Hey hey! So lately I’ve been experimenting with my approach to studying, as I used to just do nothing but study not too long ago. So recently I decided to mix things up and actually give myself some free time rather than spend all day working on stuff. I am just curious of the study habits of the top students, since I’m still exploring ways to improve my own study habits without over-working myself and becoming stressed out.
Really really personal: my first collegekid really can’t focus for more than 30-40 minutes at a go- then needs to move for a few minutes, while the next collegekid can focus for scary-long periods of time, and has to discipline herself to take physical breaks and so on. I think everybody agrees that you need to break up study sessions with physical movement.
My daughter is a senior in college and a top student studying engineering. Of course I’m not with her and I don’t know exactly what she does, but I think she studies what I would call “steady,” for lack of a better word. She plans out what she needs to do and when she is going to do certain tasks to get the job done. She doesn’t waste her idle time during the day, but rather fills in her time during the day with schoolwork between classes and meetings. She keeps up and makes sure that she understands materials, will seek help in office hours or with colleagues if she doesn’t, and by the time tests roll around she doesn’t usually have to do much more than simple reviews to prepare. She is involved in a lot of musical activities (rehearsals and stuff) in the evenings. I don’t think she has to study often after those. Sometimes watches a show or movie. She goes to bed by midnight most nights I think.
My daughter is a senior, science major, excellent GPA, in what is considered a strong school. She was also a top HS student.
She studies/works hard, but never studies past 10:00 at night. What I notice the most is her ability to focus and make good use of her time. She doesn’t get distracted by social media etc. If she has a free hour, she will look at her notes. She is busy… clubs and committees etc…doesn’t spend every waking hour studying… but the studying she does do throughout the day is very high quality. She also attends office hours on a regular basis whether she needs to or not… did the same in HS.
So, is it just a matter of time management and not over working yourself to avoid stress?
Being organized and managing your time so you get things DONE ASAP. No cramming.
Check out this book:
I would highly recommend the book by Cal Newport: “How To Become a Straight-A Student:
The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less”
It will help you with time management and how to be more efficient.
Useful posts, all.
@NorthernMom61’s point of assessing the work from the start, and breaking it down in to manageable chunks is super. In college, not getting behind is key: read the readings before the class, starting assignments / problem sets immediately, spacing out work so that when paper/exam deadlines hit (of course, all at the same time), you have it planned out. If you do it that way, you are likely to find that you often have assignments done early 
Tbh, though, I don’t think you can avoid all stress: exams and deadlines are inherently stressful. But you can keep the stress to a level where it gives you a little adrenaline to help you over the line but doesn’t derail you altogether.
@DankBelmont my daughter gets stressed… part of that is due to perfectionism. College will be stressful… there is a lot of work, deadlines, tests, papers etc. The key is to keep on top of it, make sure you understand it, etc. My daughter does over work/over commit herself… and then I get the stressed phone call. It’s important to make time for yourself… eat properly, learn to manage the stress, etc.