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My 5 Game-Changing Study Hacks (No All-Nighters Required)

By Leah Jackson, Student Network Representative from St. FrancisXavier University

If you’ve ever thought, “I just need to study more,” you’re not alone… but what if the secret isn’t more time, it’s a better strategy? I used to think success came from endless hours of cramming, until I learned how to train my brain smarter. These study hacks helped me boost my grades, cut my study time, and actually enjoy learning again.

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Hack #1: The Blur Test

→ Instead of rereading notes, I'd glance at a page for 15 seconds, blur my eyes, and try to recall everything I just saw.

→ Forces active recall, not passive review... and you'll retain 2x more in half the time.

Hack #2: The 80/20 Focus Rule

→ I identified the 20% of material that showed up on 80% of past exams.

→ I didn't treat everything equally, but I went deep with the core concepts and ignored all the extra details.

Hack #3: "Teach It Ugly"

→ I explained confusing topics out loud to a pretend audience like I was a chaotic YouTuber.

→ Teaching without notes helped me remember 10x more than silent review ever did.

Hack #4: 1-Minute Recap Ritual

→ After each class, I'd spend one minute writing the 3 biggest takeaways from memory.

→ That tiny habit trained my brain to encode faster, so I didn't need to "relearn" it all before the exam.

Hack #5: The time of day that you study

→ Why 10 PM is one of the worst times to study:

• Your prefrontal cortex (which handles logic and focus) is already fatigued

• You're more likely to rely on passive studying (re-reading, highlighting) instead of active recall

• Late-night studying delays REM sleep

• , the exact stage when your brain stores new information

• You might feel productive, but your brain's actually working on fumes

→ Why 7 AM is one of the best times to study:

• Your brain is in peak neuroplasticity, especially in the first 1-3 hours after waking up

• Cortisol and dopamine levels are naturally elevated, boosting motivation, memory, and focus

• Learning something difficult right after waking increases encoding and recall

• Even a short 20-30 minute study session can outperform hours of tired cramming

→ If you're serious about levelling up:

• Study your hardest subject within 1-2 hours of waking up

• Avoid multitasking, as your brain is most primed for deep work in the morning

• Use active strategies: retrieval, blurting, recall questions