With AP exams, finals, and regents close approaching, we are finding ourselves becoming anxious with the need to study before these looming dates arrive. But, if you’re anything like me, you have avoided those textbooks and study guides on your desk and plan to procrastinate until the very last minute… which may work, but in most cases, unfortunately won’t (trust me, I’ve tried). So, if you do fall into this category, or simply want a little guide, then read on to find easy tricks to stay productive when finals and exams arrive!

Before we begin, let’s think about the last time that you studied. Was it last night? Last week? Last year? Whatever the case may be, or whenever you may have studied last, think of what you did to help you study so diligently… or rather, what you didn’t do. Very often people assume that studying is sitting down for hours and cramming as much of the notes that you scribbled down during class into your head. But it’s actually the opposite of that.

You can go to class every day, do your homework, spend your Saturdays at the library, and get every assignment in on time, but still get stumped by low productivity. This is why studying goes beyond the desk, the papers, the notes, and the highlighters. Studying blooms at the roots of routine and healthy habits. Waking up early, obtaining a regulated sleep pattern, having all three meals of the day, and setting alarms or reminders on your phone to get certain things done will put you in a state of being able to set goals within your regular routine, which will inevitably lead to higher productivity. But, unfortunately, it’s not that easy; becoming productive and rigorous in all aspects of life – including school – takes work and dedication.

So… how might you be productive in a world full of distractions? Well, for starters, maybe, just maybe, you should consider shutting your phone down in order to avoid the urge to pick it up and “just go on it for a little bit” (in which that little bit will quickly turn into two hours… oof) or respond to a message that just dinged. I know it’s hard to put your phone away and restrict yourself from the dopamine that hits when you open up your favorite app; but it really does help in terms of getting rid of possible distractions. Along with this, going into a secluded place where you know you can focus – like a local coffee shop, library, or somewhere as simple as your own room – can greatly help you lock in. Some may work well in a loud environment, but others need quiet… this is why doing something like plugging in some music while you work could be great for everyone – even those quiet thinkers. You can make your own playlist or simply listen to your favorite artists via AirPods, a speaker, or Alexa while you study; it helps to drown out background noise and motivate you to study – because who doesn’t love an excuse to listen to their favorite music?!?

Don’t worry, we’re not done yet; I’ve got a few more tricks up my sleeve (I know, cheesy… it sounded better in my head – insert embarrassed emoji). Studying for anything – from tests and quizzes to nail-biting finals that are 50% of your grade – requires time… but not too much time; because it’s far from beneficial to be sitting down for over t

wo hours studying with zero breaks. Why do you think workers protested for decreased working hours in the 1900’s? Because people are happier, and work harder when they’re working for shorter periods. Besides, your brain can’t retain multitudes of information all at once without having at least a little bit of time to digest it. So, rather than sitting down with your textbooks and notes for hours on end each night, create mini time-blocks. Set a certain amount of time that you will study for, and when that time is up, get up, go to the bathroom, grab a snack, maybe walk the dog, and then go back to your desk and start studying again. I know that it’s hard to pull yourself away when you’re in the thick of studying, but it’s healthy and helpful to walk away and refresh both your brain and body and give yourself a break. Another way to ensure high productivity is to do the hard stuff first. I know what you’re thinking: why on earth would I do the thing that I’m dreading most… first? Well, believe it or not, doing the hardest stuff first will set you up for success; because we all know how it usually goes, you do the easier tasks on your to-do list first in order to ease yourself into the day, and promise that you’ll do the bigger stuff later. But when later comes, it’s pushed into tomorrow because you already got some stuff done today… right? And when that deadline rolls around, the bigger tasks that should have been the priority are not done; hence the reasoning behind doing the bigger things first – which, yes, is hard, but trust me, it’ll be worth it when it’s all done, and all you have left is the small tasks.

One last thing that you can do that will keep you productive is getting your studying and work done during little snippets of the day. I know that many people have busy schedules that intertwine with school, and leave little to no time for studying. That’s why studying in small moments is a good idea. For example, if you’re in sports that don’t allow you to get home until late and take up most of your weekends, then it would be ideal to use those long bus rides to games to pull out your notebook and highlights to study; or, studying on those car rides to your grandparents or cousins house would be beneficial, too. During free periods in school, take advantage of the time and squeeze in some studying, even if it’s just ten minutes – ten minutes is better than nothing. I know that it could be challenging to give up your own personal time that could be spent relaxing or hanging out with friends to do something as boring as studying, but your grades will thank you… trust me.

Well, that’s a wrap to our ways of being productive! As much as I’d love to think that each tactic would help everyone that tried them, I know that everyone is different and certain things won’t work. But I do know for a fact that everyone is capable of being productive if they just put their mind to it, which I know is more than possible. It’s just a matter of starting, which is easier said than done… but hey, you won’t know until you try, right? So, go grab that textbook, notebook, notes, pencils, pens, and highlighters, and start. Even if you study for a short fifteen minutes, so long as you stay consistent, it will make a difference. Good luck!