It happens to the best of us. We go into the semester or quarter with a grand plan of always staying on schedule and then life happens��� we get sick, we have trouble balancing work and school, we���re sidetracked by our kids, or we just fall into a slump.

That doesn���t mean you���re a bad student or that you���re not cut out for graduation ��� it just means you���re human and you need a little help getting back on track! To help you back on schedule and to a place of optimal productivity, we came up with these six tips for catching up with your schoolwork.

1. Talk to Your Instructors About Possible Extension

Instructors appreciate transparency and they may give you some leeway. Your instructors may even offer other forms of support, such as one-on-one office hours, some helpful tips, or recommendations for student resources like tutoring. The earlier you can communicate any issues you���re experiencing, the better chance you have to course-correct.

2. Create an Inventory of Your Assignments and Prioritize

When you���re behind on your assignments, the thought of everything you need to do to catch up can be paralyzing. ������ refers to overthinking matters to the point where you become so overwhelmed that you fail to take any action. To avoid reaching this point, it���s best to transfer your to-do list from your head to paper (or your phone, tablet, or desktop).

Create a list of all the assignments you need to catch up on and then prioritize those tasks based on importance and urgency. For example, past-due assignments that are a larger percentage of your grade should take higher priority. Also, you should start on more time-intensive projects sooner so you can space out the work and not get burned out by trying to do them all at once.

By creating a to-do list that is ordered from highest to lowest priority, you have a clear plan of action that you can start working on right away rather than worrying about whether you���re using your time effectively. If you���re not able to check everything off the list, you can at least rest assured knowing the most important assignments were completed.

Additionally, if you���re still struggling with analysis paralysis due to the stress of starting a hefty project, consider starting with a smaller assignment to create a ���quick win��� and get yourself motivated. You can also break your large project into smaller steps to help your assignment feel more manageable and to get the same ���quick win��� effect.

3. Create a Calendar for Your Assignments

Next, you will want to add all your past-due and upcoming assignments to a calendar, whether that���s paper or digital. Space out past-due assignments over a certain number of weeks (depending on how long you have to catch up) so you set a reasonable timeline for completing them in tandem with your new assignments.

Note down the dates for which you need to complete each assignment. It can be helpful to set your own personal due date a few days before the actual deadline to give yourself wiggle room in case extra time is needed. (This can help to prevent you from falling behind on even more assignments in the future.)

And make sure to be realistic with your goals for completing assignments. Trying to cram too much into one week will only set you up for failure and lead to frustration and loss of momentum.

It can be helpful to create due date reminders on your phone to help you stay on schedule.

4. Minimize Distractions

As you make the sprint to catch up on your coursework, you need to remove as many barriers as possible. Make an honest assessment of what unnecessary distractions are keeping you from completing your assignments on time and take steps to minimize or even completely eliminate those distractions while you���re focusing on schoolwork.

Here are a few tips that can help you stay focused and inspired:

• Work in a quiet room or area where you���re less likely to be distracted or interrupted. (Check out our 5 tips for setting up your study space for success.)
• Put your phone on airplane mode while you study or complete assignments.
• Remove social media apps from your phone for a while.
• Don���t try to study while watching TV, listening to a podcast, etc.
• If you work well with music, put on your best study playlist. (It may help to choose something instrumental so you don���t start singing along!)
• If you need a change of scenery, find a new place to study like the library, a coffee shop, or your patio.
• If you���re a parent and you���re able to do so, set a time when your significant other, a family member, or anyone else willing to help can watch your kids for a while so you can focus 100% on your schoolwork.
• If you keep thinking about other things while studying, write them down so you can clear your mind and refocus on the task at hand.
• Take regular breaks so you don���t get burned out. (Here are some ideas for how you can use your break time in a constructive way.)

5. Ask for Help and Tap Into Your Resources

One of the biggest mistakes students make is trying to do everything on their own. Talk to an advisor at your school about the issues you���re experiencing so they can provide advice and direct you to resources that may be available at your college or university, such as free tutoring, study guides, or student workshops.

You can also ask around to see if there are any study groups you can join, as working in a group can help break up the monotony of your work and help you better absorb the material you���re learning. Even finding just one other classmate to swap notes and ideas with can be helpful. (Read this post if you���re thinking of starting your own study group.)

6. Reflect and Recalibrate

As you wrap up your semester or quarter, it���s important to stop and reflect on what you could have done better. Could you have procrastinated less? Been more strategic in your study schedule? Minimized or removed certain distractions? Been more vocal about your need for help?

Fortunately, your semester or quarter is an opportunity to start fresh! Go into your new courses with new strategies for success and implement them from the start so you���re less likely to fall behind. With a more intentional approach, you may be able to get through the semester or quarter with better grades and less stress.

To learn some strategies for how to make better use of your study time (which can help you stay on schedule), check out this post on how to study more efficiently.

You can also continue following our blog for more study tips.

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You know the drill: Cram, test, repeat. But if you���re a serious student, that���s not good enough. You���re here to learn, not just pass exams. When you buckle down and study, you want to retain the information, both short- and long-term.

In the short term, you need to pass your tests in order to graduate. In the long term, you���ve got your whole career ahead of you, and preparing for that career is the whole point of your education. If you learn how to hold on to all the important knowledge you���re gleaning now, you���ll be a lot better off later, when you���re actually on the job.

There are some tricks you can use to help your study material stick, and there are some habits you might have now that you should break. Knowing what to do, and what not to do, can make a big difference in learning retention.

This Study Buddy session is about study skills for memory. We���ve compiled a list of five best practices to better retain information when studying:

1. Teach Someone Else the Material

We���re used to studying as an exercise in incoming information, but flipping the switch and directing the material outward can actually help you learn it better and hold onto it longer. Reverse the roles and teach your material to someone else. This is called , which means that you learn something better when you���re going to be expected to teach it later.

The mere expectation of having to teach back instructs your brain to codify and consolidate the information. It���s a challenge to understand comprehensively and be able to explain cohesively, and your brain wants to be prepared. And it���s effective ��� that students who implement this technique perform better on tests.

This is a great exercise to do with your study group, or study buddy, if you have one. Take turns teaching the text back to each other. If your partner or team doesn���t know the material, they can ask questions with fresh eyes, which might lead you to think more critically, or track down information to fill the gaps. If your partner or team already knows the material, they can use the questions to quiz you on the fly.

2. Use Relational Learning

Put whatever you���re studying in the context of something you already know. You can use something you���ve learned previously on the same subject and see how the topics cross pollinate, or you can relate it to something else entirely.

