6 Lifesaving Tips For Cramming For Finals

I know–as if you needed another list of information to digest with all the other tidbits of knowledge floating around your head. But you need to perk up for this–the tips within this post may just save your life (and sanity) as you prepare to walk into the exam room.

These 6 tips come from the College Scholarships blog, with my commentary:

1) Lay off the stimulants! Red Bull, cocaine, ephedrine, and other performance enhancing or stimulant drugs can make you feel frazzled and unhealthy. (Do we really need to specify cocaine as a no-no? Eeek!) You know what we mean. If you normally drink Red Bull or Mountain Dew or your high energy drink of choice, drink what you normally drink, but don’t ingest any substance with the intention of staying awake for an entire week to study. You will not learn the info you need to learn in that state.

For optimal study performance you need to take care for yourself–eat healthy meals at regular intervals, drink lots of water, exercise, and get a full night’s sleep every night.

2) Choose your study setting carefully. Everyone has their own preference for where they concentrate the best. Some of us like to lie on our beds and sprawl out, while others prefer a desk in our dorm rooms, and still others feel the need to go to the library to cram. If you have roommates that might be noisy or keep interrupting your studies, you might want to go to the library (duh, right?). That is my preference. It’s so peaceful and quiet there, and if you find your own study carol it’s really hard to get distracted.

3) Take a chill pill. We have all freaked at one time or another when exam time rolls around. I know I did this for one history class I took–I was just terrified for some reason. I had studied and was worried about what the questions would be or if I was even studying the stuff that was important. Don’t let this happen to you! There is nothing good that comes from worrying about what will be on the test. You just need to believe in yourself, believe that you’re adequately preparing for the exam, and proceed with confidence. Talk to a friend or your mom if you need some reassurance, but try not waste too much energy freaking yourself out.

4) Get a game plan. Make a list of your studying priorities. You only have so much time and your brain is only so big, so you need a plan of attack. Make a list of which classes need your attention the most and study for them first. For each class, write down the main things you need to cover, so you don’t waste time learning stuff that is really not that important.

5) Create a studying schedule and stick to it. Yes, we’re getting kind of obsessive here, but it’s called for and will relieve a bunch of stress. You’ve developed your game plan, now plan out your day to determine when you will study, what you’ll be studying and for how long. Having a structured schedule will help you relax and stay focused on your mission.

6) Don’t study with your Crush. This is not the time to make headway in the romance department, even if that sweetie you’ve been dreaming about from your PSYCH 310 class asks you to help her cram. You gotta pass on this one–it’s hard enough to concentrate without puffs of delicate perfume wafting across your desk. Just tell her you already have studying plans, but would love to take her out to dinner after the exam. Above all, do not invite her into your sacred studying cave–RESIST!

Photo credits:
Mountain Dew Bottle Collection Closeu
Sweet Lips!