Studying long hours - How do you do it?

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Specializes in CCU, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Tele.

End of year exams and preparation - how do you do it? Do you have a system that works for you? Please share your tips with the community.

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I'll put my ethernet cable in the closet so I can't connect to the internet. This allows me to focus for an hour or so at a time, then I can take a break and go on the net or do something else.

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Specializes in LTC, Rural, OB.

I usually go to Starbucks, plug my earbuds in and tune everything out. I usually put on classical or jazz music with no lyrics. Speaking of I have to get my butt up and go do that today. 4 tests in the next week and a half.

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Take breaks between studying.

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.

Sometimes I honestly get into a really good groove and I'm able to concentrate for hours at a time. Those tend to be pretty rare though and typically only involve writing papers and topics in which I'm REALLY interested. The rest of the time, the only thing I've found that works for me is to do a combo of studying, breaking, and household tasks. If I'm not feeling guilty about not getting housework done, then I'm feeling guilty about studying, or goofing around. So usually I'll study for an hour or so - or tell myself "Okay, just this one chapter" - before I use 30 minutes or a full hour to do the dishes, laundry, whatever - and then take a break for an hour before having the cycle complete. It can be really time consuming sometimes, but for me it's the only way that works. I also try to study outside whenever possible. If it's a nice day and I can find a place where I can concentrate outside, I just end up feeling better. Good luck!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Typically I study in 15 min chunks... with about 5 minutes after. What this means is that I begin studying every 20 minutes. So if I start at 8:00, I study until about 8:15 and take a 5 minute break. Thankfully I can study at work and at times I study in about 2 - 3 minute chunks. I get about 1/2 the studying done that I would at home given the same amount of clock time, but at least I can get most of my studying done before I go home. I then usually only have about 1 hour of studying to be done at my normal speed. I've even been known to get most of my care plans done at work too. Since it involves typically a lot of typing, I find that using Dragon naturally speaking as a typing assistant helps dramatically cut down the amount of time that I spend doing my care plans. In fact, I'm using DNS now.

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This last semester I would wait till the last 24 hours before an exam and study like a mad man. But I would also review the notes/ study guide days prior for about 30 minutes each day. I would study 10 hours on, 4 hours of sleep, 10 hours on again.

It has worked for me so far but I dont think I will everr do that again.

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Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

Been awhile since I was a student, but what worked for me, was to study every evening after school and try to not study much on weekends. I would spend 30 min or so on each subject every night and study the test classes a little longer. That way I never fell behind on studying. JMO

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Typically I study in 15 min chunks... with about 5 minutes after. What this means is that I begin studying every 20 minutes. So if I start at 8:00, I study until about 8:15 and take a 5 minute break. Thankfully I can study at work and at times I study in about 2 - 3 minute chunks. I get about 1/2 the studying done that I would at home given the same amount of clock time, but at least I can get most of my studying done before I go home. I then usually only have about 1 hour of studying to be done at my normal speed. I've even been known to get most of my care plans done at work too. Since it involves typically a lot of typing, I find that using Dragon naturally speaking as a typing assistant helps dramatically cut down the amount of time that I spend doing my care plans. In fact, I'm using DNS now.

I do the same thing except I study for 30 minutes and then take a small break. I also don't study late into the night or pull an all nighter. I don't think that really accomplishes anything and it gets to the point your so tired you aren't going to retain anything.

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procrastinate....stay up all night cramming and crying!

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This is so true it is something that I feel only nursing student's can truly understand! Our families are our witnesses though!

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Crying!!! yes crying is a big one! lol

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