Henry Eising ’20 stays caffeinated during a study session. Courtesy | Tim Runstadler

The cure to passing that Great Books exam is not a matcha latte or all-night cramming session. According to Director of Academic Services Christy Maier, it’s good ol’ fashioned study skills.

Procrastination can be a sign of academic stress, said Maier, but it is possible for students to change their study habits and succeed at the task at hand.

“Some people procrastinate because they feel overwhelmed by a task,” Maier said. “If that’s the case then you break the task down into its smallest increments and you focus solely on that task.”

Maier said she encourages people to be more productive with their daytime hours if possible.

During the winter months — in particular — students lose precious daytime hours, meaning intentional studying falls within an even stricter timeline. One way to extend those daylight hours is a light therapy lamp, a tool that can be checked out from Mossey Library, according to Director of Health and Wellness Brock Lutz.

Especially here in Michigan, Lutz recommends students take a walk outside to try and get their daily dose of vitamin D. If it’s too cold outside, the light therapy lamp is an alternative option.

Junior Gianna Dugan said she studies with white noise and in small increments of time.

“I block out 30 to 45-minute chunks where I focus on one task without checking my phone or doing anything else during that time,” Dugan said. “If I have another thought that distracts me I write it down on a pad of paper next to me and I come back to the thought once my timer goes off.”

Senior Lauren Smyth also practices time-based studying. She recommends the Pomodoro technique, a studying strategy consisting of 25 minutes of sustained focus with 5-minute breaks. Once accomplished four consecutive times the student gets a 30-minute break.

The Pomodoro technique allows a student to focus for timed increments while looking forward to an eventual long break as a reward for focused work.

Smyth said she enjoys how this strategy designates appropriate time without the risk of burn out, and it works well at keeping her accountable.

Smyth said she also takes time daily to track how many consecutive hours she spends studying, working, and in the classroom.

“I set a minimum weekly goal for myself. By the end of the week, I know if I haven’t met that goal, I have to spend the whole weekend studying, and that’s a very strong incentive to  study during the week,” Smyth said. “It really keeps me on track to have a productive week instead of losing where my hours go.”

Smyth said, however, that what works for her may not work for others. She said her number-based strategies allow for hyperfixation on the time left in the cycle, which has the potential to be distracting.

Maier said studying is a highly individualized process, but it is universally true that cramming for an exam is a bad idea. Instead, she recommends a method of “distributed practice,” which involves studying for small amounts each day.

“You spread it out much like you would if you were learning to play an instrument or practice a sport,” Maier said. “We don’t gain competence in something if we do it in one big chunk.”

When studying for exams Maier also recommends studying in a way that mimics — as closely as possible — what the test is going to look like.

“When it comes to reading your notes, no test has ever tested whether or not you can read notes,” Maier said. “It might be a good start to organize your thoughts but then you need to practice asking yourself questions.”

Lutz said he advises students to limit phone distractions while studying. He said the books students are reading require complete focus and attention.

Both Lutz and Maier said it is important for students to have a balanced life that encourages their overall health and well-being.

Maier said she likes to tell students to remember that they are “whole-person creatures.” Students were not created merely to study without taking care of their spiritual or social life. She never wants students to feel down if they feel they aren’t reaching their academic goals.

“It is a process to figure out what works for you and as long as you are working toward healthier and better habits that’s a good thing,” Maier said. “Don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t arrived yet.”