During syllabus week most students map out their semester to
appropriately plan out when they have midterms, prelims and finals. This is a
great way to start the semester but as those important dates inevitably creep
up, most students fail to appropriately prepare.
As a Human Biology major I often find myself stuck in
science classes with my fellow premed students who need good grades in order to
go to the next level. Failure is not an option for these students, as they must
achieve decent grades. For any person that is in a similar scenario you must
know that time management is crucial.
Well here is my first rule…. NEVER PULL THE ALL-NIGHTER!
According to an article written by Shaniese Alston an
all-nighter at the library does no good as it impairs reasoning and memory and
can even lead to anxiety which is the last thing you need going into an exam.
You should feel confident and stress-free.
Personally I like to look over my notes every night after
class lecture regardless of when my midterm is. This can take only 15 minutes
and if you do this consistently, you will retain the information over time.
As I talked about in previous blogs it’s also important to
limit yourself from distractions. That goes for social media, friends, and
television. Even though you should limit yourself from distractions that should
only go for when you are studying. Even with the days leading up to the exam
you should be able to have fun with your friends and relax. It’s just important
that you plan you you’re time wisely and feel comfortable enough to be social
and take some time off of your work.
Also in her article, Alston claims that a combination of
cardio and antioxidants are a great way to prepare for the exam. Even just
twenty minutes of cardio can change your psychological state and improve your
memory. An example of anti-oxidant can be oatmeal that is high in fiber and
slow digesting.
But we all know it’s hard not to resort to the high calorie,
sugar loaded foods when it comes to those late night’s studying.
That’s why I personally like to study in the morning,
especially on weekends. Nothing beats waking up and feeling well rested,
getting a cup of coffee and heading to go study. If you study enough in one
day, you can even use the nighttime to go out and enjoy the company of your
friends. It’s a win-win situation!
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