Most important to this semester - making sure that you have the time of your life!
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Now that you're on the road to breaking bad sleep habits and being more positive about yourself and your body, it's time to tackle another type of habit that's extremely important to college students: study habits. 

No one wants to spend an entire afternoon in the library without actually getting anything done. But no more. It's time to take your studying to the next level! By getting the most out of the time you dospend studying, you'll also be able to enjoy the time you're not studying without constantly worrying that you have to get back to work.

And remember — everyone is dealing with the same stress. If you're ever feeling overwhelmed, talk to some friends about your workload. As Maria Ulmer, executive director of clinical services at Summit Behavioral Health, told BuzzFeed Life, “Having social groups that can help you get through it is vital. It helps you feel like you’re not alone in your stress. That’s one of the worst feelings you can have – that everyone else is doing well while you’re struggling.”

USE APPS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE 

Sometimes, you just can't seem to get the hang of the material you're studying. But technology is here to help. These apps will help you with everything from book summaries to basic coding skills.

 

  • Blinkist provides summaries for over 1,000 influential nonfiction books — for those times you just can't wrap your head around what the author is trying to say.

 

  • Get help in your language class by using Duolingo, especially for intro-level courses.

 

  • An app like Accelerator offers to help make you into a speed reader (using a technique called RSVP, or rapid serial visual presentation) so you can study more quickly and efficiently.  

 

  • Udacity offers programming tutorials in everything from HTML to Python and more.

SNACK SMARTER  

At some point in the course of studying, you're going to get hungry. Don't reach for a bag of chips or can of soda, though. Instead, try these power snacks that are healthy and can help keep you focused.

 

  • These "apple nachos" are slathered in peanut butter, making them both delicious and full of protein.

 

  • These chili-lime almonds take only 10 minutes to make and will help give you a quick energy boost.

 

  • Top some rice cakes with banana and peanut butter.

 

  • Make these five-ingredient granola bars ahead of time to get some sweetness without a sugar crash.

 

And be sure to stay away from any extra coffee. You might think you need it during stressful study sessions, but as Jenny Yip, Psy.D., and author of Productive, Successful You!: End Procrastination by Making Anxiety Work for You Rather Than Against You, told BuzzFeed Life, "Extra caffeine actually inhibits your learning process because you become too jittery and overly energetic, and it interferes with your ability to focus."

CREATE A PLAN  

It's time to get down to business. Here are some tips on how to make your study session as productive as possible.

 

  • Prep everything you need (including apps and snacks!) ahead of time so you don't get distracted during your study session looking for materials you need.

 

  • Block time-wasting websites using an extension like StayFocusd.

 

  • If you have to memorize a lot of information, study for 90 minutes, take a 15-minute break (doing something like meditating or listening to music), review for 10 minutes, then repeat as needed.

 

  • Give yourself a reward at certain intervals to help keep you motivated.

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