The Zen of Studying

By: Isaac Dumet

Caffeine overdose, sleep deprivation, constant stress, and bouts of irrational shouting. These are all symptoms of the exam period, an unpleasant time for most students. There is help, however, and it’s found in good study habits.

Often underappreciated, proper study of course materials and lecture notes can alleviate school stress by lessening the need for cram-time. Lectures and class discussions also become easier to follow due to the new information ‘clicking’ with past material. The essay writing process is also simplified because relevant material and sources to your topic are easier to recall, allowing for greater creative flow.

Choosing a good location is the first step in improving your quality of studying, which is why Seneca College provides its students guides to student study spaces.

Certain factors need to be taken into consideration when deciding on a study space. Factors such as whether you want to study alone or in a group, how much ambient noise you’re comfortable with and whether or not you’d like some food while you study.

Availability is also something to keep in mind as the desirability of a study space will affect how likely it is to be occupied. It is for this reason that booking a study room in advance is important.

The library is also an excellent source of information when trying to sharpen study habits, as it can provide tutorials on how to research for essays.

This website on success strategies also has useful information on test preparation, and test taking to help to shine in final exams.