When you have something that���s already familiar and you make an association with something new, you create learning . This can be as simple as comparing one fact or set of facts to another. Here���s an ABC example: Let���s say you have three apples and four oranges. Because you���re learning the number of oranges in relation to the apples, you���re more likely not only to remember that there are more, but also other things about the oranges in relation to the apples (color, size, smell).

The same applies to a more complex comparison. Take the oranges and apples above and replace them with organs in the body for anatomy class. As you learn each body part, think about how it���s similar or different from another organ you���ve already studied. Double bonus: You won���t just get relational learning with regard to the new topic, but you���ll be reinforcing what you already know about the other.

3. Take Practice Tests

Fun fact: You can actually learn during a test, not just beforehand. Doing practice tests puts your memory through its paces, and trains it to remember what you want it to. When you���re taking a practice test, your memory may have to work to find the answers, but once it does (or you draw a complete blank and have to look it up after) you reinforce the recall for next time, when you���re actually going to be graded.

Furthermore, taking a lot of practice tests is to enhance your recall and promote a deeper understanding of the subject. The brain is naturally selective, and can���t recall everything it has seen, heard, read or otherwise learned. But you can train that selection if you teach your brain���through testing���what it is more likely to have to recall.

There���s one more upside to frequent practice tests. In addition to improving recall, you���re also getting a grip on exam-day anxiety. Doing several low-stakes dry runs of the testing experience can help you fear the actual test less, so you can relax, recall, and score high.

4. Multitasking Is a Myth

Think you���re a master multitasker? We���ve got bad news���you aren���t. It���s not your fault. It���s because multitasking is already figured out you can���t watch TV and study simultaneously (and if you haven���t, we���ll save you some time, you can���t), you might still be under the hopeful illusion that you can jump around between tasks and topics to cover more ground while studying. This is also multitasking, and it���s actually a pretty inefficient way to learn. It���s also a great way to make mistakes.

Instead, make friends with ���monotasking.��� Choose one topic or one exercise, and truly immerse yourself, even if it���s just for a short while. This might try your patience at first, because you���re going to have to stop thinking about everything else you have to do and learn, but remind yourself that you���re actually stockpiling time by learning the material correctly, so you won���t have to relearn it later.

Again, this doesn���t mean you need to dedicate a full day to one subject. In fact, there���s value in studying subjects in proximity to each other, because you���ll create connections that will give you a deeper understanding of the larger educational whole. Your understanding of each topic can inform your understanding of the next. But make sure you���re sincerely moving from one subject to another, instead of playing topic hopscotch.

5. Avoid Cramming

The pre-exam cram might seem unavoidable, even inevitable��� but please let go of this misconception. Coffee-fueled all-nighters are often cast as a habit of the truly dedicated student, but the benefits of cramming are a myth. In fact, it can do more harm than good. Here���s why:

There���s a word for the instinct to make judgments about our own minds: . We believe���and it seems logical enough���that forcing ourselves to consume material in a concentrated fashion is an efficient way to learn it. The problem is that during a cramming session your brain is as focused on the act of learning as it is the material. You think you���re laser focused, but you���re actually splitting focus.

In reality, you���re much better off spacing out your study over time, using ������ This is equally logical. Think about it like exercise (hey look, we���re doing ���relational learning��� now!). Say you want to run a half-marathon. You have two training options: You can run 13 miles twice the day before; or you can slowly build muscles and stamina over months. Option two, right?

Let���s take it a step further. Perhaps you���re wondering, ���can���t I do both���? Let���s go back to the comparison. Even if you���ve built up good muscle and stamina over time, will running two half marathons the day before help you perform the next day? No ��� you���ll be exhausted, and you might even hurt yourself. So plan ahead and space it out.

Ready to Test with Confidence?

Stick to the tips above to maximize your testing memory, and you���ll not only be able to walk into exam day with more confidence, but you���ll set yourself up for the all-important longer-term retention of material for when it���s time to put your studies to use. After all, that���s what your education is for!

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In this edition of our Study Buddy series, we talk about the essential art of note-taking, and how to hone your technique so you���re not just taking information down, you���re taking information in.

Everyone absorbs material differently, and different students benefit from different learning styles. You can���t always control how your classes are run, but you do have some control over how you chronicle and retain each topic. The good news is there���s some research around student note-taking, that can help guide you to a better process, from lecture to test.

Let���s start with what your instrument of note-taking should be:

Laptop vs. Notebook: What���s Better?

You might find doing everything on your laptop ��� including taking notes ��� convenient, but here���s the inconvenient truth: You���re better off taking notes the old way, on paper. There are reasons for this, including both downsides to typing your notes and upsides to using a notebook. Both have studies to back them up.

One of the downsides to using your computer to take notes is obvious: distraction. When you open your laptop you���ve got the whole Internet at your fingertips��� and fingertips tend to wander when your focus does. that students using laptops for notes in class were engaged with non-coursework material a whopping 42% of the time!

Even if you���re not a tabs nomad, any email or message notification might pop up and interrupt your flow. In addition to distraction (check out our post of The Myth of Multitasking here) students who take their notes on a laptop tend to transcribe material rather than process it, which can result in shallower learning and poorer performance on conceptual questions in testing.

The upsides of taking notes by hand begin with the converse of the above: the absence of online distraction and the tendency to take notes by concept versus transcription. But beyond that, there are some to choose paper over screen in note-taking. Handwriting notes is correlated with better memory of the material, for one. In fact, there���s reason to believe relying on digital means to store your information can cause of your memory skills in general.

Want it both ways? There are apps you can use to scan and digitize your handwritten notes, so you can organize them on your laptop and access them later. A ���smart notebook��� like comes with an app that transcribes your handwritten notes into type, so you can organize and access them easily for later review.

Speaking of Apps���

There are many apps and programs available that can help you take and organize your notes. Popular ones include Evernote, Apple Notes, and Bear, but there are dozens to choose from. Apps can be particularly helpful for students with learning differences who may have difficulty taking traditional notes. These apps can also help you pull research from the web, archive your handwritten notes, and share notes and materials with your study buddies.

We recommend using apps as a supplement to longform note-taking, for the reasons described above. You also might be tempted to utilize AI for your notes. There are already AI programs that can summarize a verbal lecture, article, or text. A word of caution: As this technology evolves and offers shortcuts and conveniences to students, don���t let it replace your learning. Make sure you fully engage with your study materials ��� having a truncated version summarized for you by a computer might save you time now, but won���t help your performance on test day.

