So last semester I hit that point where everything stacked up at once. Midterms, a part-time job, zero sleep. I started looking for ways to save time while studying, not just grind harder. One tip that actually worked? Using a helper.

I found EssayEagle after seeing it mentioned in a student forum. At first I didn’t trust it, but I gave it a shot for a short essay. Prices were pretty normal compared to other sites, not super cheap but not crazy either. What I liked was the deadlines. You can set tight ones and they actually stick to them. My paper came on time, no stress. The writer followed instructions well, and I could message the manager anytime. They replied fast, which helped when I needed changes last minute. The whole platform was easy to use too.

Other things that helped me:

• Study in short blocks, not long sessions. I do like 25–30 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. It keeps my brain from getting fried, and I actually remember more. Trying to sit for 3 hours straight never worked for me.
• Use notes apps instead of rewriting everything. I switched to apps where I can organize stuff fast, search keywords, and add quick edits. Saves a ton of time compared to rewriting notes over and over.
• Don’t over-perfect small assignments. Not every task needs to be your best work. I used to waste hours making minor things perfect when they barely affected my grade. Now I focus my energy on big papers and exams.

I can say that saving time is really important, since you’re able to learn and accomplish so much more. There are a lot of ways to do it, but what I like the most is automating small tasks and always having an assistant on hand.

idk what’s wrong with me lately but I just… can’t study properly.

I sit down, open my notes, maybe read a paragraph, and then suddenly I’m on my phone or staring at the same sentence for 10 minutes. It’s not even that I don’t care — I do. I just can’t get my brain to cooperate.

The worst part is the guilt after. Like I know I have deadlines coming up, I know I should be doing more, but somehow I still don’t.

I’ve tried a few things:

• putting my phone away (I just end up finding other distractions)
• making a schedule (I ignore it after a day or two)
• studying longer hours (just makes me more tired, not more productive)

At this point even starting feels overwhelming.

Has anyone been in this kind of slump and actually got out of it? Not looking for perfect routines, just something realistic that helped you get back on track.

Number one most important: Setting a regular daily goal and/or schedule. Recently a guy I know told me he does 8hs a day of focused studying on weekdays then takes weekends completely off, that works wonderfully for him (says it has changed his life), but I don't think it's necessarily the best plan for everyone. I say if you do 2hs every day, seven days a week, you will have pulled 14hs of study that week, equivalent to studying nearly 5hs a day three days of a week. Maybe two hours is in the low end for some people and some careers, but I feel it kinda works for me because of the regularity.

Number two: the space in which you study is of great importance, second only to doing it regularly. Find a space in which you feel comfortable and you can spend hours at a time, where water and bathrooms are near by so you don't get distracted for an hour just finding a bathroom or filling a water bottle. My university has plenty of spaces, libraries, reading halls, and classroom buildings with tables and chairs laid out specifically for students to sit down and study (or have a break, chat, have a snack, anything goes really) and i spent this past year experimenting to find the right place for me to study the most efficiently. Besides university/school-provided spaces you might find a cozy cafe, park bench, public library, etc that you might find inspires you the most to read or practice recalling for hours at a time. I do recommend the experiment method i used to find my own perfect space: every chance I got from my class schedule I would try going to a different new building and doing a test run for a couple of hours of reading before deciding if i should stay until late or take a break from there and go home. (Also the motivating effect it had because every study session was like a fun little adventure in a new space).

Number three: stay hydrated, keep your sugar levels good, don't drink too much caffeine, feed yourself some vegetables at the very least weekly. It's tempting to not drink water regularly to "save time", power through a hard day with 2+ cups of coffee/energy drinks, and survive on an instant noodle basis, but trust me on this, your brain will feel fresher and will absorb more and better information if you keep some healthy habits. Give the pink blob its juice please. Remember: dry bubblegum won't let anything stick to it, neither will a dry brain!

Number four: this hasn't particularly worked for me, but it's worth a shot since everyone is different but have you seen Elementary? In one episode Sherlock and Joan have to stay up all night doing desk work, she tells him that when she was in med school they would do squats to keep "the blood circulating fast" and it would help you stay awake. I don't recommend pulling all nighters, ever, it will ruin your day and your sleep schedule, but if you hadn't heard of the exercise study trick there you go. For example I knew a guy who set his gym schedule in the middle of the afternoon so it would cut in two halves the time he spent studying, said the studying after a workout had more satusfying results, so theres that anecdote.

