need to change, might be delaying your progress. It is essential to assess both your weaknesses and strengths and make the necessary modifications according to your needs.

    The key is to be honest with yourself and identify problems quickly so you can solve them efficiently. Always include strategies that help you prove your understanding of the material. For example, teaching others or taking practice tests are great ways to set parameters and track progress. And remember that different study techniques may work better for different subjects or stages of your studying.