As the 2024-25 school year is now well underway, the schedules of many students at Hingham High School have begun to overflow with important academic projects, sports-related activities, and other time-consuming obligations. Finding a good work-life balance can be challenging at times, especially for students who are involved in the student body— like the majority here at Hingham High School. When asked about balancing sports and academics, Hingham High School Junior Ryan LaRonde noted, “It is challenging to get my daily homework done when I have one or more practices in one day.” While creating an effective study schedule is not always easy, below are some tips that will help you form the best distribution of your time:

Meet with your Teachers

Meeting with a specific teacher to go over certain material presented in class allows students to further their understanding of a topic they may not have otherwise fully understood after initially learning it. Additionally, meeting one-on-one with a teacher allows a student to ask questions that may be better communicated verbally, rather than via email or Google Classroom comments. Furthermore, many teachers allow students to come in after school and look over previous quizzes and tests, this being a proven strategy that allows students to better form a functional study plan.

Create a Set of Flashcards

Creating a set of flashcards on a website like Quizlet or StudyShack can be a helpful tool to help students quickly and effectively review for an upcoming test or project. Adding images, an animation, or another type of visual can be a great way to enhance your memorization, connecting an image to a topic or definition. 

Review with Friends

Reviewing study material with friends is not only a great way to strengthen your understanding of a topic, but also a good way to hold yourself and others accountable for the review and studying needed for an upcoming exam. Hosting a study session or group is also a great way to connect with new people while simultaneously looking over review materials. As Junior Sean Callahan explained, “working with friends helps me study, but also makes studying more enjoyable.”

Limit Distractions

While studying, it is very important to remember to limit all kinds of distractions that could interrupt you while reviewing. This includes your cell phone, notifications, social media, and other interruptions that could interfere with your study time. A good strategy to use while writing or reading is to wear a pair of noise canceling headphones that allow you to be fully focused on what you are reading or writing. However, when studying flashcards or doing math problems, it can be helpful to listen to upbeat music in order to activate your brain and provide yourself with more energy.