Every student’s favourite time of year is approaching – sarcasm detected. Maybe it goes without saying but exam season can be incredibly stressful. At the MSA, we understand how difficult exam season can be, not only on your sleep schedule (we have done the all-nighter before) but on your health in general.
That’s why we have put together a few tips to help calm those nerves and to help make sure you’re feeling healthy and ready to ace those exams!
Change Your Diet Around Exam Season
Hit the grocery store before studying!
Those energy drinks, coffees and late-night fast food orders might seem like a great way to stay awake at the time, however, this will not help you study more effectively. Feeding your body caffeine can be good as a temporary solution but with it comes a big crash. Your body needs a proper diet of healthy choices to focus and retain information during study sessions. We suggest fresh fruits and veggies for snacks, and if you feel like something salty, salted nuts and/or popcorn can be a good go-to solution.
Water, Water, Water and More Water
It’s commonly said that should drink eight glasses of water per day.
It can be hard to remember to drink enough water but if you are going to make a change, now is a great time. Try to drink eight large glasses of water each day. This tip should be reasonably straightforward, replace all of those energy drinks for water. If you need to add some flavouring, try adding cucumber, lemon, or different fruits.
Give Yourself Lots of Time
Leaving studying till the last minute is a bad idea.
The worst thing you can do is try and cram all of your studying into a single day. This can cause information overload, and you will start to forget some of the info. That’s why we suggest breaking out a calendar or planner (they can be on your phone). Set study schedules for yourself and make sure to start studying well before your exam date. This way, you can plan out your days and make the best use of your time.
Break Out the Breaks
Try to do something relaxing in between studying.
You might think that a study day or night means you should be deep in the books the entire time with only a few washroom breaks in between. However, you should plan for a few small breaks to give your brain time to process the info you were studying. Make a snack or throw on an episode of your favourite show. After that, come back and try and quiz yourself on some of the information you studied before.
Deep breathing can help relieve that exam stress.
Deep, Deep Breaths Now
When your brain feels like it’s going to explode from studying, you have drank all your water and eaten healthy snacks, and you have had enough of your relaxing breaks, it’s time to breathe. Doing some yoga can help, but for those of us who are not the most flexible, putting away all the screens and cleaning our heads with some deep breathing exercises can make you feel so much better. Check out WebMD for some easy and quick breathing exercises that can help you manage the stress that can come from studying.
Just because you are not big into yoga, or don’t actively practice, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to enjoy some of its benefits (which there are a lot of).
Remember, Teachers Can Help
If you don’t understand something your professor has taught, reach out for help.
If you feel super stressed and/or unprepared, or if something else in your life has come up, schedule a meeting with your professor. Explain your situation to them, let them know how you are feeling and see if/how they can help. Remember, your teachers want to see you succeed.
We hope some of these tips can help you this upcoming exam season. We understand that stress and nerves can be prominent during this time. If you need help with study strategies, time management or anything else, reach out to the MSA.
Written by: Kyle Hooper
Social Media Assistant