Note-Taking Technique: Types and Tips

As we like to say: Different pen strokes for different folks. Once you���ve got your notepad and writing utensil, it���s time to decide how to use them. There are multiple schools of thought on the best technique for taking notes, but it really comes down to the individual. We���ve provided a quick overview of some popular styles of note-taking below. One might jump out at you, or maybe you���ll want to try them all and find the one that works for you. Maybe you���ll even invent your own hybrid technique, using a mix of the three types below:

1. Outlining

This is probably the most familiar method to take notes, and there���s a reason it���s the go-to, particularly for the beginner note-taker. Outlining is merely creating a hierarchical structure of the information. While you might choose to develop your own hierarchy for outlining notes, feel free to keep it as simple as:

• Topic
  • Subtopic
    • Details

This style of note taking will encourage you to distill the points being made in the text or lecture, and will create a cascade of information to help you revisit it later. Its beauty is in its simplicity. Once you master your basic notes outline, you may want to add in some other techniques. For example, if your professor has a tendency to jump back to an earlier topic, you might leave space to go back and add to a particular area, or develop a numbering system so you know which parts of your outline relate to each other directly.

2. The Cornell Method

This is a notes system with an Ivy League reputation to back it up. It was invented by Cornell education professor Walter Pauk, and it���s essentially a variation on outlining. Here���s the method in five steps:

1. Draw a horizontal line two-thirds of the way down the page.
2. Divide the area above the horizontal line with a vertical line, leaving more space on the right.
3. Use the top-left section to write keywords that come up in the material.
4. Use the top-right section to add details about the keyword topics.
5. Use the bottom third of the page to summarize the material as a whole at the end of your lecture or chapter.

This technique is particularly useful for subjects that deal with concepts and themes that lend themselves to summary. It may not serve you as well with material that involves a lot of memorization of terminology, formulas, and detailed minutiae.

3. Mapping

This technique is great for visual learners, and also for material that is more abstract or cross-relates because it requires you to visually place each concept relative to the others. There are a few ways to organize your map:

• Top-Down: Write the overarching theme or topic at the top, then connect it to its sub-themes or -topics with a line, working downward.
• Center-Out: Write the overarching theme or topic in the center and encircle it with subtopics so they radiate out from the main topic.

Whichever map style you choose, remember to leave yourself enough space to fill out the whole map. You only have so much page space to work with, and this technique doesn���t lend itself well to continuing on to another page.

Effective note-taking may make use of all three of these techniques, as they best serve the material at hand, so feel free to mix it up!

Fun Fact: Doodling Is Cool

Doodling in class used to be a big no-no, like chewing gum or passing notes. Those days are gone, since a demonstrated that absentminded doodling while listening to a lesson or lecture may actually help you learn. In that particular study, participants who doodled recalled 29% more information than those who didn���t!

The hypothesis attributes this counterintuitive advantage largely to the strain the brain experiences while required to focus continuously. Doodling keeps the brain active when it would prefer to shut down, plus it provides stress relief that improves focus. And because doodling is by nature creative, it helps your brain think creatively about the educational problems and questions at hand.

Doodling during or between study is helpful, but it should be limited. Try to keep a doodle break under 30 minutes or, if you���re doodling during a lecture, keep listening. This is one of the ultra-rare examples of a multitasking win.

One Last Note���

All of the science and strategy of note-taking here is for the taking��� or leaving. Find what works for you. Maybe you like to make your notes in color, or go back over your notes with a highlighter, or have a particular underlining technique.

Got bad handwriting? Who cares, as long as you can read it. Terrible at drawing? Doesn���t matter; this isn���t an art show. The more you tailor your note-taking skills to yourself, the more you can start to find some enjoyment ��� or at least satisfaction ��� in what might sometimes feel like a chore. And no matter how you take your notes, remember to go back through them. Typing them up, distilling them further or cleaning up your notes is a great way to reinforce what you���ve learned.

Got an innovative note-taking strategy of your own? Come share it with your fellow students on our Facebook�� or Instagram�� page!

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Online students, this one���s for you. But not just for you. In the age of online study ���post-Covid��� and the digital wonderland we all live in at least part-time, getting a group together often means firing up your computer (and for some of us, Ring lamp). We reside in a camera-ready-from-the-waist-up, pajamas-from-the-waist-down world. We study there, too.

On or offline, studying with your fellow students is a great way to get your material down, so we���ve got some online study group tips to help you increase the effectiveness of your study time and minimize technical hiccups. We���ll focus mostly on the online considerations here, but some tips apply to study groups both online and IRL.

(Make sure to also check out our post on the six steps for starting a study group, which is focused more on in-person study sessions.)

Here are the steps and tips for hosting your virtual study group:

Choose a Virtual Meeting App

You may already have a virtual meeting app (or two or three) installed. If you have a favorite that you know inside and out and you plan to be the study group emcee, ask your group-mates to download it. Let the group weigh in, but settle on one platform that everyone can install and get to know. Here are a few of the most commonly used apps to consider:

• : This app is so widely adopted, it���s become a verb, like ���Google.��� Zoom has an intuitive interface, and odds are others already have it.
• : This platform is formerly known as Google Meet and is often preferred by those already using Google for all their word processing, email, and organizational needs.
• : Many companies use this, since they���re already using Microsoft Suite software. Only one member of the group needs to subscribe and it���ll work for all.

There are many more options. Do some research if none of the above appeal to you. Many apps have different features like breakout rooms and whiteboards that you may be interested in using. Some meeting apps are free, some are paid, and some have subscription tiers with a paywall to host longer meetings or use additional features. If you use a paid version specifically for your study group, you can consider asking everyone to chip in. Typically only the meeting host needs the paid version for the additional time to extend to all attendees.

Learn the App

Once you settle on a video conferencing app, get to know it. Take a tutorial, click through the menu, go spelunking. Do a dry run (maybe a good excuse for a video call with Mom?) to make sure you know how to use things like screen share and adding a co-host. You don���t want to have to try to figure it out on the fly in the middle of your online study session.

Ask your study group to do the same. Even if you���re hosting, give everyone the pre-homework of downloading (or updating) the app, learning the basics, and testing their camera and audio.

Pro tip: If you���re planning to share your screen, spend a little extra time on this feature to avoid an embarrassing mishap. If you don���t want your peers to see your open tabs or any other document you have open, make sure you know how to share a specific document and not your entire desktop. Or at least make a mental note to close out anything personal or sensitive before you open the meeting.

