You asked:

It’s only halfway through the semester, and all I can think about is getting my classes over with. What can I do to make myself focus on the schoolwork I need to do before summer creeps up on me?

The spring semester slump hits just about everyone at some point. It’s hard to focus on studies when the weather is getting nice and summer plans are in the works. Still, a few tricks may help keep your attention on the work you need to do.

• Keep a study schedule. Many students find that if they schedule blocks of study time in their week, well, they actually use that time to study. Even on the days when you don’t feel like studying, you’ve committed to that time for academic purposes.

• Break down your study time. Switch things up. Studying for four hours straight will leave you feeling drained, and it may slow down your productivity. Try studying for an hour at a time. Get up and take stretch breaks. If you have no choice but to study for long periods of time, change subjects to keep from getting bored.

• Study in new places. Where do you study? Some nontraditional -- but good -- places for studying include bookstores, coffee shops and outdoor picnic benches. Remember to keep the distractions to a minimum so that you actually do your work in a reasonable amount of time.

• Change how you study. Most people get bored with studying because all they do is sit down and read notes over and over again. Try making flashcards and having a friend quiz you. Use a dry-erase board to draw diagrams from lecture notes, and explain what they mean to a classmate. Or, turn your notes into a story to help you remember important points.

• Reward yourself for studying. Small rewards will encourage you to get work done. If you finish your paper, grab a milkshake. If you get all of your tasks done for the day, go out and have fun with friends.

• Study in spurts. Even studying in small increments of time has a cumulative effect. Even on the craziest of days, try to sit down for a few minutes and review your notes -- it will help you later.

Name: Sarah Arsenoff
School: UNC Wilmington
Year: Senior
Major: Marine Biology
Her Deal: This is Sarah's third year as an R.A. for freshmen and international students. She writes for Periplus, a university newsletter for students who, like her, are in the honors scholars program.

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