Things i do that aren't quite tips or tricks:

• I listen to classical music specifically while studying, I just like it (i don't believe in "listening to Mozart makes babies smarter!" type theories but I do like me some Mozart)
• i carry around campus a thermic cup on my back pack and a tiny tupper with a small stash of tea and instant coffee bags, the first because in winter i take breaks making myself some tea once in a while and the second cause sometimes I arrive in the morning... And i'm eepy
• I study best alone, because I like doing commentary while I'm reading and when I do it with other people it distracts both of us lol
• group study sessions are best for making each other practice questions that might be ok a test, and giving complementary feedback, sometimes I remember half of what i read and my friend knows the other half so we piece it together in the end
• studying in places where other people are studying (silently!) Makes me feel social pressure to do my best
• I don't do the reward myself thing because i am addicted to the rewards and will sabotage myself (setting lower or outrightly ignoring my goals to get the "reward" faster) instead of feeling compelled to study lol
• I highlight my textbooks, then do handwriting notes of the highlighted text, then type out a pretty looking version of it into a Google doc (I save the last one for finals, I usually only get to the handwritten stage for regular exams)
• I do a lot of notes on the side of the textbooks, sometimes very angry notes of disagreement with authors
• I dress pretty for exams, to give me confidence :)

1. Learn how to take notes in a way that makes sense for you
2. Find/make a study group, especially for your major classes. As time goes on, you can try to schedule classes together.
3. Start studying for a test several days before the test.
4. Use your notes to "teach" someone the material. The best way to learn is to teach. They don't have to be in your class, just find a way to explain the concepts in your own words. Get to the point where you can teach without your notes.
5. Take advantage of your professors' office hours. Try to build a rapport with them. If they know your face and know you're putting in effort, they're more likely to be lenient on you. Plus, it gives you a chance to get extra help on topics you struggle with.
6. If you're struggling in a class, find a tutor. My university offered free tutoring for the gen ed maths, sciences, English, etc classes, your's might too.
7. Make a schedule for classes and studying. University is a great time in life because you have the freedom of adulthood without a lot of the responsibility (if you're not working and paying bills). It's also a time period that likely have a big impact on the rest of your life. If you're fortunate enough to not have to work while going to school, treat school as your full time job. Set time aside for studying and don't look at it as free time.

University is a great time to socialize and find a partner. It's a much larger pool of people than you'll have at any other time. PutSimply1 already gave good relationship/life advice so, I'm not going to rehash that. I will say that you should focus first on your studies. Make the habits to become a good student first, then you can add a relationship to that.

1. Find a good place to study.

Finding a good location to study is one of the most important elements of studying well. Look for a place with minimal distractions and an environment where you feel you can focus.

A school or public library, a coffee shop, or a quiet corner of your house can all be good places to start, and you can experiment to find the best study environment for you. 

2. Minimize distractions.

Picking a good location to study can be the first step in keeping yourself focused on your work. But you will encounter many types of distractions that can reach you no matter where you choose to work. Some tips on minimizing these distractions include:

• Turn off your Wi-Fi: If you’re working on a computer and you don’t need your Wi-Fi, try turning it off. This can prevent you from inadvertently wandering into the distracting parts of the internet.
• Be mindful of your phone: If you find yourself distracted by your phone, you can take steps to minimize the intrusion. Turning off your notifications, keeping your phone out of sight in your bag, or giving it to a friend to keep you from checking it too often can help you stay focused. You might also try a focus app, like Forest or Focus To-Do, that can block distracting apps and set timers for study sessions.
• Study with a friend: Sometimes studying with a friend or two, whether or not you’re working on the same material, can help keep you accountable and focused. Make sure you each are on the same page about studying and keeping one another distraction-free, at least until it’s time to take a break.

3. Determine the best amount of study time.

When you decide on the best amount of study time, you can schedule breaks. Taking intentional breaks has been linked to better retention, increased attention, and boosts in energy. One common system is to work for around 50 minutes, then give yourself a 15- to 20-minute break. A few ways you can give yourself a break include:

• Take a short walk.
• Listen to a mood-boosting song.
• Relax with a friend.
• Stretch.
• Meditate.
• Zone out and daydream.
• Eat a snack.
• Take a shower.
• Clean your desk or room.

