<p>Everyone here's at least pretty smart and does well in school, so I'm just wondering how you guys cope with all the stress and do so well in general. What are some of your tricks that help you do well while not spending way too much time? And how do you not get worn out? I'll bet a lot of people here are as stressed out as I am all the time - there must be a way to be a better student while not being stressed out more than we can handle (I hope).</p>
<p>It gets stressing at times, but I do this little study method that doesn’t wear me out and reduces stress in general (for me at least).</p>
<p>For me, in order for me to do well in the classes in school, is to be able to regurgitate that information to others, and do it well. Of course, mostly everyone has that “natural talent”, but for some people it’s not particularly in academics. Me for example, I have to study about 2 hours a day for me to understand it. Nothing really come naturally to me, I have to work for it. This can get stressful and really tiring at times, but I found a fun and easy way to know if you really know the material and my method reminds the student what he/she needs to work on. In order for me to understand the material, I usually “play” teacher. I gather my brother, sister and my parents and I teach the material. If I have mastery of the material, then I should fluidly go through the material without questioning myself and questioning what I’ve taught. My family loves when I do this because of my passion for learning. When I was in school, first semester Honors Biology, Sophomore year, there was a lot of information that I had to study and had to know. So I would teach my family the topics covered in class, and I would ask them if they understood it or had no clue. If I would stumble with some information, this will tell me that I need to study that piece of information. When I’m done “teaching” I would go through the actual information that I attempted to “teach” and see if I was accurate or just flat out wrong. By checking this will also help me notice the material that I need more help on.</p>
<p>This is just a little way I try to make studying interesting and fun. It’s funny when my parents don’t a understand a thing I’m saying, (Like DNA replication, RNA, primers, telomers, ‘5-3’, ‘3-5’ and all that good stuff) so, I use a lot of art and et cetera. Not only I’m making OTHERS understand, but it’s also helping me look at many the things in a different light. You don’t have to do this, but it’s just something that I can do to make me feel better about learning and not having to stress about endless studying and worrying about not understanding the material.</p>
<p>This is one of the methods I use:</p>
<p>When you’re studying for a test or doing your homework, try to concentrate as much as possible. Be as far away from the computer, your phone, loud noises, etc. and just focus on doing your work. That way you get done much faster. In contrast, if you’re trying to study for an important exam then go from that to checking your facebook page or doing something not as mentally stimulating, the switch, to put it simply, is confusing for the brain. I mean you’re going from a high brain activity level where you’re trying to remember multiple things (ie vocab, formulas, historical events) to a more relaxed state. You end up losing concentration or not being as focused as before ‘the switch’ because you’re thinking about something else.</p>
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<p>School is a game. Treat it like one and you’ll find it easier to win.</p>
<p>This is not to say the material is not interesting. It very often is. </p>
<p>Another disclaimer: Do not let games take over your life. Games are for fun. Spend more time with friends and family than on schoolwork. If that means you can’t go to a good school because you don’t have the “natural talent” to pull it off, then why would you want to go to a good school? So you can spend less time with your friends and family during college, too? So you can get stressed out even more? And for what? An extra $10,000 a year when you’re fifty? NOT WORTH IT. </p>
<p>Also, leave plenty of time for your own interests. Again, more important than school games. </p>
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<p>I disagree with the idea of tricks. </p>
<p>But the biggest piece of advice I have: DO NOT SKIP OUT ON SLEEP. Sleep eight hours or more a night, every night of the week, unless you are, say, staying up to comfort a friend, or staying up on a weekend to have fun. </p>
<p>If you have to choose between cramming for a test and sleeping, (a) you should already have studied the material before and so (b) sleeping is more productive, as you’ll be better rested for the test. </p>
<p>As for studying, just *find the material interesting<a href=“This%20is%20NOT%20that%20hard.%20Most%20things%20are%20interesting,%20really.”>/i</a> and you will see that, though it still isn’t fun per se, the studying goes better. Forget that it’s a chore. Take plenty of breaks for snacks and stretching your legs. I take a snack break every other hour and a fifteen minute walk on the other hours. Allows your brain time to recoup. Never study for more than six hours in a row. Diminishing returns. </p>
