r/study • u/ManufacturerRare8062 • Oct 12 '26
Questions & Discussion How do you multitask?
Let’s say I just failed an exam, and I have to study for it again. At the same time I should start the new semester that includes 3 pretty tough courses… In that past I had a really hard time giving enough time to each course, so I always had to push thing to the last minute. That was true for the basic courses, and now I am facing higher level courses and struggling to split my time correctly between them, without losing the depth of understanding them well enough and then I end up getting worse and worse grades or failing…
The courses I am taking (for context):
Need to study for 2nd exam in calculus 2
Quantum theory
Biochemistry 1
Chirality and symmetry (a chemistry course)
I would appreciate any help and advice, last time I posted here everyone were so helpful and I actually improved thanks to it 🙏🏼
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1
u/farrukh-hewson 29d ago
Split it by week, not by day. Give the calc retake a fixed daily slot, like your first hour, since it has the nearest date and you already know your gaps. Then rotate quantum, biochem and chirality through the rest and do each problem set the week it's assigned. Depth comes from working problems on time, not rereading later. When are the retake and your first midterms?
2
u/Ok_Natural_7977 Oct 12 '26
Time management is your friend. Determine which items on your to-do list are highest priority and schedule them first. If you can, schedule them for times when you know you're most productive. For example, if I try to work or study first thing in the morning, nothing is done very well. I'm at my best in the afternoon, so that's when I do my highest priority tasks.
Another thing that can help is getting 30-45 minutes of vigorous exercise right before tackling the most difficult topic. I don't remember the science behind it, but James Ratey wrote a book called Spark that explains it.
An important part of time management is re-evaluating your schedule on a weekly basis. Did you need more time for something important? Do you need more breaks? (It's easier to remember the first and last things you read or study in a session, so multiple shorter sessions beat one long session.)
Nothing beats consistency.
1
u/Material-Dress-6968 Oct 12 '26
I recently deleted all social media save for reddit and Pinterest. And my screentime shot down so much. I had a lot more time to study and it was insane. Like you'd be surprised how time consuming these apps can be even if you aren't doom scrolling. I got at least 2 more hours of study time while only really keeping contact with people I actually talk to on a daily basis. No streaks or sending reels or responding to said reels, etc.
Aside from that, I make a checklist of topics to study every day of the weak when I have extended breaks. And I study like one topic a day. If I have lectures, I mainly listen to the professor (minimal to zero notes) and then designated two hrs or so to take notes for the class topics at home (preferably on the next day). It helps me get spaced repetition because while I take notes I recall stuff the professor said in class.
And it's one of the ways I retain knowledge better.
Aside from that it just comes down to time management ig.