For the longest time, school is all I have known. Since junior year of high school, I have been in school year around except for Christmas breaks. This year I was going to have Christmas break off and I didn’t know what to do with myself. I decided to fill that time with, you guessed it, school. My entrance exam for graduate school is something that has been on my mind. Seeing as how I am applying at the beginning of July 2021 and I’ll be taking classes both in the Spring and Summer, Christmas break seemed like the most logical time to take it. However, one thing I have always struggled with is finding an effective way to study where I don’t get distracted so easily and I get the most done. And now, I’m going to share it with you.

It has taken me all these years to find a study technique that keeps me focused and helps me to actually retain information. I have tried chewing gum, I’ve tried listening to classical music, I’ve tried drinking caffeine, getting enough sleep, etc. Nothing was working; until one of my friends told me about

The Pomodoro Technique.

Life. Changing.

Here’s how it works.

Step 1: set a timer for 25 minutes. Put your phone on silent, your watch on silent (for all you apple watch users), and sit down and study for those 25 minutes.

Step 2: when those 25 minutes are up, take a 5-minute break. Go to the bathroom, check your socials, get a snack, etc.

Step 3: repeat these 2 steps four times and then take a 30-minute break.

Step 4: start over! If you want to, but if two hours total is enough then stop.

When I tell you that those 25 minutes fly by, it is ridiculous. It makes it feel like you’re studying for 10 minutes and then you get a break! I have been able to sit down and study for 3-4 hours at a time; something I have never been able to do! I always get distracted or tired and end up not doing it.

Another thing that also helps me is choosing somewhere to go to study. By making the conscious decision to go somewhere to get something done, you force your brain to get it done because that is the reason you are there. If you don’t get it done then there was no reason for going. If you go to the grocery store to get groceries and you walk out with nothing, what was the point in going? What was the point in wasting the gas and time to get there?

These are the two studying methods that I have found to make me the most efficient version of myself that I can be. I hope they help you too!

Sophie Nguyen
https://soundscribbles.wixsite.com/shthappens
—
Texas Tech University Student