<p>Do the homework carefully and understand everything the first time. No half-jobs—you’ll have to do the half-job again later, during studying, and you’ll have to complete it anyway. In high school, this allowed me to get away with never really purely studying for math, chemistry, or physics. </p>
<p>Read the material for material-intensive courses (e.g., biology and history) as soon as you get the chance after it is covered in class. I usually prioritized friends and hanging out, and still managed to get that done at least by the end of the next day. </p>
<p>Eat healthy. Exercise regularly, not for physical but for cognitive benefits. There’s lots of research on this topic, but long story short: sustained endurance exercise, HIIT, and weightlifting all make you smarter in different ways. </p>
<p>Finally, let me reiterate: this is a game. Do not spend more than ~2-3 hours outside of the classroom on this game. If this requires that you do homework in class, DO SO. Your time is too precious to waste on nonsense. </p>
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<p>Same advice as before: sleep, eat right, don’t spend too much time on any one thing, take breaks, exercise. </p>
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<p>Unfortunately. </p>
<p>This is because people on CC vastly overestimate the value of a “good” college and underestimate the value of R&R. If you get lucky and stumble into a good college while being yourself, maintaining your free time, and enjoying the ride, then by all means, go there. But you should not sacrifice so much for so little if you have to do it the other way.</p>
<p>I spend time with good friends and study enough for school. With friends that motivate you, you’ll definitely find it easier to cope with your troubles.</p>
<p>Steve, that was a really good post. Sometimes a reminder of what one’s priorities should be is necessary to open the eyes of someone that wants to sacrifice their life for 6 APs just to attempt admission to Harvard.</p>
<p>Thanks JimboSteve, that’s a great post and exactly what I was looking for.</p>
<p>Someone mentioned “playing teacher”, and personally that’s the best method for me. Whenever I explain something on the level another person can understand, it really helps me to grasp the subject.</p>
<p>I know it sounds really weird, but when I’m alone, I will pretend I’m a teacher and pretend to give a lesson on a topic that I recently read myself. I know it sounds weird, but when you teach somebody, you have to analyze the topic and break it down into something easier to comprehend. By doing this, it really works. Personally, it works best for concepts (like math) as opposed to straight up facts, though.</p>
<p>Hey just thought that I’d answer. I Certainly don’t have that ‘natural talent’. I just work hard, which is why the SATs and ACT tests scare me. I’m the kid who spends 2 days solely on an MLA 6 page essay to guarantee an A in a class (97% for the essay.) I didn’t get into our honors gifted program in 6th grade ((it’s not a big deal for colleges but a major blow to my self esteem))
But I study my arse off before a big test (or any test) and do ok. So my GPA is as good if not better then someone in gifted. I’ve always believed that if you are moderately good at with holding information you just study and work hard.
I don’t have a system really. Just ask someone who understands the lesson better then me for help (then befriend them and study with each other) or ask the teacher. (that’s very useful) AND SHOW THE TEACHER YOU CARE. Which sounds dumb but it’s not, if the teacher thinks you care I find they are much more likely to help you out.
But certainly I’ve never been stress free. I have little breakdowns when Im too close to a B. Actually big breakdowns. Waterworks and self pity included.
In short just study and find the method that works for you.
And don’t procrastinate that bits very important</p>
<p>And maybe this is an unpopular opinion but I disagree with some of Steve’s post. Most of it’s completely brilliant. But I think that how much time you spend on homework and studying depends on you, your course load, and the actual thing itself. Because what in high school is so thrilling that you can’t work on it and get good grades (not necessarily all As). I find I can spend time with ‘friends’ and get the GPA I want. And yes it’s hard but why throw away your future to have a ‘life’ in high school.
I only am so skeptical cos most teenagers I know spend more time on Facebook then they do studying. I don’t think that most week nights Im missing out when I study. I don’t think a good college is over valued. Not really. I think when the time comes there will be decisions to make but what’s the point in throwing away an option before you have to</p>
<p>The key is to do the minimal work possible for an A, and always going to bed by 1030. Also having a sport forces you to get it done fast. This is from a rising senior doing this since sixth grade. Works like a charm.</p>
<p>There’s some relevant information you can find here.
[Cal</a> Newport – Author: How to Be a High School Superstar, How to Become a Straight-A Student, How to Win at College](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/]Cal”>http://calnewport.com/)</p>