10 Essential Winter Study Tips
It’s cold outside, but winter can be a great time to get ahead with your studies. Think about it – you’re probably going out less and you’re not tempted by beautiful, beachy days on the weekend. If you’re dreading another chilly, confining season, winter is actually the perfect time to get cracking on your coursework. Here are some skills, techniques and tips for optimizing your study routine over the winter months:
1. Exercise
Exercise doesn’t just improve your physical fitness; it increases your focus, and a short brisk walk will do. A study from the University of Illinois found that physical activity increases cognitive control. Students with ADHD who participated in 20 minutes of moderate exercise were able to pay attention longer and scored better on academic achievement tests, especially in the area of reading comprehension.
2. Unplug from social media
You don’t have to unplug forever, but switching off from social media is essential to getting work done. If you’re a real social-media addict, allow yourself a five-minute break every hour as a reward to lol at all those grumpy kittens and motivational memes. Then get back to work!
3. Make a to-do list
These help to keep you on track with your study and make sure you don’t get bored. First, block out your time: do you have 30 minutes or three hours to study? After this, examine what needs to be done. Assign priority tasks to the start of your study session, as this is where your brain works best. Switch tasks or subjects every 45 minutes to an hour, as this also helps to keep you motivated.
4. Get a blanket and make yourself comfortable
You will not last the distance if you are cold. If you usually study in your bedroom and it resembles an ice chest more than a cozy chalet, consider taking your study somewhere warmer. Small fan or bar heaters can dehydrate you and make you feel tired, so if possible, find a study spot that is naturally warm or has central heating. Investigate your local library, community center, or local café – you may find a warm study spot there.
5. Find the sunniest spot and park yourself in it!
One of the best ways to motivate yourself is to make sure that you are studying in a place with lots of natural light. Depending on where you live, the sunniest part of the day will fall at different times. Open up your curtains or blinds and move into the most light-filled room to study. The vitamin D will make you feel good all day and help to keep you motivated.
6. Know your peak time
We are all different. Some of us function best in the morning, doing our most vital work between 10 am and midday. Others prefer to study at night, burning the midnight oil until the wee hours. Others might find that they get a flash of inspiration in the afternoon after a light snack. Whatever the optimal time for you to study is, make the most of this window and do your priority tasks then.
7. Phone a friend
But only if they’re studying too! Studying in small groups can be an effective way to learn, provided that the group is disciplined and can keep focus. For this reason, it is imperative to schedule talk breaks and discussion periods, otherwise these will occur at unscheduled times and push people off track.
8. Make a big pot of soup
The day before you study, that is! Keeping your brain active is made easier when we eat healthily and look after our nutritional needs. If you fuel your study session on chocolate and chips, you’re just going to crash when the sugar and salt rushes end. Make a huge pot of winter soup, including all the freshest veggies you can find, and reap the rewards all week.
9. Stay hydrated
Being dehydrated isn’t just bad for your body; it’s bad for your attention span. A study done at the University of Barcelona, found that mild dehydration-–as little as 2%–can negatively impact your ability to concentrate. In fact, a 2% drop in dehydration isn’t enough to trigger thirst. So before you go into a situation where you need to focus, make sure you bring along plenty of water.
10. Crank the tunes
There have been studies that show that music can be a great way to motivate you when you are studying, but you have to choose music that has no lyrics. Research has found that some students did better at spatial and linguistic processing if Mozart was playing in the background where they studied. However, other evidence may suggest that some people benefit from tunes with a fast beat and rhyming lyrics.
Though the weather outside may be frightful, it’s a good opportunity to make the most of your time indoors and make significant progress in the courses you are studying. Winter can be the perfect time to get motivated to make sure all your plans are set so you can start the new year getting where you planned to go.
Winter/Spring 2020 Mock Test Dates
These tests are taken in a group setting to simulate the testing environment, and VHES will provide all materials, including the test booklet, essay booklet, answer sheet, testing timer, pencils, and a test proctor. Parents receive a nine-page detailed diagnostic report that reveals strengths and weaknesses.
View sample ACT/SAT diagnostic reports:
Northern VA/DC - ACT / SAT
Richmond VA - ACT / SAT
Charlotte NC - ACT / SAT
The registration fee is $25 per test. For students taking both the ACT and SAT, we will review the scores to see which test they are scoring higher on, using our score concordance chart to make a test recommendation. Since all colleges and universities accept both tests, it's beneficial to know if your child is scoring higher on the ACT or SAT.
Testing Dates and Locations:
Vienna, VA
Wesley United Methodist Church
711 Spring Street, SE
Vienna, VA 22180
Click here to register for a mock ACT/SAT or click on a specific test date below.
ACT - 1/18/2020, 3/7/2020, 5/16/2020
Charlotte, NC
VHES
15720 Brixham Hill Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28277
Click here to register for a mock ACT/SAT or click on a specific test date below.
ACT - 1/11/2020, 3/21/2020, 5/9/2020
SAT - 1/25/2020, 3/7/2020, 5/16/2020
Richmond, VA
Richmond Community Church
11801 Nuckols Road
Glen Allen, VA 23059
Click here to register for a mock ACT/SAT or click on a specific test date below.
ACT - 1/18/2020, 3/7/2020, 5/16/2020
Warrenton, VA
VHES
4263 Aiken Drive
Warrenton, VA 20187
Click here to register for a mock ACT/SAT or click on a specific test date below.
ACT - 1/11/2020, 3/21/2020, 5/9/2020
SAT - 1/25/2020, 3/7/2020, 5/16/2020
Raleigh, NC Test dates TBA