It’s the most stressful time of the year: Exam season. You’ve got three assignments with the same deadline and a 48 hour take-home paper thrown into the mix for good measure. At this point, you’ve become a recluse and you haven’t left your laptop in days! We’ve all been there! As a second year I’ve had my fair share of exams to know how important it is to look after yourself. Here are a few bits of advice.
Remember to Eat and Drink
This may seem really obvious as it is something we all need to do to survive. But when exam deadlines are pending it can be easy to forget. I’m guilty of forgetting to drink water during exams but it is so important to keep yourself hydrated. You can get fancy cups nowadays that give you handy reminders of when it is time to drink, which is a great idea! Eating and drinking healthily is a priority when it comes to helping your brain function to the best of its ability. So, if you are working hard to get those high grades, it might be time to head to the kitchen!
Give Yourself Rest Breaks
It can be really easy to fall into the trap of pulling an all-nighter to get everything done. I’ve suffered through many nights of trying to get to the word-count (or even worse, trying to cut my essays down). However, forgetting to take breaks is not the one! It’s crucial to take breaks every few hours not just for your physical health (staring at screens all day gives you awful eye bags) but for your mental health too. I recommend the Pomodoro method, which gives you a five-minute break for every twenty-five minutes of work you do. This gives you a great incentive and helps you stay in focus without making silly mistakes.
Attempt a Morning Work-Out
‘Attempt’ is the important word here as I for one am not a morning person. However, getting up early and doing a ten-minute work out does wonders in giving you the motivation and energy for the rest of the day. This instantly wakes you up and makes you feel really positive. If you want to be that student then this is definitely a must.
Say ‘No’ to Social Events
Has your friend, who has already completed their exams, invited you to a house party? It can be really tempting to just go. We all have FOMO, I’m sure. This can be even worse if you are the only one still suffering through your exams while your friends have all finished theirs! However, please, please, please take my advice and stay inside and get your work done before even thinking about going out! You may not feel like it now, but you will be so thankful for it later when you receive your grades back. You can party all night once your exams are out of the way!
Remember That It’s Not the Be All and End All
Of course exams are important and so are good grades, but it is important to put the most effort you possibly can into them without making yourself ill. Becoming too stressed, due to the overwhelming amount of pressure you might put on yourself to do well, can actually hinder your performance. If you find that exams are taking their toll on your mental health it might be time to step back and put everything into proportion. This is especially relevant if you are a first year, as your grades don’t count towards your final grade.
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