Set Up Your Space

You might already have a dedicated space in your home for video calls, but if not, put together an ergonomic area so all you need to do is log on when you���re ready. Here���s a quick list of what your space should include:

• Wall Plug: Make sure your setup is close to a power source. Video calls drain battery, so stay plugged in to avoid a surprise shut-down or having to jump up and go plug-hunting.
• Check Your Backdrop: Unless you���re planning to blur your background with the app, make sure there���s nothing distracting or inappropriate sharing the screen with you.
• Find Your Light: This seems obvious, but part of the point of the video meeting is seeing each other. Make sure you have adequate light so people can make you out.
• Interruption-Proof Your Space: If you can, find a room you can close yourself off in. Dogs, kids, and roommates wandering into frame might be delightful, but also a distraction.

The above concerns online study session setup, but feel free to also read our post with more tips on how to set up your personal study space for success.

Before Your First Study Session

We already covered the app setup, but here���s a to-do list for before your first group meeting. If you���re the group���s admin, you can take care of all of these tasks, but you can also ask people in the group to take on individual responsibilities.

• Gather the emails of everyone in your study group.
• Use the app to schedule the session (recurring or ad-hoc) and send invites.
• Send out a proposed agenda at least a day in advance and invite input.
• Ask everyone to check for application updates before the meeting to avoid login delays.
• Disseminate any study materials everyone will be working with so others have time to download and print if they like.

Consider emailing the gang to create a thread for your group so you can easily collect requests and input about how the group will be run. Someone might have a great idea or need some kind of special accommodation. This can be an ongoing thread so you can make adjustments to your group over time.

Virtual Study Session Etiquette

Manners matter. At the beginning of your first session, set some ground rules for etiquette. In addition to the common courtesies we all know and love (be attentive, keep it civil, come prepared) there are a few additional considerations for an online meetup:

• Cameras On: Ask everyone to keep their cameras on. We���re all ���here��� to interact, and seeing each other’s faces demonstrates you���re there and engaged. You can allow for members to shut off cameras in special circumstances or briefly if they need to.
• Noises Off: Sometimes there���s background noise that can���t be helped. Kids, dogs, planes, trains, and automobiles will inevitably find their way into your study soundscape. Ask people to be mindful and mute temporarily if the noise on their end becomes intrusive.
• Get Dressed: A study session is an informal gathering so you can keep it casual, but remember that you���re still in polite company. Our cheeky ���pajamas-from-the-waist-down��� comment aside, please do wear pants in case you need to stand up, and keep it appropriate from the waist up as well.
• Minimize Cross-Talk: Live online discussions can be tricky to moderate. One good way to mitigate everyone talking over each other or having more than one conversation at a time is to limit your group size, so the conversation can be easier to control.
• Take Turns: Depending on your session format, it might be helpful to have some structure around who talks and when. Try not to interrupt, and if you do, check yourself and shush. Some apps have a ���hand raised��� function that can keep the conversation moving in an orderly fashion.

The most important ground rule is also probably going to be the hardest to enforce: getting started. As people filter in to your session, they���ll start to check in and chat. We���re all friends here, so that���s okay, but put a time limit on it. Tell everyone you���ll be kicking off the first topic promptly ten minutes after the session starts. This will also help people be on time.

If it helps, set an actual timer for this. That way you don���t have to interrupt the lively conversation���you can outsource that to a digital noisemaker. When the buzzer goes off, whoever is mid-sentence can finish that sentence, and then it���s time to hit the books.

If you like, you can also leave the study group video call open for an extra half hour at the end, so anyone who wants to can stay and socialize. That way, members who would love to catch up can, and those who are just there to cram can sign off and get on with their day.

Miscellaneous Virtual Study Group Considerations

To wrap things up, here���s a grab bag of other considerations to help you create your virtual study group and keep it humming. You might come up with a few hacks of your own as well.

• If people in your group are in different time zones, try to find a ���meet in the middle��� time that works for everyone, or take turns with time zones.
• Open every meeting five minutes early. This gives you time to check your tech, get settled, and admire your own face until others join.
• Invite the group to add questions to the chat. That way you don���t have to interrupt discussion. Monitor the chat during the meeting and before you close out, make sure everything has been addressed.
• Also use the live chat function to send out any quick links or references for later. People can cut and paste them for their own use.
• If it makes sense, record your study session, especially if there���s going to be discussion or exercises that might benefit a member who can���t join for whatever reason. Always ask permission before recording. (Some apps will do this for you.)
• If you���re hosting, add a co-host when you open the meeting. This gives someone else shared control if you have to leave abruptly or have a technical snafu on your end.

We hope you enjoyed this edition of WCU���s Study Buddy series. Good luck with your group!

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Simulation labs are an opportunity to practice your nursing skills in a safe but realistic environment until you feel confident. Sim labs give you the opportunity to run through all kinds of scenarios you may encounter on the job so that when you start your clinical rotations, you feel like you���ve mastered your skills.

返字心頭 simulation labs are equipped with high-fidelity manikins that react just like real patients. Their pupils dilate. Their blood pressures rise and drop. They can even give birth! As a nursing student at WCU, you���ll be able to practice how to draw blood, administer drugs, listen to chest sounds, respond to changes in a patient���s condition, and more.

At WCU, we don���t just aim to equip you with knowledge. We want to arm you with confidence���and our simulation labs are an integral part of that effort.

Watch this video to learn more about the benefits of simulation labs for nursing students!

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In this installment of our Study Buddy series, we���re taking a look at how to get more bang for your books.

Even if you love to learn, there���s no point in studying more than you need to. In fact, there���s plenty of evidence that allotting some breathing room between study sessions will actually . But there are ways you can study more efficiently so when you take those hard-earned breaks, you���re taking the material with you.

Some of these techniques will help you learn better by unlearning study strategies for students that are more myth than method. Others will require a small amount of setup and discipline. And all of them will pay off in better comprehension and retention that will help you get the most out of your education. 

Below are three adjustments you can make to your current study habits to level up your study ���A Game��� (double meaning intended). Study hard, but not harder than you have to. Here���s how:

Results-Oriented Reading: The SQ3R Method

Ever read a sentence, a page���even a whole chapter���of your textbook, only to realize you don���t remember any of it? This usually happens because your mind starts to wander from the page and off on its own adventure. This isn���t your fault. Nobody has an endless attention span, and textbooks generally aren���t as riveting as, say, that Netflix show you���ve been binging.

