10 Life Hacks Every Student Should Know
Whether you’re an academically inclined student looking for study hacks or a more creative individual who simply wants to work smarter rather than harder, there are plenty of small ways to make studying a little easier. Even in the face of increasing competition and tuition costs, you can make your life a little easier with each of these life hacks.
Make the most of student discounts
Everyone knows about student discounts on laptops, streaming platforms , and certain productivity services . However, there are many other great deals for students that are less well-known. For example, students can get 50% off a Setapp subscription, which provides access to over 200 Mac apps for a year. They can also take advantage of special offers like a free one-year Google Gemini Pro subscription for US college students (the offer expires January 31, 2026).
If your college provides you with a .edu email address, it’s an easy way to get student discounts on virtually all digital services. Some schools allow you to keep this email address even after graduation, as long as the account remains active. You can also keep your student ID card after graduation to receive additional discounts. While receiving student discounts while working isn’t always considered ethical, this method can help you get through a tough financial time, as rent and utilities tend to be much more difficult when you’re working for a low salary early in your career.
Sometimes 3D printing is better than buying a ready-made product.
I visited several universities where students can use 3D printers for free (my editor visited one of them). If your university offers this option, you can use a 3D printer to save some money by printing items you would otherwise have to buy. These could be desk lamps, phone stands, small desk organizers, and more. If you’re mechanically inclined, you could even print small car parts that are expensive or hard to find.
Even if your university doesn’t have a 3D printer, it’s easy to find stores or websites where you can upload your design and have the finished product delivered. 3D printing is often much cheaper than buying new or even used items. You can find great 3D printing ideas in the FunctionalPrints community and Makerworld , and you can also download ready-made models. This means you can take your design to your nearest 3D printer and have it printed easily.
Try writing your notes by hand.
In high school, I struggled with studying because I’d get distracted by novels, video games, and the internet. When I got to college, I noticed my concentration was waning when I was studying on the computer. So I switched to handwriting notes , and it was like a switch flipped in my brain. When I reread these notes before exams, I could recall the sections of the course I’d written down, which noticeably improved my grades.
A few years ago, I took the GMAT and got a pretty decent score, all thanks to taking all my notes by hand and doing all the math problems by hand. I’m not a math whiz, but despite that, I did pretty well on the exam only because I avoided using my iPad or Mac for studying. Sure, I used those devices to read my textbooks, but I took all my notes and problems by hand.
While I prefer traditional methods like pen and paper to handwritten notes, modern technology can be used here too. An iPad with an Apple Pencil or something like the reMarkable tablet can be a great study tool. The reMarkable uses an e-ink screen that mimics real paper, making it much more like a real notebook than an iPad.
Use meditation apps to reduce anxiety.
While exercise is my top recommendation for anxiety relief, during busy periods, students don’t always have the time to exercise. If you find yourself in this situation, I highly recommend using a free meditation app to reduce anxiety and better focus on studying. While preparing for the GMAT, I was struggling with multiple issues at once. I was extremely apprehensive about math and tests, and I experienced a paralyzing fear of failure. I had a 40-minute train ride home from work, and I used that time to do a 20-minute guided meditation using the free app Headspace .
A few weeks of these sessions really helped me calm down. I remember on exam day, I wasn’t at all flustered, despite the difficult questions, and I was able to follow all the preparation strategies my tutor recommended. My score was much higher than I expected, and that’s largely because I was able to manage my anxiety. For starters, you can use any free meditation app . Remember, you don’t have to sit under a tree in the forest to meditate. You can start anywhere.
Try several different teaching methods.
I must admit that when I was in college, I knew nothing about study methods and simply did whatever helped me retain information. Working at Lifehacker has been a learning experience for me in many ways, one of which is the realization that you can use more than one method to master complex subjects. My colleague Lindsay Ellefson has written extensively about the best study methods , and you should definitely read it to see if a different method might work for you.
