May is coming, and everything high school and college students knows what that means. The dreaded finals are just around the corner, and the mental meltdowns have only just begun. If you’re student meter is set to “panic” mode, then take a step back, relax for a second, and enjoy these little tips.
Start Studying Early
I know. It’s crazy, right? Who has time to study when there’s so much fun to be had? Please, trust me on this one. Take at least twenty minutes a day and hit the books. It’ll relieve your stress and make your personal time more enjoyable! Your grades will thank you later as well. Procrastination is definitely not the key in this time of the year.
Break Out the Gum
Studies have shown that chewing the same flavored gum while studying as testing makes information retrieval a much easier task. Of course, you’re still going to need to keep the studying up, but you can lower your in-test stress levels by knowing that the answers are just on the tip of your tongue!
Keep A Level Head
I personally know that test season is killer on the moods of the whole family. You’re freaking out because knowing one topic can be the difference between passing a failing. Meanwhile, your parents are stressing because of typical parent things (house, water, electric, gas, car, etc payments) and… Let’s face it. There is a high possibility that you’ve been slacking on your housework while being crammed in the books. Don’t lie. We’ve all been there. It’s not pretty, but it is easy to stay calm. Keep the shouting to a minimum. Your parents will appreciate it.
Study In Blocks
AVOID THE CRAMMING DEMON! Studies have shown that cramming too much information into one sitting can, in fact, diminish your ability to retain what you’ve studied. Give your brain a break! It’s like a fine tuned machine, and it needs rest just as much as an athlete after a long run. It’s ok to have a little “you time” during pre-finals week. You will actually benefit from watching that episode of Supernatural you missed last week. Just… use breaks sparingly. For every hour of studying, take a break no longer than twenty minutes.
Get Creative
I don’t mean throw glitter all over your notes, but adding a little color never hurt anyone. Go pick out your favorite color highlighters and mark up the stuff you just can’t seem to hold in your memory. Divide the colors into categories if you want to get more organized. People, places, dates, events, every little detail is going to help you pull those numbers and complex names out of the back of your mind. If that doesn’t seem to be working, find a study method that works for your learning style.
Night Before Tips
- Take a long bath the night before. Soak in some hot water to calm yourself down. The majority of us get pre-game jitters, so it’s best to get rid of those before bed. It’ll make it easier to sleep and kill the headaches and worries the next day.
- MEDITATION. If the warm bath didn’t quite seem to cut it for you, or if you’re in the mood for a little zen after a week or more of highlighting and flashcards, sit back and relax with a little calming music or sounds of nature. Don’t have anything on hand? Go to YouTube and search “meditation music” and I’m sure you’ll find something for your taste.
- Go to bed early! I can’t stress this enough. The teenage body needs between eight and ten hours of sleep. Know what time you’re going to have to wake up the next morning, figure out what time you’ll need to go to bed to get ten hours of sleep, AND GET IN BED AT THAT TIME. If your body needs and hour or so to cool down before you fall asleep, getting in bed that early will insure you get between those eight and ten hours.
- Eat. Your. Breakfast! You know your parents have been right all year when they’ve told you to eat breakfast. It is not your parents breathing down your neck. You need a pick-me-up in the morning to keep your body going until lunch. The human body has adapted to not needing food for those nine hours while you’re sleeping. That’s why if you eat junk before bed, go to sleep at 1 A.M., and wake up at six, you’re not hungry. Regardless of whether or not you feel hungry, grab a granola bar, apple, yogurt- Anything that will give you some energy for the morning rush.
And there you have it! My tips, from experience, for getting over the pre-test stress. I hope you found these helpful. If you have any specific questions, leave a comment, and I’ll get back to you A.S.A.P. Now, I’m off to begin my own studying. Procrastination has not been my friend.
-Annie
Reaching Venus 