Thursday, 18 December 2014

Exam Month = Stress Month?


Hey y'all!

So its been almost a month and here I am again. I have been trying so so hard to get a blog written lately. So many ideas and so little time... I know it doesn't take very long to write a simple blog but to be totally honest, my life has been more boring than usual lately. My college year is semesterised meaning I have 6 exams in December and lots more in May. If I am being totally honest December has been the month from hell for me. I have been living in the library and studying constantly. 

So for this blog I felt what better topic to write about than the very real situation many college students deal with regularly - exam stress. I am no role model when it comes to exam stress. In fact I used to get so stressed during my Leaving Certificate (high school finals) that I couldn't eat and the stress made be so anxious and genuinely sick in my stomach. But I have come up with a few ways to deal with this stress: 

My 6 tips to dealing with exam stress. 

Tip Number 1: A Night of Beauty Sleep 

It is proven that lack of sleeps reduces productivity. There is a good reason why sleep exists- because human beings simply cannot live without it. Sleep is a time to rest and relax the brain and rejuvenate the body after a busy day of study/work. I cannot understand how people can do a whole night of studying with no sleep and feel that they have retained any information, let alone go and do an exam completely sleep deprived. So my advice is to take the time to relax, unwind and fall asleep peacefully. Have a hot shower, put on the coziest Pajamas you own and let yourself drift off. You will thank yourself in the morning when you can wake up early and study hard again. 

Tip Number 2: Make a Good Study Plan and Stick to It

If you make a good study plan, there should be no need to study all night. A study plan maps out what you need to do and when. If you have this mapped out you should be prepared enough for the exams. Set your own deadlines and stick to them as best you can. So next time you have big exams, buy or download a calendar and fill in all the things you need to study in advance. Below is a copy of my study plan for December 2014



Tip Number 3: Eat Well. 

I am a huge culprit for going for the easy option. Takeaways, frozen pizza's, convenience foods- they all seem like a good idea at the time, but they're not. When we're busy studying we all fall into the trap of the micro wave lasagna's and the McDonald's drive through. However we need nutritious food for our brain to function. Fruits and Vegetables are a must when you are studying. There are some simple and nutritious meals you can make which take the same time to cook as a frozen pizza that are 10 times better for you. You can glance over your notes while you cook and still have a beautiful healthy meal. Grab some fruit or cereal bar when heading to the library. If your college does dinners, opt for them rather than a bar of chocolate. Even beans on toast is a better option than many other things. Pick your meals wisely and your brain will retain more information. 

Tip Number 4: Take a Break. 

You need to take regular breaks during your study time. Taking breaks at regular intervals refreshes you mind for more study. What I usually do is study hard for 2 hours and take a half hour break. It gets me ready for another 2 hours and I feel refreshed. I also feel it helps prevent information overload. If you sit there reading and learning for hours, after a certain amount of time nothing more will be learned. It;'s simply counter productive. So take a time-out. Go watch your favorite Soap Opera or sit-com, get some fresh air, read a book or surf the internet. When you go back to study you will feel refreshed and ready for more!

Tip Number 5: Keep Study Away from your Bedroom 

Your bedroom should be kept as a place for relaxation and good sleep. If you study in your bedroom constantly it will be filled with a feeling of stress and information that you want to get away from when you are going to sleep. It will also feel like you are sleeping in a classroom or library. Keep your room a stress, study-free area. I also find that if I study in my bedroom I am less productive because it is too comfortable. Go to the library, a quiet area of the house or a study room if you are lucky enough to have one. 

Tip Number 6: You Time

It is soooo very important to have some 'me time' when you are studying. Do something that makes you happy. It will keep you from going insane, trust me. Take one night to go on a girls night out, a date with your boyfriend/girlfriend or just have a pamper night full of bathbombs, facials, chick-flicks and maybe a glass of wine (if you are of the legal age of course). You need to have a break from study to keep from getting fed-up and help you to stay motivated




So there you have it, my 6 tips to get you through a tough study month. Thankfully my exams are over on Monday (2 days before Christmas... cruel I know!!) so hopefully I will have more blog posts and they will become more regular in the new year.  

Thanks for reading! 

Lots'a Love, 
Lisa 
xo