I’m now a big fan of the Feynman method , which states that after learning a topic, explain it to someone who knows nothing about it. If you can do this and answer their follow-up questions, you’re already well-versed. If not, it’s time to start over. I generally don’t recommend using AI for learning too much, but you can tell ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini that you’re using the Feynman method to learn a concept and explain what you learned. These tools will help you identify what you’ve explained correctly and ask relevant follow-up questions to deepen your understanding.
Try flashcard word memorization apps to learn faster.
Almost every student in school used flashcards, but creating flashcards for every subject when you have so much material can be difficult. In this case, it’s a good idea to outsource this task to flashcard memory apps . These are excellent tools for memorizing information, especially useful for learning a new language, memorizing chess openings, or preparing for exams.
If you need ready-made flashcards, you can try Brainscape , which eliminates the need to create them yourself. This app is great for both students preparing for a specific exam and adults learning various skills. The selection of ready-made flashcards is vast, and you’ll likely never need to create them yourself. The free version allows you to use text, while the paid version includes audio, images, removes study restrictions, and provides many other useful features. Subscriptions are $20 per month, $96 per year, or $200 for a lifetime membership.
Don’t forget about the Pomodoro technique.
Sometimes the simplest tips are the best. I only learned about the Pomodoro Technique after I started working, and I still regret not having learned about it as a student. The concept is simple: follow a schedule where you study or work on a project for 25 minutes, then take a five-minute break. Repeat this until you complete a large task. The intervals between work and breaks should be varied depending on what works best for you .
If you like the idea of using a dedicated app to follow this method, you might want to check FocusPomo, which received a solid 4.5/5 rating on Lifehacker. The biggest drawback of this app is that you still have to check your phone to use it, and if that’s unacceptable, you might want to try alternatives, such as a 3-hour Pomodoro Method video or a Pomodoro app that runs in your computer browser, like My Study Life .
Eliminating distractions will help you focus better.
You should definitely use a distraction-blocking app to stop endlessly scrolling through your feed and focus on what you need to do. Whether it’s studying, journaling, meditation, or any other hobby, using distraction-blocking tools will help you focus during a time when all the big internet companies are trying to get your attention. You can try tools like Cold Turkey or StayFocusd , both of which allow you to block distracting websites for free. Similarly, Steppin is a great tool for blocking distractions on your smartphone.
Make friends with short daytime naps.
When you’re focused on studying, don’t neglect the importance of a healthy sleep cycle. Ideally, use the “sleep” feature on your phone to remind yourself to stop using all apps and go to bed. On iPhones and Android smartphones, you can also quickly switch to grayscale mode before bed, which is another way to trick your brain and distract yourself from the screen. I’ve noticed that I sleep better when all my gadgets are away from my bed.
But beyond that, I highly recommend taking a nap when you’re tired. Sometimes I come home after a long day and feel too tired to do anything. If I manage to take a 30-minute nap, I often wake up refreshed and feel much better. A short rest during the day can significantly impact your ability to get things done, so you should consider incorporating a short nap into your routine.
If you have trouble relaxing and falling asleep, I’ve had good results with progressive muscle relaxation. It’s a simple technique that requires tensing and relaxing various muscles in the body, which in turn helps you relax enough to fall asleep. The Insight Timer app has a great guided relaxation exercise by Shinzen Yang , which I’ve used countless times.
Consider changing your place of residence.
Again, this may seem like a simple tip, but it’s incredibly effective. Whenever I’ve struggled with studying or completing assignments at home, it’s always helped to sit down at the library or a cafe to work. A lot depends on how good the public libraries are in your area, but even if that’s not an option, try going to a friend’s house or somewhere other than your usual place to complete assignments. Sometimes a change of scenery can help you finish work faster.
If this doesn’t help break the cycle of procrastination, you can try turning it into a game. Stickk can be used as a motivational tool for achieving goals. The app requires you to donate money or post on social media if you don’t reach your goals, which is one way to wager real money as punishment for failing to keep your promises. There are many tools to help you stay on track with your hobbies or studies, so there’s sure to be one that works for you.