With finals officially less than a month away, this is the season where most McGill collegiettes drop everything going on in their lives and migrate to the libraries of McGill in the hopes of allotting every precious minute available to studying. With assignments, papers, and finals coming one after the other, many students fall into a stringent studying routine that leads to a ‘burning out’ phase where all motivation just goes out the window. We have all been there; it is when we just cannot process any more information, no matter how hard we try. Unfortunately, this becomes quite a problem when you have a 60% final the next day! Follow these tips to avoid burning out and help maximize your motivation throughout exam season!
- Reload yourself at the end of the week
I’m not talking watching five episodes of your favourite series or taking a cat-nap on your sofa. Do something exciting, different, and crazy to take your mind off whatever you are working on. This helps break your routine and it gives you a way to release stress. Go to a concert, paint with your roommates, or go eat at one of the hundreds of amazing restaurants around Montreal.
- Be Efficient
Don’t go to the library for eight hours and only study for three of them — use your time wisely so that you can relax at the end if the day. Make a checklist and stick to it, use ear plugs if noise distracts you, activate self-control on your computer, allot a certain amount of time for lunch, keep your desk organized, and bring anything you might need to avoid getting distracted: enough food and coffee, lip-balm, and a sweater.
- Fit Body is a Fit Mind
It is no secret that exercise increases dopamine and decreases stress-levels, so what better way to blow off some steam than to hit the gym or take a run through Montreal. It’s all about maintaining a balance; even though it might seem like a waste of an hour, it will help you stay focused and motivated in the long run.
- Feed your Mind
Aside from knowledge, your mind needs nutrients, and it is not going to get those nutrients from pizza and Tim Horton’s bagels (as good as they are). You’ll burn out quickly if you become hungry and you’ll get distracted if your stomach starts growling for food. Pre-make your meals the night before, and be smart about what you eat; eat protein, whole-wheat carbs, as well as lots of veggies and fruit to give your brain fuel it needs to think.
- Study with your Friends
Not only will studying with friends help you stay motivated, but it allows you to keep your social life from not disappearing during finals. It also reminds you that everyone is in the same boat, and that you are not the only one stressed out.
Article sources:
http://usmlemd.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/turn-off-your-cell-phone-10-tips-for-library-studying/
http://voices.yahoo.com/how-avoid-study-burnout-2946007.html
Picture sources:
http://weheartit.com/entry/12872761#
http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/57913545178547071_oRjE2dcD.jpg
http://pinterest.com/pin/18366310951572078/