Even though it is week 3 already, some of you may still be getting back into the groove of studying. Restarting your brain after weeks of sleeping in. Here is how to make the transition back to school as painless as possible:
1. Ease in with the 5 minute rule
Do not stare down a mountain of flashcards on day one. Tell yourself that you will study for just five minutes. If you want to stop after five minutes, you can. This trick works as starting is almost always the hardest part. Once you get past that initial resistance, momentum usually takes over.
2. Fix your sleep schedule early
Pulling a late night playing games or scrolling tiktok right before your first day back is a recipe for disaster. Try shifting your bed time ten to thirty minutes earlier every night leading up to school so your brain is not running on empty when that early morning alarm hits.
3. Reset your work space
A cluttered desk equals a cluttered mind. Take just ten minutes to clear off the trash or old worksheets, organise your notebooks and old notes, and set our your favourite stationary, whether it be pens or highlighters. Having a clean, dedicated spot to study makes sitting down to work feel way less overwhelming.
4. Work in short sprints
Try using different study methods. A famous method that works for many people is the pomodoro technique. You start by studying for twenty five minutes, then taking a five minute break to stretch, grab a snack or check your phone. Knowing that a break is right around makes starting so much less daunting and makes focused work so much easier to swallow.
Finally, be patient with yourself, it takes a few days for your brain to switch gears. Tackle one small goal at a time, build your rhythm and you will be back into the groove in no time!
