RA Alessandra shares her best tips for studying

Hi everyone!

My name is Alessandra, I’m one of the Residential Assistants here at Queen Mary and I’m going to share my top 3 study tips with you.

Tip 1: Find the right environment for you

It’s super important to find the right study space to study productively, whether that be the library, your room or a cafe. I personally prefer my room!

Many of my friends can study effectively in the library but it just isn’t as productive for me, and I can never get 100% in the zone. If you don’t feel like studying on the Mile End campus, there are so many cool study spots around London. Check out this article for ideas!

In the end, no matter where it is, study wherever works for you best! 😊

Tip 2: Look after your health and make a self-care routine

Do be sure you look after yourself! I would argue the most important thing at uni is to prioritise your health. This includes getting enough sleep, eating enough (try and include fruit and veg in your diet as much as possible), staying hydrated, taking regular breaks and doing things that you enjoy to be mentally healthy.

I personally like to go for a walk every day – it helps me to clear my head and come back to studying fresh. It’s far better to study for fewer hours more effectively than to slog away all day and stay up late. Never sacrifice your health for your studies!

Tip 3: Create a study schedule

Write everything you do in a week in one place! I use Google Calendar, but you can use a physical planner if that works better for you. It’s essential to make the schedule flexible so you don’t end up trying to study if you feel ill or tired. Don’t be hard on yourself - leave lots of blank spaces where you can socialize or study depending on how you feel and what you must get done on that day. For example, I leave Tuesday, Thursdays and Sundays evenings free for studying or relaxing.

I hope you guys found that helpful! I know that Uni can be a really challenging time and I’ve definitely had my struggles. If you are struggling, please go and get some help! Talk to someone: your academic advisor, your lecturers, your peers, your parents. There’s also an Advice and Counselling Service which I used last year and really helped me, plus the Residential Welfare Team are always there to offer a helping hand.

Thank you for reading and good luck studying 😊