you could try highlighting your book–which you purchase in college.
Since it is your merchandise, you can mark it up how it will help you to learn the material successfully.
And forming a study group with friends who are also in the class can help. A study group feels more relaxed because it is a group of people in the same class with the same goal of wanting to do good.
The group can swap tips/pointers within it’s membership for effectively understanding the class material.