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The foolproof guide to studying in the library!

We’ve all been there - a deadline is on the horizon, exams are just around the corner and the library is calling our names; opening its doors to swallow us whole. Only when we place ourselves we sit there for minutes, hours, days and manage one or two words. Only to leave its presence with the ever impending doom that we should have done more.

Here is a short guide to battle library procrastination and ensure the time spent there is effective and leads to good results.

Plan
Before you enter the library’s warming embrace, create a simple plan highlighting what you wish to achieve. This normally works best in advance and can help declutter your head. For example, if you have two modules on the go, invest two hours into each and set a target of 500 words. Organisation is vital to ensure time is managed well and voila! Avoid those late submissions and score sky high results!

Avoid “all nighters”
The library not only serves as an academic hub but also a hotel service for most. Subsequently, this leads to overtiredness, stress and incomplete work. Your mind is most active during the morning and early afternoon - after that your brain no longer serves as a sponge but instead deflects any new information that is needed to get that gold and shiny first. Go to the library early, finish early and bam! You are tucked up in bed ready for another day.

Arrive early to avoid the hoard
The library is your fairy godmother when it comes to passing those exams, but when there are approximately 2000 students fighting for one space, it can elevate stress levels. Aim to get to the library around 10 am, secure yourself a comfortable spot, better yet, reserve a study room to avoid large crowds and get studying. 

 
Not sure? Ask the Librarian
Many students do not consider this option, but a librarian will act as your saviour when assignments are piling up. Not only can they advise you where books can be located and offer solutions to IT problems, they also help you choose relevant academic resources and teach you how to utilise search engine databases. Understanding these skills not only enhances your grades but using academic search engines is also a desired skill when reporting for companies. It is a win-win situation!

Turn your phone off! Millenials spend their lives on smart phones, and it is no wonder! Scrolling through Facebook is far more appealing than reading an academic journal. However, learning that your old school friend has a pet dog will not benefit you or your studies. Turn your phone off, put it to one side and focus. This does require discipline, but you would be surprised how much more focused you are when your phone is not vibrating every two minutes. 

Article by Megan Bryant at StudentJob UK.

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