You���ve already learned to read. But how do you read to learn? How can you lock in on your assigned reading and lock down the information? Enter a technique called that can help you absorb and retain. Here���s how it works:

• S(urvey): This means scanning the text for the big ideas and overall context. Read the first paragraph, the first and last sentences of each subsequent paragraph, and the last paragraph or conclusion. As you do, read any headlines and spend a moment or two with any illustrations. 

• Q(uestion): Now write down questions based on what you���ve just skimmed. It might help to take any headlines and reword them as questions. This is a way to reframe the information in a different way and better understand the objective of the content. What questions are being asked? What questions does this text seek to answer? Why?

• R(ead): Now read the text fully. You���ll have an easier time absorbing it now that you���ve got the lay of the land. See how it answers the questions you���ve written down. This is also a good time to take notes and highlight.

• R(eview): Go back through your questions and make sure you���ve found answers to all of them. Do you see the big picture? Do the pieces add up? Do you feel like you understand the material? If not, go back to your notes and fill in the gaps.

• R(ecite): Now talk yourself through it, out loud, in your own words. This will imprint and reinforce the information you���ve absorbed visually in a different way, which can help you with retention and personalizing your understanding.

It sounds like a lot of steps, but it���s much more efficient than reading and re-reading text with no strategy, and much more effective at driving home an actual comprehension and the intention of the text. 

Multitasking vs. Monotasking

It���s tempting to think you can tackle more than one thing at a time. There���s one problem: It���s . We all desperately want to believe in the myth of the multitasker, but the inconvenient truth is if you���re jumping back and forth between work, you���re being much less efficient than if you hone in on one task. You���ll also make more mistakes.

So monotask: Pick one thing and, even if it���s just for a short period of time, focus on just that. Then move to another. Abandon the myth. Embrace the science. Master the art of monotasking.

Okay, okay, there are exceptions. If you���re absolutely addicted to two-for-one productivity, take a or a . Both are proven to encourage creative thought, so next time you���ve got writer���s block on that essay or are struggling with a solution, you can think it through while you get clean or get some exercise.

Optimize Your Study Setup

One way to save time and stay focused is to make sure you have everything you need within arm���s reach before you start studying. Make sure your laptop is plugged in so you won���t have to go cord hunting later. Place a glass of water (or your study beverage of choice) on your desk, within reach but out of spill range. Keep a hoodie or a sweater on the back of your chair so you can layer up or down without getting up. And organize any study materials you���ll be using. 

And at the end of each study session, do a little study space housekeeping. Organize your notes and materials. Put away anything you���re done with, and place whatever you���ll want to return to in an accessible spot. Leaving your study space in order ensures the next time you sit down, you���ll be able to dive right into your next subject instead of wasting your precious motivation clearing out and cleaning up.

If you really want to create the optimal study space, check out our other Study Buddy post, Good Study Hygiene, for tips on how to set up, set the mood, and create your own little study cockpit right at home. 

Ready for a Break?

If you followed the study tips above, you���ve earned one! And you can enjoy a little leisure knowing you���ve improved your efficiency and focus. Particularly when midterms and exams close in, you���ll be glad you���ve got your skills, habits, and space queued up for maximum study productivity.

Keep up with our blog for more study tips for students!

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Studying is hard. But you don���t have to do it alone.

Starting a study group is an excellent way to enhance your learning experience, and not just at test-prep time. One of the top reasons to consider making study a team sport is accountability���for some of us, having others counting on us to be present is the best way to make sure we show up, both physically and mentally.

But there���s more. When you study together, you���ll get access to each other���s interpretations of the material and secret study hacks.

And don���t underestimate team spirit! One of the first things we recommend you do after compiling your study group is picking a name. Get creative and keep it on theme. This way you���ll get a little emotional reward every time you see an email from your ���Brain Busters��� thread in your inbox.

Ready to assemble? Follow these steps for a successful study squad:

1. Pick Your People

Recruiting the right gang is both the first and most important step in building an effective study group. And do think of it as a team, with players chosen for complementary strengths. It���s okay if your study group includes friends, but that shouldn���t be the only requirement. Choose people who are committed and collaborative.

Keep your group small���three to five members is a good ballpark target���you want everyone to have ample time to contribute and participate. Try to keep your group as consistent as possible, but it���s safe to assume not everyone will be able to make every meetup. If schedules are difficult to coordinate, you can consider opening up a larger group, so if people need to rotate in and out, you���ll have enough attendance to get the most out of each session.

2. Establish the Rules and Roles

Do this at your first meeting. It���s important to level expectations and make sure everyone agrees to the group etiquette upfront. Make sure all members have equal input and agency in the group. (This is not a dictatorship!) Speaking of which, start by determining roles for the group. Here���s our recommended makeup:

• Group Coordinator: This is the person who manages scheduling and communication with the group, creates a snack sign-up sheet (more on that below), etc.
• Session Leader: Your leader emcees the actual sessions: kicking things off, keeping track of session timing, calling breaks, etc. This should be someone who doesn���t mind intervening if the group loses focus.
• Materials Wrangler: Someone needs to make sure you have all the materials you need for study. Lots of this should be BYO, but this member can print out and distribute any practice sheets, etc.
• Understudy(ies): You can have more than one of these. For any of the roles above, this member is on call to sub in, in the event another team member needs to tap out.

These roles can change, as needed. If someone is well suited to a particular role and doesn���t mind taking it on permanently, by all means, let them take initiative. But allow for some flexibility if people would like to rotate in and out of different responsibilities.

Speaking of responsibility, consider the unfortunate possibility of a group member not working out. This could be purely logistical, like a schedule that is impossible to coordinate or, in rare circumstances, the issue of someone not being a productive member of the group. In either case, decisions about changing your group���s membership should always be by committee and handled with diplomacy.

3. Set a Schedule (and a Timer)

Have a regular session cadence and ask everyone to commit. This can be whatever makes sense for the group: weekly, monthly, or timed around testing events. Once your group is up and running, it will become clear if you need to adjust the schedule.

Some members may want to meet more often, and there���s nothing wrong with leaving the option open for ���breakout sessions��� where a member can call an ad-hoc, elective meetup for extra preparation or to spend more time on a certain topic.

