Top Tips for Surviving Course Reading

As a third year, I have tried all manner of ways to make myself just do the course reading dammit! and whilst I can’t say I have all the answers, I have some tips for making those long articles, dense novels and incomprehensible theories slightly more manageable. 

Firstly, read a summary – if you know the course reading you are about to embark on is going to be mind-numbing and confusing, give yourself a fighting chance! You aren’t going to understand every single word of Shakespeare: read a quick synopsis of the section first, or as you go along, so that you at least know what information you are looking out for!

Another handy tip is to put your phone on silent or turn it off and try not to check it for an hour once you start working – any messages you have will still be there in 60 minutes.

You aren’t going to understand every single word of Shakespeare: read a quick synopsis of the section first

You should also reward yourself when you have worked for a certain amount of time! Whether that’s having a biscuit, watching JUST ONE episode of something on Netflix (assuming you have the willpower to drag yourself away again, which I certainly do not) or just allowing yourself a little social media break: treat yo’ self.

Some people swear by listening to audiobooks of their course texts. If you can’t concentrate on reading something any more, why not listen to it? You can do grocery shopping, washing up or laundry at the same time too – getting all your jobs done at once so you can have fun afterwards!

If you are finding the reading just too bleak to bear, try to watch the film or play. It’s better than going into that seminar wholly unprepared! But remember, read a synopsis too, just in case the director took some real artistic liberties. You don’t want to watch Ten Things I Hate About You and then go and tell your tutor about the bit in The Taming of the Shrew where they go paintballing.

If you are finding the reading just too bleak to bear, try to watch the film or play

You could also find yourself a study buddy. If you have a friend who you know won’t distract you, but will instead make sure you both stick to task – work together! It doesn’t matter if you are doing entirely different work as long as you have a nice study playlist, a constant supply of tea and the knowledge that your friend will tell you to get back to work if you get distracted by cute cat videos (again).

Give yourself a change of scenery. The library is quiet but that can feel oppressive sometimes. Go sit in a park in the sun. Take yourself to a nice café, order your favourite hot beverage and a slice of cake, soak up that relaxing coffee shop atmosphere and get reading.

You can’t read everything all the time. Sometimes you have to just accept there aren’t enough hours in the day and you have to cut your losses

Plan yourself something nice for the evening or the next day! It’s far more motivating to work if you know that if you get it all done you can have a film night with your flatmates, see friends or go dancing until 4am guilt-free.

Most of all, don’t worry! You can’t read everything all the time. Sometimes you have to just accept there aren’t enough hours in the day and you have to cut your losses. If something is really boring, then read or research something else that you like! Life’s too short to spend all your time working.

Good luck!

Image Credits: veronica_k / Flickr (Header)