DISCLAIMER: A lot of what I talk about in this article overlaps with Anna Karch’s discussion on burnout (check out my bestie’s article: https://www.hercampus.com/school/uwindsor/balance-or-burnout)
Exams can be very daunting for a lot of us. I remember being flooded with midterms, assignments, and extracurriculars in my first year of undergrad. I forgot about my exams and ended up studying the week before. My Biology exam was cumulative and covered over fifteen chapters packed with information, so I was not in the best state of mind – I cried, ate McDonald’s, lived on caffeine, and neglected my physical and mental health. As a result of this, I did not end up doing very well and my grades suffered. As a Pre-Med student, I was placed into a competitive stream where no one really cares about physical or mental health. If I am doing poorly, it’s good for the next person who’s applying to medical school. There is a constant pressure to be on my A-game. I have learned that it isn’t necessary to excel with a 4.0 each semester– but instead, you need to prioritize yourself. Here are my biggest take home lessons from that dreadful semester:
1) Hit the gym: You should make it a goal to hit the gym at least TWO months before exam season hits you. Don’t go to the gym the night before a three hour physics exam, because you will FEEL the burn during that difficult torque problem. You will then awkwardly fumble around your seat trying to find comfort to soothe your aching muscle – you won’t. As a result of this, you will feel exhausted and distracted. Make it a habit to incorporate a light cardio workout into your routine. Here are some workouts I found useful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPTeuiy0fpo
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=lower+abs+workout&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#kpvalbx=1
2) Start training: You should NOT be cramming the week before the exam. Make great study notes while you study for midterms 1 and 2, review, revise, and revisit. If you have to cram, you can study those notes instead of spending hours rereading nineteen chapters. You DON’T want to do that. It is draining, exhausting, and probably the worst feeling ever due to a lack of control. Make sure you study smart throughout the semester so you’re not THAT person asking about the Kreb’s Cycle two minutes before the exam doors open. Remember, school is a marathon, not a sprint. You want to build endurance throughout the semester so you can be the person giving last minute exam advice instead of needing advice.
3) Watch what you eat – it is important to watch what you eat. Overindulging in McNuggets and Starbucks Americanos may seem like a smart move because you want to prioritize studying over meal-prep, but it is not a good idea. This is why you should make food to store in the freezer prior to exam season. Then you can warm it up and enjoy nutritious food! Other options, can include ordering nutritious food from meal-prep companies:
You can even watch Instagram videos to get inspiration on quick and easy ways to make chicken alfredo pasta dinners, mac and cheese, or even a Caesar salad. As for caffeine, limit yourself to one cup of coffee, and then live on water. All of this is fuel for your brain, which will help you on those organic chemistry problems.
4) Close the door – Do you ever notice how many distractions pop up during exam season? You just have to close the door. Say goodbye to problematic people, put your Netflix membership on hold, cancel those plans, and stay out of drama. All these distractions will still be there when you’re done your exams. Now is not the time to let your GPA drop, especially since you worked hard all semester long. An app that I personally like to use is the Forest app, which allows a tree to grow, but if you use your phone while the tree grows it will stop growing and die. DON’T KILL YOUR TREE. Here is a link to the Forest app:
Exam time can be stressful, but it is important to prioritize both your physical and mental health. You can only perform your best when you are feeling your best! Prioritize you, and you will see results. Happy studying! We’re all in this together. We WILL survive this.