Level down your stress. Level up your FUN.
Find your study spot
Some people need noise around them to focus, while others focus best in a quiet space. Finding an environment that meets your study needs is important.
Favorite study spots on campus:
- University Library
- The Den in University Tower
- Ball Gardens
- Campus Center quiet room (340)
No matter where you choose to crack the books, check out our lo-fi Jazzy playlist to get into the zone.
Listen to lo-fi Jazzy
Taking breaks can actually boost your study sessions
Research suggests that having time in between study sessions allows you to better learn and remember what you’ve studied and feel recharged.
Being intentional about when you rest between study periods and what you do during breaks will help you get the most benefit from your breaks.
Take action: Set your study breaks up for success
- Plan out your study schedule with anticipated breaks, rather than cramming it all into one session. This can help you learn—not just memorize—the material.
- Do activities during a study break without your phone like spending time outdoors, grabbing a snack, or trying out a guided meditation podcast.
- Consider using “do not disturb” settings on your phone to turn off notifications that can be distracting. Or try turning off your phone while studying.
Fuel up for studying
Frequently stopping for snacks can disrupt your study flow, and feeling hungry can also make it hard to concentrate, make you feel irritable and tired, and impact your GPA.
Take action: Make your snacks filling and easy to grab-and-go
Pack energy-sustaining snacks that will keep you satisfied for studying like nuts and dried fruits, cottage cheese or yogurt, berries (for an added brain boost!), edamame, whole grain cracker, or toast with nut butter.
Take action: Keep caffeine in moderation
While there is research to support caffeine can help boost your concentration and solidify memories, too much of it and too late at night can disrupt your sleep—which can also impact memory retention and recall.
Take action: Get enough food to fuel your study session
Having enough food is key to learning. Paws’ Pantry can help you fill up on foods if you need it.
How to access Paws' Pantry
Don’t skip out on sleep
Prioritizing your zzzs can help boost your studies. Here’s how:
- Sleep plays a critical role in formation and storage of memories—like calculus formulas or the date of the Gettysburg address.
- Sleep helps you recall all the information you’ve learned, so you can have it all top of mind when you are taking your next exam.
Take action: Assess your sleep space
Get the best rest by snoozing in a space that’s comfortable, cool, quiet, and dark.
Take action: Make a bedtime routine
Power down devices 30-60 minutes before going to bed (phones, tablets, computers). Incorporate relaxing activities before bed, like reading (for fun!), meditating, journaling, or listening to music.
Take action: Get up around the same time each day
Yes, even on the weekends! This helps your body get into a rhythm of waking up and feeling rested without having to rely as much on alarms and caffeine.
Take action: Incorporate sleep hygiene into your daily routine
Use your bed for sleep and intimacy only. That way you only associate your sleep space/bed with relaxing and getting to sleep.
Learn more about the importance of sleep hygiene-
Academic supportUniversity Writing Center
Get constructive feedback on your assignments and your writing process. Meet with a writing consultant in-person or virtually.
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24-hour supportTimelyCare Talk Now services
This free virtual portal can be accessed by all IU Indy students for individual counseling, group therapy, health and wellness coaching, and more.
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Online resourceMathematics Assistant Center
The MAC offers digital access to instructive shorts, class hand-outs, formula sheets, study guides, practice exams, and answer keys for certain math classes. All of which can be done on your own time.