It’s finally November and you’ve spent your last 3 months either working your butt off in class or perfecting your greatest skill, procrastination. But regardless of how you’ve chosen to spend your semester, these last 4 weeks mean crunch time. The time has come to pull yourself out of your slump and re-emerge into the world of academics. Decreasing your stress towards the end of a semester may sound like an impossible feat however, with a few guidelines you’ll be right on your way to acing those finals and relaxing through the holidays.
Clear Your Mind. When you know that you’ve got long days of studying ahead, it’s important to go into it with your mind open. Don’t get worked up over the overwhelming amount of work you have ahead of you and just take a moment to clear your mind. Lay in a bed, close your eyes and just meditate for 30 minutes. Focus on relaxing all of your muscles and filling your lungs with air. The ability to maximize oxygen to your brain than normal has more benefits than people realize. After you’re fully relaxed and you’ve had time to take for yourself, then you’re ready to get started.
Organize Your Workspace. The key to an organized mind is an organized area. Take the time to clean off your desk before getting to work on everything you need to accomplish in the next few days. Being surrounded by clutter and missing papers can be the most frustrating thing to go through when you’re already stressed out. Knowing exactly where to find your notes can be so comforting at times when the rest of your life feels like a mess.
Eat Well and Drink Plenty of Water. Just as your body needs food for energy, your mind needs nourishment to function, too. A few of the foods that are rumored to keep your brain functioning include broccoli, oily fish, blueberries, whole grains, pumpkin seeds and so much more. Whatever you eat will be an aid to helping you become more energized and focused on retaining all of the information you’re attempting to learn. When you’re so busy that you don’t take the time to eat it can drastically affect your concentration, your sleep patterns and your mood. Really make sure you’re getting in those nutrients as you’re studying to optimize your study skills and retain the most information possible. Besides, you wouldn’t want those little hunger demons tugging at your stomach when you’re on the verge on breaking grounds on the tough problem you were working on!
It’s Okay to Take Breaks. Honestly, how horrible does uninterrupted cram time sound? Pretty horrible. It’s okay to take breaks, and as many as necessary so long as you keep your end goal in mind. As a stress reliever try rewarding yourself for every task finished or hour completed. Rewards can be anything that brings you happiness whether it be a 30 minute sleep session, a nice treat from your pantry or a quick episode from your favorite Netflix series. Reward yourself for the hard work you’re putting in, this way you stay motivated throughout all of your studying by looking forward to the next break ahead. It’s a good tool for breaking up the concentration and allowing your mind chances to relax.
Sleep On It. Studying before sleeping can improve your ability to recall information. Sleep plays such an important role in the effects of retaining everything you studied. It has been a common thing among college students to pull all-nighters but this is a slight misconception. Did you know that while you’re sleeping your mind is still working to remember things that you learned while you were awake? So while it may seem like a good idea to stay up all night and go over everything you’re studying repeatedly, even just taking a 2 to 3 hour nap as the sun is rising before your test could benefit you. Our brains are such a powerful part of our bodies and they work so much better with proper nutrition and rest.
Remember to Relax. You’ve done your part, you’ve studied, you’ve gotten some sleep and now it’s time to take that exam you’ve been dreading for weeks. Trust yourself and know that your brain remembers things you wouldn’t even believe. Pace yourself and take the time to fully understand each question and don’t let your nerves settle in. Go in with confidence, a positive attitude and remember that this is the last obstacle to overcome before going home for the holidays to mom’s good ole home cooked meals.