3/10/25

How To Study For Longer Hours

These are some of my tips that I used for studying for longer hours during my junior and senior year in high school. I generally studied 4 heavy content subjects and 2 languages. And, yes, i did get good grades.

Studying is a task that requires you to be consistent and driven. That is why, I want to make one thing very clear. This is not a promotion of toxic studying when you feel too tired.

I will start with a simple process that i formed.

Work => Compensation => Repeat.

Quality Matters

By quality I mean. One hour spending time recalling facts and answering questions and filling gaps is better than 5 hours of reviewing notes. Just focus on improving your focus and methods. I call it the "FM Method"

You choose one specific method, and you consistently follow it for a specific period.

Longer Hours Should Not Exceed 5

If you have to study for long hours, don't let it exceed 5 hours. The reason is simple. It's useless, and your body will drain up and use all your energy. I used to study for 9 hours some days in my junior year. Now i study only for 3-4 hours every day. The results? Practically the same. My grades didn't drop but i feel more motivated to study and complete everything.

So, don't extend the hours you study. Make your focus and methods better.

20 Second Breaks

When you complete a topic, small or big. Just close your eyes for 20-30 seconds and lean back on your chair and calm your breathing. Process the information. Let everything sink in. Take out the tension. DO NOT TAKE YOUR PHONE. And then after those 20-30 seconds, just glance through the topic before moving to the next one. So, take 20 second breaks.

Active Studying > Passive Studying

This is the same thing i spoke before. Use active methods of studying. Active recall and filling gaps, visual representation, learning through stories and mnemonics.

Passive studying is when you learn through notes, repeating things over and over again, trying to memorize instead of learning and understanding the concepts.

One hour of active studying is better than 5 hours of passive studying.

Rewards

When you complete an hour or two, give yourself a small reward. But the reward should be as productive as your time spent. If you spent the last two hours studying and then you watch 3 hours of your favourite tv show then that is not a good reward.

A reward should actually compensate, you need you calm your brain, not indulge yourself in instant dopamine hits.

Actual Rest

A reward is different from rest.

Rest is essential for your body. Sleep is the body's soother. You used your brain for hours and if you don't let it rest than definitely it doesn't matter how well you're actually studying. You. Will. Feel. Tired.

Burnout Effect

In one way, burnout is good. Honestly, some people's highest point is 30 mins or an hour. They find burnout creeping in after some time had passed. And that is why, if you want to reach at least two hours of studying. You need to push that limit. Every single time. Try moving 30 mins every week. Your max limit is 1 hour. Then this week, study for 1 hr 30 mins. The next week, study for 2hrs. then 2hr 30 mins. Do it for a few weeks.

If you don't push yourself to the max limit. Then you'll never actually reach your goal.

Consistency

This is an indefinite rule. You want to improve your grades. Do it every day.

Your work ethic and your willingness to stick to habits will determine your success.

Make a "Your" Environment.

This is a very underrated thing; you must have a "you" environment. It doesn't matter what it is. Basically a "you" environment is whenever you're there, you're motivated to do work. It doesn't have to be a place really. Another example would be, whenever i'm on my phone, i'm likely to waste my time doing unnecessary things but whenever i'm on my laptop, i'm automatically in "work" mode. So, for you it might be your study desk or even school sometimes.

(I remember, during the last 2 months in senior year, i used to go to the very corner of my classroom, sit on the ground, face the wall, put my headphones on, placed my bag in front of me as a table and just solve accountancy sums because that place was my "work" environment. Honestly, it looked so weird but whenever i was there, my focus was just amazing)

Additional Posts That Might Be Helpful:

Study Trick That No One Told Me How To Use Previous Year Papers Tips To Understand Complex Topics Small Things To Get Additional Points In Exams Questioning Method

Hope This Helps!! :)

3/23/25

Not to much today tbh.

General:

Watched mass online

Went to work

Meal prepped

Cooked dinner for the week (teriyaki chicken with rice)

Ate:

Protein shake

Canes

3/25/25

Had no classes today but did have work and other things to do.

General:

Went to work

Got stuff to buff out scratches on my car

Learned Arlo likes to hide in his volcano in his tank when the bubbler is off

Went to doctor cause I spit up a blood clot (is apparently uncommon but normal after getting tonsils out)

Organic Chemistry:

Write pre lab for tomorrow

World Civ:

Finished module 17

Completed module 18

Ate:

Bacon egg cheese sandwich from Starbucks

Home made teriyaki chicken

Here are some pics from the weekend!!

3/7/25

It was a really slow day today, didn’t do much honestly. Tonsils feeling better too, I can eat chicken, however now they’re starting to scab.

Accomplished

General:

Helped my mom clean (I’m back home for now due to tonsil surgery and spring break)

Returned shoes for my dad

Internship:

Scheduled the test I have to take to get my internship

Criminal Justice:

Completed Case brief 5

Forensic Analysis:

Started working on my post lab work

Ate:

Protein loaded tea

Chicken noodle soup

Lots of pudding

Mashed potatoes

Run for 5/1/25

Made good progress! Got my pace down by 20 sec!

friendly reminder 🪷

in my control

my actions

the way i respond

my values & goals

my boundaries

my beliefs

my choices

my perspective & mindset

what i take responsibility for

what i focus on

how i spend my time

how i engage

in my influence

my health

my wellness & wellbeing

my connections

relationship dynamics

my reputation

certain aspects of the future

my energy

my environment

my finances

not in my control

the past

my memories

regrets

others feelings

others thoughts

others words

others beliefs

others behaviors & responses

politics

world conflict

aging

illness

loss

the weather

the future

Are you in a sorority

Yes I am

4/9-13/25

Didn’t do to much since it was initiation week for my sorority this past weekend so this won’t be much of an update but I do have an educational conference tomorrow attend on campus this week! It’s the yearly MDIAI educational conference and being held at my college campus so I’ll keep yall updated!

General:

Initiation

Cleaned my room

Recruitment workshop

MDIAI Student Social

Internship:

Got my schedule worked out and only have to work one month during summer break!

Ate:

Sicilian Panini and BBQ Baked potato chips

Cheese pizza

Here Arlo in his tank :)