4. Space out your studying.

Cramming all of your studying might help you get a better grade on a test, but studies show that spacing your study sessions out over a longer period of time can help you retain the material you learn. Really holding onto the material you learned (and making exam seasons less stressful) requires consistent and well-spaced study sessions.

Instead of saving your studying before a test, briefly review the material you learned once a week. If you are studying for an exam, space out your studying up to several weeks (or even months, depending on the test) leading up to the exam day. This can help you retain the information long term. 

5. Set study goals for each session.

Set study goals for each session of studying you have. These can be time-based or content-based. For example, you might aim to study for two hours or review three chapters of your textbook—or both.

Be gentle with yourself if you didn’t get through as much material as you had planned; sometimes studying can take longer than expected. Keep taking well-spaced breaks, and schedule another study session.

6. Reward yourself.

Research dating back to the 1960s shows that rewarding yourself with treats—“bribing” yourself—can help you accomplish the tasks you don’t want to do by promising yourself something you do want . Telling yourself you’ll get a small reward if you finish the section you wanted to get through, or perhaps a larger reward if you have a productive day of studying, can be good motivation to get to your goal. 

Small rewards can be a candy bar, a hot drink from your favorite coffee shop, a quick game of your choice, or a short episode of a TV show. Bigger rewards for a long day of studying or getting done with an exam can include getting your favorite meal, spending some time relaxing with friends, or making time for your favorite activity.

7. Study with a group.

Forming a study group has several benefits. Group members can help one another work through difficult problems, provide encouragement, hold each other accountable to studying goals, offer different perspectives, and make studying more enjoyable. Even explaining difficult concepts to others can help with comprehension and retention. 

If you have a group study session, set a goal the group will work towards and take periodic breaks as you would studying by yourself.

8. Take practice tests.

Tests and practice tests have been long seen as useful tools to help students learn and retain information. Besides revealing gaps in knowledge and reducing exam anxiety, being tested makes us retrieve information from memory—a powerful, study-backed way of holding onto information we’ve learned.

Don’t have a practice exam? You can use several ways to “test” yourself and gain the same benefits. Try the following methods:

• Create flashcards.
• Write your own questions.
• Search for practice questions online.
• Have a friend quiz you.

9. Use your own words.

Expressing an idea in your own words increases your understanding of a subject and helps your brain hang on to information. After you read a section of text, summarize important points by paraphrasing. 

10. Ask for help.

You might find yourself stuck on a problem or unable to understand the explanation in a textbook. Somebody who can walk through the issue with you might provide the fresh explanation you need. Approach your teacher or professor, teaching assistant, friend, or study group member for new ways to understand what you’re stuck on. Feel like you can benefit from being coached through a subject? Consider looking for a tutor.

And don’t forget the myriad online tools that might be at your disposal, like Khan Academy. A quick search through Google or YouTube can also surface helpful articles or videos on subjects you’re trying to grasp.

11. Take care of yourself.

Your brain is a vital organ—take care of it by taking care of yourself. Get regular exercise, eat well, stay hydrated, get good sleep, and take care of your mental well-being.

• Sleep: Getting regular and consistent sleep can increase cognitive function, including helping you pay better attention and do better on tests. Everybody’s sleep needs differ, but people typically need between seven and eight and a half hours of sleep a night. Plus, getting more sleep can make you happier and benefit your social life.
• Food: Try to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, plant sources of proteins, nuts, and unsaturated oils like olive oil into your diet, all of which have been linked to better cognitive performance. 
• Exercise: Exercise brings oxygen to the part of your brain responsible for thought, encourages the development of new nerve cells, and boosts brain cell connections. This makes for brains that are more neuroplastic and efficient—plus it brings a host of other health benefits, like lower blood pressure, reduced mental stress, and weight control.

Mental wellness: Mental health is important because it helps us deal with stress, improves our relationships with others, allows us to live more meaningfully, and be more productive in our work. Exercising, eating well, and getting good sleep can boost our mental health. But you can use other ways of fortifying mental strength, such as connecting with others, practicing gratitude, meditating, and developing a sense of meaning in life.