Valeria De Miguel Melo
Managing Editor
Students often face challenges when attempting to balance their academic responsibilities with personal time for relaxation, socializing with friends, and connecting with family. As responsibilities pile up, students may find themselves utilizing hacks to manage their time wisely make their study sessions more productive, and make life as a college student more fun and manageable. Luckily, there are plenty of hacks that can help students navigate college life with a bit more ease and allow them to make space for what matters most. Here are some of the best ones to try.
Productivity Tricks
Active Recall– Before a test, most students go over their notes to review. However, research shows that the best way to prepare for an exam is not by passively studying material but by actively trying to recall the information. Quizzing oneself and using flashcards are both great ways to practice active recall. Active recall works by bringing forth a memory from a certain topic, reconstructing it, and reinforcing the neural pathways involved in retrieving that memory. This means that the more often a student recalls a memory, the stronger it becomes and the more clearly it can be remembered.This study method also highlights the bits of information students may be missing or unsure of, allowing them to revisit and reinforce those areas later. Students can apply this technique by first reading all the important material for a class and then creating a quiz based on it. Technology now offers even more efficient tools to support this method. Websites like turbolearn.ai, chatgpt.com, and mindgrasp.ai can read study material and produce focused mock exams that help students practice using active recall.
Spaced Repetition-Many students believe they work better under pressure and consider cramming the most effective study method. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this. While cramming may feel productive, it does not promote long-term retention. Working memory, or short-term memory, has limited capacity, according to the Cognitive Load Theory by John Sweller. In contrast, studying and revisiting information at intervals helps transfer it into long-term memory. Studying a little each day, rather than a lot in one sitting, also helps combat the forgetting curve. Psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus discovered that individuals can forget up to 70 percent of new information within 24 hours of learning it—but periodic review helps retain much more. To apply spaced repetition, students can review a new topic the day after learning it, then again three days later, five days later, and so on, until they feel confident. Reviewing consistently for several days ensures thorough preparation and helps reduce test anxiety. Time-Blocking-To ensure students allocate time to valuable tasks, they can use time-blocking to visually plan how their days will look and how their time will be spent. This method ensures schoolwork and other responsibilities are addressed while also setting aside time for relaxation and fun. Time-blocking can be done either digitally or by hand. However, digital planners often offer more flexibility and visual appeal. Apps like Apple Calendar, Notion, and Google Calendar are helpful tools for creating time-blocked schedules. Students can color-code their activities to see how much time is spent on each class and on personal time. Once classes are added to the schedule, other activities like workouts, homework sessions, and social time can be worked around them. Planning in advance helps ensure that all priorities are met, including downtime.
College Life Hacks Sunrise Alarm Clock-A sunrise alarm clock is a light-based alarm that gradually brightens, mimicking a natural sunrise, and helps students wake up peacefully. This type of alarm works in harmony with the body’s internal systems, promoting a gentle and stress-free awakening. The human brain operates on a 24-hour cycle known as the circadian rhythm, which is closely tied to hormones regulated by light exposure. These hormones are serotonin—the hormone that promotes wakefulness and mood—and melatonin, which induces sleep. In darkness, melatonin is produced to keep us sleepy; in the presence of light, serotonin is released to help us wake up. This is why a sunrise alarm clock is especially helpful for students who struggle to wake up in the morning. As the light slowly increases in intensity, melatonin production ceases, and the student wakes more naturally and with less grogginess. It’s a small but impactful investment for anyone seeking a smoother morning routine.
Romanticize Life-College life can feel overwhelming with constant studying, chores, work and extracurricular responsibilities. If students don’t learn to make everyday moments feel special, they risk facing daily frustration and burnout. Romanticizing life means embracing the idea that students get to pursue an education, get to attend campus events and get to build their futures. Activities become burdensome when framed as obligations instead of opportunities. Shifting this perspective can transform the college experience. Science supports this shift: choosing to focus on positivity reinforces neural pathways associated with optimism and increases dopamine production, the hormone responsible for motivation and reward. This makes it easier to approach daily tasks with enthusiasm. Small mindset shifts can be cultivated through journaling, dressing in a way that expresses personal style or changing routines occasionally. Romanticizing life is ultimately about discovering beauty and meaning in everyday moments.
Conclusion
College is a transformative yet demanding period of life, and finding balance is key to thriving. Through strategies like active recall, spaced repetition, time-blocking, and intentional mindset shifts, students can enhance productivity while still enjoying the richness of their experiences. Whether it’s waking up with ease, mastering a study method, or appreciating the journey, these simple yet powerful hacks can help students create a more fulfilling and manageable college life.
caption: Photo courtesy of https://www.bupipedream.com/ac/listicle/seven-essential-dorm-room-decorations/139292/
