Pause and Reflect Week will take place between Monday 20th and Friday 24th of February. This time is the perfect opportunity to get some studying done while looking after yourself. Biomedical Science student Aimee Work shares her top tips for the perfect Pause and Reflect Week.
Hello everyone! My name is Aimee Work, and I’m a second year Biomedical Science student at RGU. With Pause and Reflect Week soon approaching this semester, I’m
sharing my top tips for studying, well-being and time-management to make the most of the week for revision and self- reflection!
Top 6 Study Tips
Try the Pomodoro method ⏲️
The Pomodoro technique is a timer management technique which involves breaking your study time into twenty-five minute ‘sprints’, during which you’ll work intensively on a task. Then, when you’re done, you’ll take a five-minute break. After a couple of hours of this, you can then take a slightly longer break.
This can help you increase your concentration levels and productivity as procrastination often kicks in after prolonged studying, and distractions may start to set in! Give this method a try if you struggle to find a system that works effectively for you.
Organize group study sessions 🤝
Many people benefit from studying in groups. From staying motivated, bouncing ideas off one another, and learning from each other, having a study group can be a productive and effective way of consolidating material.
Teach other people 👩🏫
I find this study method really useful, as you can only fully understand something when you can explain it to someone else. It’s also an easy way to identify gaps in your knowledge and what you can improve on. Find a willing volunteer (maybe a friend or family member) and have them ask you questions about the topic.
Ask for help 🗪
We all know it can be easy to keep questions bottled up if you’re unsure of something or are struggling to grasp a concept. The purpose of Pause and Reflect week is to review and consolidate material. Lecturers are always willing to answer any questions, so make the most of any drop in sessions, or opportunities to ask questions.
Set yourself deadlines or study schedule 📅
I find that creating a study schedule for all my classes and revision I need to do helps me keep on track of my learning and stay motivated. Whether you write out a routine or make a to-do list for the day, setting intentions can be a great way of managing your time and ensuring you set enough time aside for studying and going over material. You can find great free study guide templates online!
Create the right environment 🛋️
Effective study means having a dedicated space to devote to it and having an environment
where you can concentrate. It may be your study desk, a small corner of the house, or it might be an entire room that you’ve devoted to studying. You might decide that you work better with a certain kind of music or in complete silence, different lighting or even outside, so try different things out and find out what works best for you!
Top 4 Health and Wellbeing Tips
Treat yourself 📺
It’s important to have some “you” time and switch off from the stress that we all know comes with studying, and do something you enjoy! Whether it’s spending some time with family and friends, getting outdoors, or watching your favourite tv show, try to incorporate some relaxation time into your routine.
Get in some exercise 🏃♀️
Tiring your body as well as your mind will improve sleep, and release endorphins which will boost your mood too and set you up for the day! I find it really important to move my body in between long study sessions of sitting at a desk, just to refresh and go back to the books feeling more energised! You can get some exercise with RGU SPORT’s free student membership. Have a look at their exercise class timetable online to get started.
Eat well 🍜
It may seem obvious but a good diet is particularly important when you’re studying, to make sure you’re fuelling your brain for all the learning. A good diet will help you feel your best. This means eating a balanced diet, including a variety of foods in the right proportions. To help balance your busy workload, try batch cooking, that way, on the days you need to spend time studying, you can have food ready waiting in the freezer!
De-stress before bed 🛏️
Whether it’s having a warm bath, downloading and listening to something relaxing, or reading a book, it’s important to take time away from studying or other activities to unwind and help you sleep.
Aimee Work