You see it in front of you. Holiday Ham. Eggnog. Presents underneath the tree. Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You” playing non-stop over the radio. Winter break is coming. The only thing separating you and winter break is the wall… the wall of homework and exams. One last push to get to the other side and freedom! Students all working together in tandem to study for their exams and to prepare projects and presentations. But is it enough? Studying for exams is one thing, but knowing that you’re close to the finish line makes it that more difficult. So how do you get over this obstacle and study for your winter exams effectively?
Studying for exams is an art form that students learn to do in college. Each student has their own way of studying that is effective for them, but not for others. Some like to study alone, some in groups. Most like to wait until the last minute, and some like to plan ahead. The same thing remains; you have to study for your exams otherwise you’ll fail. What the most effective way to study? Here’s a few good tips on how to cram for your exam:
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Schedule your study sessions
Time is of the essence when it comes to studying for an exam, so plan your time. To some, this may be a difficult task, but it’s proven to utilize your time wisely and effectively. Seeing what times you have to study allows you to plan ahead to make sure you’re on time with your studies. If you need a break from studying, allow yourself an hour or 2 to unwind, and then get back to work. Need to head to the library for some quiet studying? Make sure to book a room in advance. The most important thing here is to set aside time for studying, and everything else will come afterwards.
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Know when to quit
This doesn’t mean that you should stop studying completely. There is a certain moment when your brain can’t retain information of remember correctly because its tired. The writer’s block or in this case, study block, can prevent you from studying effectively. You should stop to take a break for a moment, grab some food or a cup of coffee, mindlessly scroll through social media, and prepare yourself to get back to work. It’s important to limit the amount of work you do so that you don’t get overworked and feel burnt out.
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Utilize all of your resources
Colleges and Universities provide lots of different study resources available to students, but students don’t remember to use them very often. Things like quiet study rooms, computer labs, extended office hours, and even study groups can be beneficial to you and are usually offered by the school. Whatever works best for you, make sure to use it.
Ask your classmates for extra help as well, they may also be studying for the same exam or working on the same project, so maybe you can collaborate and have your own cram session.
Staying in all winter cooped up in your dorm can make you go crazy, so we recommend going to the library or something a bit more social. We think studying with other classmates is the most productive because you get the best of both worlds.
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Manage your stress
Stressful situations only worsen when you stress about your stress.. So our tip is to manage your stress instead of making it worse. Relaxing plays a huge part in this, as you should give yourself some time to breathe and not worry so much. If you feel super stressed, take a break, scroll through your twitter feed and look at memes for half an hour, watch an episode of Friends or House. But always make sure to go back to your work and not stay stuck on being stressed.
It has also been said that spending time with people and keeping your mind off work can help alleviate your stress. But I think the best way is to pet dogs. Some universities have finals week dog therapy where you play with dogs to destress. The point is that you should find ways to manage your stress that’s best for you.
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Keep your body in shape
Convenience leads to students eating terribly during finals week. All that fast food and pizza will make you feel terrible and you might gain some unwanted weight. Eating healthier, cooked meals will definitely keep you fed and more healthy and not to mention it’s good for your wallet too! Food affects your mood just as much as anything else so it’s important to eat better.
Regular exercise is also something that can provide an energy boost for you during finals week. The blood starts to flow and your brain continues to function at a high level. Not only can it improve your study sessions but also, in the long run it can improve your health and lose that pesky freshman 15!
Sleep is also very important for productivity. Sleep deprivation can lead to added stress, low energy levels, and even depression, so its best to make sure that you get enough sleep during the evening so you can recharge and work at full efficiency.
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Prioritize
Some students find it hard to focus when they don’t know where to begin studying. It can be overwhelming at first, but if you organize and plan, things can start making sense again. Know which subjects have deadlines or when you have an upcoming test so that you can put those first. Making study guides and consulting with your professor can also help you understand what you need to study first.
Even with all these study skills and tips, there’s a lot of work left to be done. If you are feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for all your homework needs, we can help you study for your exams!
