Don’t let the most “wonderful time of the year” be ruined by the stress of impending finals. You may be thinking that your stress will not dissolve until everything is over, especially because Brandeis seems to be a university that believes you are intelligent enough to only need one or two study days. Yes, this is possibly what is making your life as stressful as can be, but at this point, it is what it is. Having this type of positive attitude and realizing that it can’t be changed now will put you well on your way to losing the stress so you can get to planning your holiday extravaganzas. Once you have established this optimistic attitude, you may proceed to the following steps that will help you ace those finals.
Tip: After each step is accomplished, you should reward yourself with a little gift, something simple but that will motivate you to keep going. After all, it is holiday season and we all need a little pick-me-up! You can do it!
Step One: Sleep.
Everyone always takes sleep for granted, but in fact it is one of the most influential factors to your studying. It really impacts your memory and your ability to retain information. With this in mind, you should avoid pulling all-nighters and make a schedule for yourself. Go to bed at a decent hour and wake up at a decent hour, and I guarantee you will get more studying done, remember more information, and improve your chances of acing your finals.
Step Two: Plan Ahead.
Once you accomplish the first step of a normal sleep schedule, planning ahead should become much easier. Now that you have more time in the day to get things done, choose certain days to study certain topics. This will ensure that you cover all of the subjects needed and are not stressing out the day before the test.
Step Three: Eat “brain food.”
Within the schedule that I mentioned above, you should have created a space for breakfast, lunch, and dinnertime. You may be thinking that what you eat will not affect your memory or your attitude, but in fact it does. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Fruit. The sugar in the fruit is exactly what your brain needs to function effectively. It will boost your retention of information and even help you think!
2. Fish. A form of protein that greatly influences your brain because of its abundance of omega-3 fatty acids. Not only do these help your memory in the short-term for finals, they will continue to power your brain and augment memory as you age.
3. Nuts and Dark Chocolate. In the right portions, both of these foods help you focus. Nuts contain vitamin E while chocolate contains other antioxidants and a little caffeine boost to get you through the day!
Step Four: Actual Studying Tips.
Make flashcards. Writing has proved to increase memory because it is more visual. Flashcards even double as a study-guide and a way to quiz yourself!
Additionally, get rid of distractions. If you know that you will not be able to concentrate in your room because your bed looks way too comfortable, do not even attempt to study in your room. Find a few friends (who are also serious about studying), grab a coffee, and head to the library!
Good luck studying, and really take these tips to heart. You will not be disappointed!