Let’s be honest.

You open your textbook, read a sentence, highlight.

Next line? Highlight.

Whole paragraph? Yep, highlight that too—just to be safe.

Now the page is neon yellow, but your brain? Still blank.

If that sounds familiar, here’s your wake-up call:

Highlighting everything is not studying.

It feels productive, but it’s not helping you learn. At all.

Let’s break it down—and fix it.

Why Gen Z Students Struggle With Studying

It’s not that you're lazy. It's not even that you're distracted (okay, maybe a little). The real problem?

You were never taught how to study.

You were told to take notes, highlight stuff, and read it again. But no one said, “Hey, your brain doesn’t work like a highlighter.”

Learning isn’t about passively looking at the page.

It’s about actively using your brain to remember, recall, and connect.

Highlighting Feels Productive, But It’s Not

Here’s why it tricks you:

• It feels like you're doing something.

• The page looks “studied.”

• It gives you false confidence—until the test hits.

But studies (real ones, not TikToks) show that highlighting alone is a low-retention method. It’s too passive. Your brain doesn’t have to do anything.

So when the exam comes around, all you remember is that something was yellow.

How to Actually Learn (Not Just Fake It)

Let’s get into the study methods that actually work. These are backed by science and used by top students who don’t waste time.

1. Active Recall

This is the #1 way to study better. It means testing yourself without looking at your notes.

Example:

Read a paragraph → close the book → write down what you remember.

Sounds basic. Works like magic.

You’re training your brain to retrieve info, not just recognize it.

2. Spaced Repetition

Instead of cramming the night before, review in small chunks over time.

Your brain needs time to absorb stuff. Use apps like Anki, or just Google Calendar, to remind you what to review each day.

3. Teach It to Someone (or No One)

If you can explain it in simple words, you get it.

Try this: read a concept, close the book, then “teach” it to your friend, your dog, your TikTok followers, or just your Notes app.

You’ll instantly notice what you don’t understand. That’s what you focus on.

4. Make Flashcards (Smart Ones)

Not just definition flashcards. Make question-based cards that test your brain.

Bad: “Photosynthesis = plants making food.”

Good: “What are the steps of photosynthesis?”

And guess the answer before flipping. Don’t cheat.

5. Summarize in Your Own Words

After a study session, write down 3–4 bullet points in your words.

• No copy-pasting.

• No textbook lingo.

Just you explaining what you just learned, like you would in a group chat.

Still Love Highlighting? Use It After You Read

If you really need to highlight (we get it—it’s kinda fun), here’s how to do it properly:

Don’t highlight while reading. Finish the paragraph first.

Only mark key terms or 1–2 lines max.

Add a quick sticky note or margin note with a “why.”

That way, you’re not just painting—you’re thinking.

Study Smarter, Not Harder

GenZ has more access to information than any generation before.

But access means nothing without action.

Stop trying to “feel productive.” Start using study techniques that actually work.

Forget the 5-hour highlight-and-cry sessions.

Instead, study 30 minutes with structure, and watch how fast you improve.

You don’t need more time. You need better methods.

Quick Recap (Because You’ll Probably Skim This Anyway)

Highlighting everything = pretending to study

Real learning = active recall, spaced repetition, summarizing

Study smarter with systems, not stress

Your brain learns through effort, not colors

If you can teach it, you know it.

Want a Free Study System?

I can build a Notion template for students like you that’s clean, simple, and helps you organize everything—from class notes to spaced reviews.

It’s plug-and-play. No clutter. Zero fluff. Book a free consultation now