5 Study Tips Every Uni Student Needs to Know 🎓📚

When I started university, I had no idea how to study properly. My schedule was chaotic and I felt jump one assignment to another, panic before deadline, and stay up late thinking I was being productive.

Based on my study experience, Studying is not about how many hours you spend with your laptop open, but it is about how you manage your time effectively. Now, I want to share 5 study tips that completely changed the way I study and helped me feel more organised and less stressed.

1.     Plan Your Week, Not Just Your Day 📅

Most students wake up and ask themselves, ‘What should I do today?’ but that mindset leads to last minute stress. Instead, I plan my entire week every Sunday. I try to use Google Calendar to block time for classes, part time work, and assignments, but I also include rest and social time.

Therefore, weekly planning helps you prioritise what really matters and make stop feeling guilty when you take a break because you know everything that has in your place.

2.     Use the Pomodoro + Summary Combo ⏰

The Pomodoro Technique is a game changer. You study for 25 minutes, take a 5 minute break, and repeat. But here is the twist after each 25 minute session, write a one sentence summary of what you just learned or something that you want to achieve during studying.

This small reflection trains your brain to recall information faster and helps you understand what’s missing. I usually do four Pomodoro’s before taking a longer 20 minute break. This strategy keeps me focused without burning out.

3.     Teach What You Just Learned 📚

If you can explain a concept simply, you truly understand the topic that you learned. I love to teach my notes out loud or sometimes I will imagine I am filming a short TikTok tutorial.

This method forces you to turn complicated lecture slides into your own words. It is also great revision practice, and you will notice immediately which parts when you have not fully grasped.

4.    Set Fake Deadlines📝

If an assignment is due on Friday, tell yourself it is due on Tuesday. These three extra days become your perfect time for proofreading, checking references, or simply breathing in order to make all your assignments not missing.

Fake deadlines reduce stress and help you produce better work. In addition, this strategy makes you feels distressful to submit something early and enjoy a stress free night while everyone else is panicking.

5.    Make your time to get rest 😪

Having lack of sleep is the biggest enemy of focus. You cannot study efficiently if you’re running on caffeine and anxiety.

I have learned to switch between deep work and light work like managing time between study and having break with your friends in outside uni. I also take short walks, stretch, or do skincare during study breaks small things that recharge my energy.

Remember, your brain needs downtime to process what you have  learned. Resting is not wasting time, but it is time for preparing for your next round of focus.

Conclusion: Final Thoughts

Studying smarter doesn’t mean studying less, it means being intentional. You need to create plan, focus deeply, rest properly, and celebrate small wins, if you achieve all the goals that you already set. These five habits helped me transform from an overwhelmed student to someone who actually enjoys learning.

If you want to see how I apply these tips in real life, check out my YouTube video ‘5 Study Tips Every Uni Student Needs to Know’ on StudyWithGisella. If you have got your own secret study hack, drop it in the comments. I would love to feature your tips in my next video.