2026 Study Resolutions:
Study Smarter, Not Harder

No more binge-learning, no more sleepless nights fueled by Mate, energy drinks, and coffee three days before your math exam. Yet, reality usually catches up with us by the third week of lectures at the latest. Here is how to make sure 2026 doesn't just start with good intentions, but becomes your year of success.

1. The "Atomic Habits" Method: The Power of 15 Minutes
The biggest mistake with New Year's resolutions? We want too much all at once. Anyone who vows to "study five hours every day from now on" usually fails by Monday. The brain rebels against such massive mountains. Instead, rely on mini-habits. The rule is simple: commit to reviewing the day's lecture notes or solving a single problem for exactly 15 minutes every day after class - or as soon as you get home. The goal isn't quantity; it's consistency.

• The psychological trick: The hardest part is the transition from the sofa to the desk. When you tell yourself "just 15 minutes," the hurdle is low. Most of the time, however, you'll be in such a flow after that time that you’ll keep going voluntarily. And if not? You've still done 15 minutes more than yesterday.

2. Deep Work instead of "Library Camping"
We all know them: the students who sit in the library from morning till night but spend half the time watching Reels, drinking coffee, or chatting. This is called "Library Camping." It feels like work, but there’s hardly any progress, leading to a guilty conscience in the evening. The solution is Deep Work.

That means:

• Radical Elimination: Put your phone on airplane mode and stash it in your backpack (not on the table!).

• Focus Blocks: Work in 90-minute blocks. During this time, nothing exists except you and your module.

• Real Breaks: After 90 minutes, take a 15-minute break—but without a screen! Take a walk around the block or grab a coffee without staring at your phone. Your brain needs this downtime to process what you've learned. Three hours of Deep Work are more effective than ten hours of half-asleep studying.

3. Use the FH-Advantages: Together instead of Alone
Study Groups: Find people in your department. Solving old exam papers together in study rooms at Eupener Straße or Bayernallee is worth its weight in gold. Often, a fellow student understands a formula in a way the professor couldn't explain.

• Tutorials are mandatory: Many departments offer tutorials led by upper-semester students. This is where you practice exactly what will appear on the exam. If you attend tutorials all year round, you've already got half of your exam prep in the bag.

The Most Important Advice: Be Kind to Yourself
A resolution is not an unshakeable law. There will be days when you have absolutely no motivation or life simply gets in the way. That’s okay. A setback doesn't mean that you’ve failed!