From Chaos To Calm
How I found a routine that works
For a long time, I used to just drift through my days as a university student—no real structure, just vibes and survival. But here’s the truth: that approach doesn’t work for long. If you really want to get the best out of your uni experience—especially when it comes to studying—you have to take control.
I had to stop going with the flow and start creating a flow that worked for me. And now, I want to help you do the same.
How did I start finding my routines?
First, I had to understand me. And you’ll need to do the same.
1. Self-Assessment: Getting Real With Myself
I asked myself some key questions:
Am I more focused during the day or at night? (Turns out, I’m a night owl—but you might be a morning person. That matters.)
What kind of learner am I? Visual? Auditory? Kinesthetic?
Where do I study best—library, my room, or somewhere else?
Answering these questions helped me stop fighting myself and start working with myself.
That’s when everything started to click.
2. Planning: Building a Study Game Plan
Once I knew my style, I started small. I didn’t flip my life upside down overnight—I just picked a couple of subjects to plan around.
I created realistic goals (not "study everything," but “review Chapter 3 and do 10 practice questions”), started time-blocking my day, and used techniques like the Pomodoro Method to stay sharp.
And if you’re wondering, what’s the Pomodoro Method?
It’s a super simple but powerful way to manage your time: you work for 25 minutes straight (no distractions, just pure focus), then you take a 5-minute break. After doing four of these focused sessions, you reward yourself with a longer break—like 15 to 30 minutes.
It’s called "Pomodoro" because the guy who created it used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer (pomodoro means tomato in Italian—cute, right?).
Using it made studying feel way less overwhelming for me. 25 minutes feels doable, and those little breaks kept my brain fresh instead of fried. I just set my timer, put my phone on silent, and got into it. You can literally train your brain to work in powerful bursts instead of dragging through endless hours.
I prioritized my tough courses and gave them my best hours—the times when I knew I was most alert. Trust me, when you match the right method to the right moment of your day, it’s a total game-changer.
3. Study Techniques That Actually Worked for Me
I experimented with different methods and leaned into what suited me. And that’s what you should do too.
Here’s a quick guide, based on what I learned:
Visual learner? Try mind maps, diagrams, color-coded notes, and videos.
Auditory learner? Record lectures, explain topics out loud, and join study groups.
Kinesthetic learner? Do hands-on practice, move around while studying, and role-play concepts.
Some universal tools I swear by:
Active recall – constantly quizzing myself to pull information from memory
Spaced repetition – spreading out revision over days or weeks
Summarizing – rewriting ideas in my own words
SQ3R – a structured way to get the most out of reading (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review)
4. Discipline & Consistency: The Hard Part (But the Game-Changer)
I created a study schedule and treated it like an appointment I couldn’t miss.
I turned off distractions, reminded myself why I was doing all this, and stayed flexible.
If I missed a session? I bounced back. No guilt. Just progress.
5. Reviewing and Adjusting: Always Evolving
My system isn’t perfect—and that’s okay. I check in with myself regularly to see what’s working and what’s not.
I’m not afraid to tweak things if I need to. And when I’m stuck, I reach out for help.
Bottom Line:
Finding my study routine changed everything.
It helped me take charge of my time, boost my confidence, and seriously reduce my stress. And now, I want the same for you.
This isn’t just about getting better grades—it’s about feeling in control of your own academic journey.
Be patient. Be honest with yourself.
And don’t be afraid to switch things up until you find your flow.
You’ve got this.
