20 Oct 2019

There’s no denying that exam time is stressful. From cramming during the weeks leading up, to really cramming the night before, to mentally scanning through every piece of information you’ve managed to jam into your head just minutes before the exam starts, it can be hard to stay enthused about it all.

If you don’t want the hours spent preparing for each exam to be in vain, you’re going to have to keep yourself motivated from the day you start studying, right up until the final minute of the last exam.

Sounds bloody tough, but fortunately, the key to keeping yourself encouraged throughout the exam period is not studying 24/7. It’s about everything else that you do around your studies in order to keep the facts fresh.

1. Take breaks

I mean it. Take breaks. And not just a ten-minute breather while you make yourself a peanut butter sandwich (brain food!).

Take an hour. Take two. Screw it, take a whole day off. Seriously, if you study the entire time, your brain will burn out and you’ll lose sight of why you’re even studying at all. Take a day off and keep your mind as far away from schoolwork as possible.

You’ll be shocked how much more you can get done in three one-hour blocks of study than a singular three-hour marathon session. And while some exams might actually be three hours long.

2. Study in groups

Ever noticed how you feel way closer with someone once you’ve gone through something crappy together? There’s nothing like being united over a shared hatred of exams; it’s the perfect foundation for any good study group.

Fortunately, studying in a group has even more benefits than just developing your friendships. If you choose the right mates to study with, a group session can be way more productive than if you were to do it on your own.

When you’re studying on your own, you can forget that everyone else is in the same boat. Group work lets you see where your mates are up to, share some tips and tricks and encourage each other to keep going when times get tough.

On top of that, how much better are study breaks when you’re with your mates?

3. Make plans for the holidays

The best part about any exams is the break you get immediately after them. So make sure to fill up your free time with the things you love, whatever they may be.

It’s a lot easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel when that light is shining brighter than anything that has shone before it. So make your break one to remember – book a holiday, buy tickets to a festival or plan a bloody good party with your favourite people. 

4. Set mini-goals

Upon first glance, an exam can be a very daunting thing. How do you stay motivated when you don’t even know where to start?

Break each exam down into chunks. Whether it’s by topic, section, or the number of questions, make sure it begins to look like a very manageable set of smaller exams. After that, you can set a specific goal for every study session and the exam will begin to seem a lot more do-able.

5. Eeexxxxeerrrciiisseeeee!

Do some exercise. Literally anything. It’s so worth it.

It’s not just good for your body; it’s amazing for your brain as well. You don’t have to go pump iron at the gym for hours (but if that’s what you’re into, then go for it). Even going for a walk around the block is enough.

Exercise will improve your mood and focus. It’ll help you sleep and it’ll help you see clearly through the fog of stress and anxiety.

Take an hour off the books and allow your heart to pump some of that good stuff into your brain.