Stu-dying

 

It’s no secret that exam season, whether it be midterms or finals, is a really stressful time for college students. It is often impossible to try and find time for a social life, getting all of your work done, and closing your eyes for a few hours a night (if you’re lucky). I don’t think anyone gets through their exams smooth sailing, but there are definitely ways to ease the process. After spending 2 whole semesters in college, I finally kind of got the hang of dealing with exams and the stresses that come along with them.

So, as midterm season approaches and you find yourself pouring your third cup of coffee in the last 20 minutes, here are just a few things to keep in mind:

1. Self Care–No Nightmares 

I vividly remember wanting to actually die during midterm season last semester. I get nightmares just thinking about it- I ended up catching a cold that turned into this sinus viral infection. So instead of having tons of energy to put forth into studying, I was drugged up on antibiotics and found myself dozing off every 5 seconds. As if my exams weren’t causing me enough mental stress, I was now worried that I physically couldn’t handle it. In addition to being sick, I have this really bad habit of not eating when I have too many things on my mind. You can imagine how much worse that made my body feel. I quickly learned that I should maintain a healthy diet– or at least try to.

Besides having a healthy diet, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to make time for sleep during exams. You HAVE to give yourself a break. We always prioritize studying over sleep but I think there is a point when our brains actually stop working and it’s impossible to retain anymore information. It seems so simple, but during times of stress we often forget that if you’re not physically all there then your mind won’t be working to its full potential, or even half of it for that matter.

2. Organize & Prioritize 

In one of my classes last year, my professor gave us a few tips to conquering the horror that is exam season, and one piece of her advice that always stuck with me is called the “Swiss cheese method.” When you look at a piece of Swiss cheese, you notice that it has holes of all different sizes. Think of all of the things you have to do to prepare for exams as a different hole in the Swiss cheese. Some exams will be easier for you because you are better at that particular subject, so those exams are like the small holes in the cheese. You don’t neglect them, but you place them at the bottom of your list and save them for later because you know they will take less time. Some exams are just naturally going to be difficult and will require much more time and energy to study and prepare for. These assignments are like the big holes in the Swiss cheese. You should place these things at the top of your to-do list and attack them first. The Swiss Cheese method sounds childish, but it actually makes a lot of sense.

 

It is impossible to treat every exam and assignment during exam season with the same importance. There just isn’t enough time to dedicate hours and hours to each exam or assignment. Trust yourself; you know more than you think, but you don’t know everything- use your time wisely.

3. Don’t Gobble Your Textbooks 

Reading your textbooks word for word is one of the least effective study methods I can think of and will only stress you out more. Odds are if you didn’t know what you were reading before, you don’t know what you’re reading now. Or, if you didn’t read the assigned text at the time your professor told you to, cramming it in an hour before your exam will probably do more harm than good. In my personal opinion, textbooks are only good study tools if you are using them for review problems (like math), or if your teacher references an exact page, maybe an essay question on your English exam will use the material from this page. A good way to avoid having to use your textbook when studying is taking good notes in class, participating in class discussions to familiarize yourself with the subject, forming study groups with your peers, and everyone’s least favorite, taking your homework seriously and actually doing it with a purpose. Doing these 4 things will help reduce the necessity to carry your textbook all over campus and read every single word in it in order to prepare for your exam.

 4. Make Time for Physical Activity 

It is so easy to park yourself at your desk in your room or in the library for hours on end during exam week. While exercise is always important, it becomes even more crucial during a time when your brain is really being pushed to its limit and you fall into a habit of sitting down for too long without moving any of your muscles. As I said before, your brain doesn’t work properly unless the rest of your body is well kept too. Squeezing in time for a quick workout not only allows you to take a break from all of your studying, but it can improve your mood and give you an energy burst to create for a better studying experience later on in the day. If you don’t have time to make it to the gym for a full workout, there is always time for a quick walk or jog around campus or a 10 minute stationary workout right in your dorm.

 

 5. Don’t Isolate Yourself

Last but not least, always remember that you are never alone in the process of preparing for exams. Studying and preparing so rigorously takes a toll on your physical and mental health, but you can find comfort in turning to friends who are going through the same exact thing. Go grab lunch or coffee with your friends or even ask them to study with you if you have the same exams. Try to avoid locking yourself in your dorm for a week straight with no company except that of your books. Friends make everything better, even studying for exams.