Stu(DYING)?! Learn How to Keep Your Cool

Hey Sabres! With final exams just around the corner, the amount of studying time that everyone has left is diminishing quickly. That being said, it is now critical that you develop a method of studying that works for you and will help you be successful. If you still haven't hit your stride in that regard, or even if you have, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed-especially if this is your first experience with high school exams. Here are some tips that will make your exam experience a lot less taxing:

1. Don't bite off more than you can chew:

Nothing is worse than the intimidation of looking at a stack of notes from an entire semester while studying them. Break the semester's work down into smaller pieces, such as units, and focus on one unit at a time so that the work load does not seem so large and you don't get put off from studying. Set aside work that you want to spend more time on to come back to later. This will concentrate your studying to areas where you need it the most. Now that intimidating stack suddenly appears a lot smaller. Also, don't spend your time studying things that your teacher has mentioned won't be on your exam. Use that time to study what you consider to be more difficult concepts or just to make sure that you understand all of the content you've already looked over.

2. Know when to take a break:

The studying method of spending six hours at a time with your nose buried in a notebook is a great one to have, but there are many that find it more beneficial to study in other ways. If you are one of these people, split your studying time up into smaller time spans but in more frequent intervals, giving yourself plenty of time to study but not having the mental stress of a studying marathon. Spend the time in between study periods to do something completely unrelated to studying. A good tip for your in between studying activities is to actually make them active! Getting cozy on a couch to watch some TV or a movie makes it hard to get back into your school work afterwards. By going for a run or walk on a treadmill, doing some jumping jacks or other types of activities that increase your heart rate, you can feel much more energized and ready to work. The time that you take to do things that you enjoy will refresh your mind so that when you return to studying your brain will be more open to absorbing information and you will feel more in control and relaxed. Make sure that if you are going to be taking frequent breaks within the day that you plan out exactly how long they will be and stay strict with yourself. If you plan on having a 20 minute break, set a timer on your phone or alarm clock that will help with reminding you to get back to your desk. Otherwise, you may find yourself surfing the web for two hours more than you should have!

3. Don’t procrastinate:

Waiting until the last second to start studying is the best way to make you feel more stressed than necessary. Studying everything learned in a class in one night is very difficult and puts more pressure on you than what already comes with the mere premise of writing exams. Start the studying process early and that frantic studying to cram everything in one night is eliminated.

4. Get enough sleep the night before:

It is proven that staying up late increases the likelihood of overthinking and worry, so going to bed after studying at night will prevent that late night worrying and give your brain a rest. The brain performs better on a full night’s sleep and your mind will be clearer in the morning. You are also more likely to remember in the morning the things that you learn before you go to bed, so going to bed closer to the time you stop studying will better help you retain the information you spent so much time reviewing.

5. Don't cram the day of:

Spending the morning of an exam cramming for that exam is only going to make you anxious and nervous. That extra twenty minutes of study time before the final bell rings is not going to do that much for you but rattle your nerves. Chances are if you can’t remember a concept the morning of an exam, those extra twenty minutes are not going to be of much use. Take a deep breath and remain confident that you can do well on your exam with what you know, because you can. Make it your goal to go to bed the night before confident of all the information you need to know. Of course, it doesn't hurt to look over notes the day of; just make sure your giving yourself confidence in your knowledge, not insinuating panic moments before your exam starts.

Exams can seem intimidating when you are first introduced to them, but if you are prepare properly and feel confident, you will breeze through them. Don’t stress and stick to what works best for you.

Good Luck Everyone!

Nicole & Alexa

Peer Helpers