You also need to decide how long each session will last and how you���ll break it up. We recommend no fewer than two hours, and a maximum of four. (Exceptions can be made for marathon sessions leading up to exams.) Assume 15 minutes up top for everyone to arrive, settle in, and catch up. After that, you can break it up into sprints and breaks. So, an example session could be:

• Settle in/Set up (15 minutes)
• Sprint 1 (45 minutes)
• Break (10 minutes)
• Sprint 2 (45 minutes)
• Snack Break (15 minutes)
• Sprint 3 (30 minutes)
• Recap/Assignments (10 minutes)
• Cleanup (10 minutes)

Feel free to adjust the length of your sprints and breaks as needed, but plan your sprints ahead. Do you want to spend the whole session reviewing anatomy? Great. Would you rather swap up topics? Also fine. You can even spend one sprint on quiet reading time.

Consider throwing in some activities, like a ���lightning round��� at the end, or taking a quick practice quiz and then grading each other���s answers. For some topics, that might involve critical thinking over facts (ethics, for example) that may call for group discussion.

4. Location, Location, Location

First: Choose a location that���s comfortable but functional, with enough seating for everyone and enough work surface for materials. A group member���s home or dorm room will do, or if your school has classrooms available at night or spaces at the library that allow for discussion, you can take advantage of those facilities. Try to find something that���s convenient for everyone. Hopefully you���re all in the same part of town, but if not, pick something central, if possible.

Second: Consider rotating through multiple locations. We go into this in more detail in another one of our posts, ���3 Learning Myths Busted,��� but the reason for rotating study locations is that there���s evidence you���ll have better recall on test day (and in general) if you���ve reviewed the material in multiple settings. It might make practical sense to take turns hosting, anyway.

5. Maintain Good Study Group Etiquette

Good team morale starts with good manners. Keep good attendance, arrive on time but not early, offer to help with setup, and always help with cleanup. Make sure you���re not dominating the conversation���give the more introverted in your group a turn.

Etiquette is important in other ways, too. Observe ���campground rules��� and clean up after yourself. Respect that everyone learns differently and at a different pace. Leave any negativity at the door, and if you���re sick, sit the session out (or Zoom in).

And bring snacks! Sustenance is important. Consider setting up a rotating ���snack duty��� sign-up sheet. Ask if anyone has food allergies or dietary restrictions, and shop accordingly. To avoid ���food coma,��� choose foods that will keep everyone alert. Think brain foods like nuts and fruits, and if the group so desires, some coffee. Having something to munch or sip on can help break up the slog of a particularly challenging subject.

6. Have a Reward System

And, last but not least, celebrate together. Keep the socializing during sessions to a minimum (we���re looking at you, session leader), but plan something fun for after exams. Go out to dinner, go bowling, catch a movie���pick something recreational and/or leisurely where you can appreciate your hard work and each other in a study-free setting.

Once you get your study group up and running, come share your group name with us on and !

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Your preceptorship is an exciting time and a rite of passage for all students in nursing school. This is where you begin the work in earnest. This is what you prepared for. Under the guidance of your preceptor, you���ll learn on the job how to put your education into practice.

It can also be a nerve-racking time ��� a time of uncertainty and even self-doubt. But it���s also your time with your own dedicated mentor, to absorb and learn in the field and graduate with confidence. Don���t waste this time. Make the most of it.

But how? We���ll tell you.

In this post, we���ll explore some of the standard practices of what makes a good preceptorship, as well as some of the more case-by-case challenges and opportunities you might encounter. You���ll learn how to shine as a preceptee, how to maximize your learning, and also what not to do.

Every practicum experience is different, but beginning with confidence and knowledge is your best first step to success. Start here.

Note: The following tips are intended for students in nursing graduate programs ��� not precepting in the BSN program.

How to Be a Good Preceptee

When entering into your preceptorship and learning the role of a preceptee, remember The Four Cs: Be curious, be courteous, take cues, and communicate.

Creating a good relationship with your preceptor starts with your attitude and your work ethic. Keep an open mind and heart, and come ready to learn both academically and socially.

Be prepared. This, above all, will set you up for success.

���Preceptors appreciate preparation and initiative,��� advises Chelsea Vandine, Manager of Clinical Education at 返字心頭. ���Come prepared. Take notes. Don���t make your preceptor repeat themselves. Be fully present.���

You can even go above and beyond and consider coming in early to prep what you can that���s on the schedule. (Of course, do only what you���ve been authorized to do on your own.) Be ready to adapt to a new culture and set of rules. Make sure you���re queued up to absorb.

Understand Expectations

In your first meeting with your preceptor at the beginning of your practicum, try to nail down expectations on both sides.

Start with outlining your process as preceptor/preceptee. Perhaps you���ll meet at the end of each week for a review and feedback session, or maybe your preceptor will prefer to touch base daily. An example of something you might want clarity on is whether you can ask questions while with a patient, or whether you should hold them for the end of the day.

Basically, you���re asking your preceptor for house rules. Get all your initial questions answered, and then ask your preceptor if there is anything else you need to know that you haven���t already asked.

Also, let your preceptor know what you���re hoping to learn and accomplish through your clinical experience. They want to be a good preceptor as much as you want to be a good preceptee, so give them any useful information about your expectations and needs.

What to Expect on Week 1

It���s your first week. You���re eager to dive in and participate. Maybe you���re a little nervous, maybe you can���t wait to get started, maybe both. The truth is your first week is likely to be the most uneventful���at least when it comes to your role.

Every preceptor is different, and some may throw you into the deep end right away. However, the more likely scenario is that you���ll spend your first day, or even week, shadowing and observing.

Use this time to get used to get your feet wet and fully understand all the policies and protocols. You���ll get more out of your preceptorship by taking the time to absorb information, so try not to feel impatient or rush into work you���re not quite ready for.

Watch for Cues

Naturally, incidents will come up over the course of your practicum that you hadn���t thought to ask about, and this is where taking cues is important. Observe your preceptor for any clues for how to interact with patients and other nurses and doctors. Watch for any particular work habits your preceptor repeats and follow their lead.

Try to determine how much or little to interject or participate, especially early on ��� and if it���s not implicitly clear, just ask.

Don���t Take Anything Personally

You can enter your preceptorship as informed and prepared as possible, but you won���t be able to predict the culture and methodology of your assignment until you���re in it. Don���t be shocked if you hear a morbid joke or insensitive remark at the nursing station.

You might also discover that your preceptor is curt with you, looking over your shoulder more than you���d like, or coming off as judgmental. Again, don���t take this personally. This probably isn���t about you.

