Before we celebrate the winter break and get some much needed rest, we have to do one final push. It’s more than a holiday time; December is also exam season. For most, this is when life completely breaks down. You’re overwhelmed with tests and culminating projects. You haven’t eaten anything but pizza for a week, and you’re ready to use a caffeinated IV to substitute sleep. But what if I told you it doesn’t have to be this way? You should be excited to see your family and friends, not sobbing in the shower because you’re fearing multiple choice! Put on your fanciest trench coat, my fellow Trinities and Neos, because we’re about to hack our study sessions!
Chew gum. Pick a distinct flavour and chew during studying and again during the exam. This will help you retain some information by increasing concentration and upping your focus. There is also anecdotal evidence that using the same flavour will help you connect ideas and jog your memory.
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Find out your learning style and use it. There are several different ways to learn, with the most common being visual, auditory, and kinetic. Find out which is best for you and center your studying around it. Click here to better understand the types and take a test. For me, I rely on visual and audio cues, so I will read and explain my notes to my pets and partner, make mnemonics, and will annotate my old lecture notes.
Explain, explain, explain. Albert Einstein once said “if you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” If a subject is initially too hard, don’t panic. Explain as you would normally, and keep working until you’re able to really simplify it. I like to equate this to telling a young child or someone who has absolutely no clue what you’re talking about.
Use your time wisely. It may seem like spending hours in front of a textbook is the best way to go, but this just causes frustration and boredom, ultimately leading to little recollection during test time. The Pomodoro technique uses timers to break down studying sessions into smaller chunks, followed by quick breaks. This helps reduce distractions and can even help you better understand the material. Click here to use their online timer.
Catch some Zzz’s. Tossing and turning the night before is completely natural, but don’t spend that time frantically rereading your notes. Take care of yourself. Take a nice, hot bath, drink some tea, and drift off into sleep. Proper sleep helps lead to higher grades, and you’ll feel better than pulling an all nighter.
Eat breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and this is especially true the day of an exam. A healthy choice can help with concentration and ensure you don’t get “the dreaded noisy stomach in a quiet room.” For some quick, easy, and nutritious breakfasts, check out Bridget D’Orsogna’s recipes at http://www.hercampus.com/school/york-u/4-easy-and-healthy-breakfast-ideas-when-you-are-running-late-morning.
Bring a stress ball. This one comes directly from personal experience, and is actually included in my disability accommodations letter. I use this to help me calm down when I turn the page and realize I have no clue what any of the terms mean. Further, as a writing major, I write a lot of essays in my exams, and I get the worst hand cramps. Squeezing stress balls actually helps relieve some of this pain. Before bringing one in, make sure you check with your professor and that the ball has no writing on it.
Exam time can bring about fear and stress, but it doesn’t have to. If you keep doing your best with studying, and maybe if you sprinkle in some of these tips, you’ll be on the right path to success. This will all be over in a few short weeks and it will be worth it. Remember, you’ve got this! I believe in you!