Those ever-pressing final exams are no longer looming over our heads. Instead, they have 'arrived at the station', so to speak, as well as an incredulous amount of teen anxiety. For those people in non-semestered schools and are experiencing exams for the first time, good luck. For the seasoned professionals, good luck. But sometimes, this wish just doesn't reduce the daily anxiety attacks we as adolescents experience at this time of year. Sometimes, you need TIPS, instead of encouraging. And I have come to provide.
We all know that when it comes to exam week, showers are instantly moved to the "overrated" list. So skip the early morning wake up and do your body (and mark) some good - hit the snooze. Grab a bottle of this Batiste dry shampoo to instantly refresh and volumize your hair by spraying into and combing out your roots. (plus, it smells great).
Don't even think about spending precious study time to pick out an uncomfortable and distracting outfit to wear for the exam. Stay comfy and wear (within reason, of course) whatever you want. I picked out my loose Nike shorts - no fuss, no stress.
If you are studying at home, slip on those slippers (see what I did there? haha.) to warm those tootsies and stay as comfortable as possible! You want to keep your focus on your notes, not your ever-growing cold toes.
Its always good to have a little bit of motivation before you begin your exam or study sesh. What is an object that reminds you of an exciting upcoming event? I am globetrotting this summer, and I want to give myself a push during those dreary cram sessions. So, I remind myself, 'Get this over with and you get to travel' whenever I see this little owl paperweight emblazoned with the Union Jack.
I love music and often find it fitting to use for studying. I avoid upbeat songs that distract me from my notes and lead me to burst into off-tune 'singing' with my 'pencil microphone'. So, I keep to songs I know I won't LOVE, instead go with something I don't hate but doesn't distract me, normally a soft, comforting and focused song with one general theme/melody. If I really need to get into my studying, I will either not listen to music or will put on an app called Relax Melodies. It lets you mix a variety of calming tunes (e.g. monks chanting) or everyday sounds (e.g. raindrops in city) together to create your own custom soundtrack. I love using it.
I used my whiteboard and whiteboard markers (duh) last semester for studying and found it extremely helpful. I used it to organize what I needed to study and let me draw diagrams without wasting paper.
When taking a break from studying, I suggest to read an intellectually stimulating (sounds fancy, just means a book that DOESN'T revolve around whether the boy likes the girl or not). I don't know if there are any studies on this bettering your brain, but I have a theory that although you are taking a study break, by reading something that makes you learn and think, like a Malcolm Gladwell book, it will keep you in the learning and cramming mode so you don't waste any time refocusing when delving back into your notes.
The night before an exam, I like to have a relaxing cup of herbal tea (NOT COFFEE. The caffeine will keep you jittery and awake for hours). This relaxes me and allows me to fall asleep quickly. Sleep is one of the best things you can do to prepare for your exams. 9-10 hours of it before an exam and you will thank me for this tip! I love the Steeped Tea loose leaf fruit tea in the Berry Mania flavour. I use a tea ball to infuse my tea.
Finally, I let out all remaining stress to this little girl. I got her from my grandparents (possibly from Guatemala?), and I believe she is called a Worry Doll. You tell her your worries and stresses, and she takes them away in your sleep, or at least helps you deal with them. I used this girl recently for a major summative and I believe she helped! If you have anything you can spew your exam nerves to, I suggest it. It will alleviate pressure, even if you aren't superstitious (which I, for the most part, am not).
I hope that these tips will help you through your exam process, whether it be your first ever or last ever. Just remember (like I never do), it's not the end of the world; and if you work hard enough and follow these tips, it should be QUITE the opposite!
xoxo, G.