���Keep in mind providers are protective of patients,��� Vandine advises. ���If they seem harsh, remember that it���s not personal; they���re just being a good nurse.���

The same goes for the methodology you encounter when you arrive ��� every preceptor is different. Be ready to adjust and be adaptable. It might not be as warm and fuzzy as you like, but you���re there to learn.

Of course, if discourse during your preceptorship wanders into the abusive, discriminatory, or medically unethical, you may feel compelled to speak up. If you���re a nursing student at 返字心頭, this is a great time to consult with your clinical coordinator. They can listen to your concerns and help you determine how to respond. Discomfort when you���re in a subordinate position can be scary, and you don���t have to navigate these situations alone.

Remember That Your Preceptor Is Human

At the end of the day, your preceptor is just a person with a personal life who goes home and feeds their fish like anyone else. Don���t expect perfection, and don���t put them on a pedestal. Neither revere nor fear your preceptor. Don���t be afraid to ask questions and make requests. Two-way communication is a path to mutual respect.

And remember that like any human, your preceptor is flawed. You may witness your preceptor make a mistake, or even be reprimanded by their superior. Don���t judge. This is a moment for empathy. You may be in a similar situation someday, so this is a great learning opportunity for you.

If your preceptor is harsh with you, or even punitive, it���s important to remember that as their preceptee, the buck stops with them. Your mistakes become their mistakes, and the consequences for them can be very real because their license is on the line. Mistakes are natural, but if you fail to follow HIPAA, break regulations, or make a major mistake, they���ll be held accountable. Be sensitive to this, and take that responsibility seriously.

Dropping or Swapping Preceptors

You may be wondering about the likelihood or circumstances that could lead to ending your preceptor relationship early. This is extremely rare. Even when the preceptor-preceptee dynamic is imperfect, be it bad chemistry or real difficulty working together, most preceptorships find their way to completion.

Exceptions occur in cases when a preceptorship cannot continue due to impossible circumstances like illness or loss. Or occasionally, a preceptor may leave their job in the middle of your preceptorship, in which case you���ll likely be transferred to another preceptor. These circumstances are rare enough that you don���t need to think about them too much. Instead, be prepared to make your preceptorship work, and if you absolutely cannot, or circumstances beyond your control lead to a shortened preceptorship, work with your clinical coordinator to find a solution.

The Key Takeaway

In summation: Make the most of your preceptorship by showing up, being prepared, and making it work. Remember that everything about this time is meant to prepare you for more autonomous nursing, so every victory and every frustration is a learning opportunity. Carry your anticipation and enthusiasm with you into the first day, and then enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience.

For more helpful tips, check out our recent post on how to find a nurse preceptor.

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If you���re here, you probably already know what a preceptorship is, even if you���re a year or more out from starting your practicum. But in case you���re not already familiar with the term, a preceptorship is a mentorship agreement in which an experienced licensed nurse, medical doctor, or physician assistant provides guidance and, at times, supervision while you gain hands-on experience at a clinical site.

You complete these practicum hours as a requirement of graduation from your nursing program. Preceptorship provides an invaluable opportunity for you to glean from the knowledge of a seasoned professional in a real-life healthcare setting.

To help navigate the process of securing a preceptor, we consulted with Chelsea Vandine, Manager of Clinical Education at 返字心頭. Here are some best practices as well as some lesser-known tips to finding a good match and making a good impression.

Note: The following tips are intended for students in nursing graduate programs ��� not precepting in the BSN program.

When Should I Start Looking for a Preceptor?

��節岳���s never too early,��� Vandine stresses. ���Start tapping into your personal network right away.���

The preceptor search can take time, and there���s no reason to wait to get your hunt started. It���s not unreasonable to be actively seeking a preceptor well over a year before you expect to begin. Waiting until the last minute could severely limit your options or leave you shut out entirely. Also consider that your clinical affiliation can take a couple of months to clear, and that needs to be in place before you start.

So, the short answer to when you should start is ���Now.���

Why Should I Do My Own Networking?

Networking is your best strategy for finding a preceptor, and an even better strategy for finding the right one. Vandine recommends asking friends and relatives about their own doctors and nurse practitioners (NPs) as a great place to start. Looking to work in women���s health? Ask a friend if she likes her OB-GYN.

Put feelers out to friends, family, acquaintances, and even strangers���you never know when that person seated next to you on a plane might turn out to be a provider or administrator at your hometown hospital. An opportunity might pop up when or where you least expect it.

Another reason to prioritize finding a preceptor through a personal connection is just that: it���s the personal connection. A preceptor with whom you have a pre-existing relationship of any kind is likely to have more of a personal investment in you.

How Can I Stand Out to Potential Preceptors?

When you meet for a possible preceptorship, above all else, be professional.

���Treat it like a job interview. Dress professionally. These doctors and nurses are getting emails nonstop, so anything you can do to stand out helps.���

-Chelsea Vandine, Manager of Clinical Education at WCU

Remember that you���re asking someone to spend significant time with you, and they���ll be looking at how you present yourself as an early sign of how you���ll conduct yourself during the preceptorship.

What else can you do? ���I���ve had students bake homemade cookies and bring them in. Food makes everyone happy,��� Vandine shared.

Coming to your meeting with food (or any offering) in hand is by no means a requirement, nor an expectation��� but an added personal touch certainly doesn���t hurt.

And don���t be afraid to ask questions. Curiosity shows you���re eager to learn and confident enough to make the most of your preceptorship. Be strategic ��� consider questions that show you���re as interested in what you���ll contribute as in what you���ll gain. Ask what your potential preceptor���s expectations are and how you���ll be able to add value while learning.

How Can I Match with a Preceptor in My Area of Focus?

As a nursing student, you might feel certain that you want to work in a very specific area. The truth is you might not be able to find a placement that fits your exact requirements. We asked Vandine about imperfect placements, and she let us know this isn���t necessarily a bad thing.

���I went to school to be a math teacher,��� she shared. ���You might think you want to be on an oncology floor, but you don���t know what the future holds. That���s why it���s important to place according to the wider scope your license will allow, so you���ll be casting a wider net.���

Placing in a preceptorship that isn���t your preferred placement has its advantages because you���ll add versatility to your experience. Your license will cover a lot of medical treatments that you may or may not use in one given area of practice. Even though you may ultimately end up working in your planned discipline, a preceptorship in an alternate area of focus will give you exposure to a broader scope of practice. And who knows? Maybe you���ll fall in love with a new concentration.

Should I Offer to Pay for a Preceptor?

Whether a preceptor is paid, and by whom, varies. You should not assume you���ll be paying your preceptor, and you don���t need to offer. However, it���s not unusual for a potential preceptor to request payment for taking you on. There are a few things to consider in the event compensation is requested or expected.

First of all, this is not uncommon, and it���s not against the rules. Being a preceptor involves more than just sharing time and expertise ��� it also entails a degree of professional liability. While preceptors provide guidance and oversight, they also bear responsibility for the actions of those they supervise, including potential mistakes made under their supervision. Therefore, a request for compensation should not be entirely unexpected, given the added responsibility.

That said, a preceptor who is unpaid may have different motivations, such as a passion for teaching and a commitment to mentoring. This could suggest a strong investment in your development and success.

Similarly, when a preceptor is compensated through a healthcare organization, they are often assigned to you rather than selecting the role specifically. As a result, they may not have the same personal connection to your development as someone you���ve found through your own network who is offering their guidance voluntarily.

If you do decide to work with a paid preceptor, beware of the more unusual request to remit payment in cash. An off-the-books transactional preceptorship may involve someone who is hoping to evade paying taxes on the income, and this should be considered a red flag.

What Happens If I Can���t Find a Preceptor?

If you have done your best but have tapped out your personal network, don���t give up. You still have other ways to connect with potential preceptors. Students may reach out to clinics directly depending on the type of clinical site.

Fortunately, if you���re a nursing student at 返字心頭, you don���t have to look far for assistance. At WCU, each student is assigned a clinical coordinator to help with preceptorship placement.

So, you have many avenues to preceptorship in addition to your personal network. Just make sure these paths are supplemental to your personal networking.

We wish you the best of luck with your search, and with your upcoming preceptorship! For more, read our post on how to get the most out of your preceptorship while you���re in nursing school.

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For our latest Study Buddy session, we���re taking a look at how you can work on your study ���hygiene.��� We���re not talking about showering while studying (although is a great way to get your creative mind flowing).

No, we���re talking about habits that will keep your study time, space, and mindset ���clean��� so you can learn with a clear head and minimal interruptions, both internal and external. Study habits of successful students go beyond just good memorization skills, so let���s delve into a more environmental approach.

The tips below are effective study space ideas, wherever you have chosen to locate it in your home. Others will travel with you, to give you a clean slate to study when you���re meeting up with a study group or relocating for another reason. (See Study Buddy Mythbusters post to learn about how mixing up your study location is actually a good thing.) 

Lesson 1: Login Laundry

Students log a lot of screen hours. Because you spend so much time on your computer, it makes sense to keep up with your housekeeping. Think of your computer like your bed���you spend a third of your life in bed, so you make sure you change the sheets. Same goes for your laptop (or desktop computer).

The following checklist can help you keep screen time distractions to a minimum:

• First, the obvious: Clean your screen once a week. Fingerprints and smudges can contaminate your field of focus.
• Close out your browser tabs. Do this at the start of study time, or at least daily, so you don���t find yourself migrating back to that saved shopping cart every time you get stuck.
• Declutter your desktop. If you don���t already have an organized filing system, make a point once a week to archive documents you might need later and trash any you won���t.
• Restart regularly to keep your computer and applications up to date and running smoothly.

Lesson 2: Scrub Your Schedule

Meaning: Clear the part of it you���ll use for studying. Organize your calendar like you would a shelf or a cabinet, with everything in its place. Schedule your study time allotment in whatever cadence you decide you need, ideally not back-to-back with another brain-consuming task so you���re not thinking ahead to the next task and you can stay present with your study. 

Here are some tips for scrubbing your schedule:

• Go through your calendar and delete any recurring commitments that have expired.
• Block off dedicated study time. If you can, save the time of day you know you���re most productive.
• Keep your study time like you would any appointment. Be on time and ready to work.
• Track your time. (You can get an app for this.) This will help you stay accountable, and you���ll also enjoy the emotional reward of having a record of your efforts.

Lesson 3: Spruce Up Your Surface

“Whatever you’re using for a desk, this is your sacred study space. It should be comfortable and functional, and you can set it up for efficient study sessions by following a few rules for maintaining an organized and clean study area.

Here���s how you can improve your optimize your space to help you get settled, stay settled, and study:

• Don���t let loose papers colonize your space. We recommend a small tabletop file holder where you can consolidate the important stuff. Clearing out worksheets and notes you no longer need can actually be pretty satisfying.
• Place everything you need within arm���s reach. This can include textbooks, your glasses, a beverage, a snack, and anything else you might want like tissues or eye drops.
• Keep your computer charged and make sure it���s plugged in so you won���t have to get up and search for your cord mid-session.
• Place a small waste bin nearby so you can toss any rubbish instead of letting it build up on your study surface. You might also want to consider a small paper shredder.

Lesson 4: Outfit Your Area (and Yourself)

This one applies especially to morning-study types���those of us who keep our laptops on the bedside and pull it onto our laps first thing. Instead of going straight for the keyboard, consider completing your morning rituals and get ready for the day. 

Below are a few tips to follow:

• Shower and brush your teeth before you get into the books. Taking care of small morning tasks will clear your brain for learning.
• As tempting as it might be to study in your snuggie, get dressed. Not to the nines, but put on something you���d wear to the store. 
• Hang a ���study sweater��� or ���study sweatshirt��� on the back of your chair so you can layer up or down for temperature control without getting up.
• Consider investing in a pair of comfortable ���house shoes��� (not slippers). There���s some that when you have shoes on, your brain kicks into productivity mode. 

Lesson 5: Quiet, Please

When it comes to study time, silence is golden (exemptions made for ambient noise or study-friendly tunes). Clean up your noise pollution. Ringtones and notifications are designed to steal your attention. Figure out the settings on your phone and computer that control your notifications���once you know where they are, this will only take a few seconds per session. 

You can reduce noise and other environmental distractions by doing the following:

• Turn off any message or email notifications that will pop up on your screen.
• Silence your phone and place it face down so you won���t see it light up with messages or calls.
• Consider a white-noise machine if you have a lot of ambient noise outside or indoors.
• If music helps you work, keep your playlist instrumental so the words in your books don���t compete with the ones in your ears. And try to stick to an album or playlist so you won���t be interrupted by radio commercials.

The tips above shouldn���t add more than a few minutes to your routine, as long as you keep up with your study-time ���housekeeping.��� 

Want to learn more about the ins and outs of study time? Visit our 5 Study Types post to see what type of learner you are. Happy studying!

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