Pressure pressure pressure

Just like every student on the face of the earth regardless of academic level understands or has a familiar feeling or understanding of the pressure that comes with exam season, covering content etc.

Here are some tips I’ve collected along the way that I think can be beneficial to you.

• Reduce unnecessary stress at all costs (study weeks week before the exam)

My sister once said do all you can do on this side of the exam.

Stress in moderation is good. It pushes us to study work hard wake up to go to work even when we don’t want to, that’s good stress, let’s say a person should have 50% of stress in their lives, that’s like the green zone.

Above 50% there can be many question marks raised. This is what I mean when I say reduce stress and maintain it at the green, maybe we can get to an orange because life happens but our goal is to stay in the green.

To maintain a moderate healthy stress level as a student, start studying at least 2 weeks before an exam. For assignments start, at least 2 weeks before their due date, one thing I do that helps me just start an assignment or final paper is open the document title the paper, and then close it.

What this does is that it mentally puts you in a space of starting the work, one problem I face a lot is just starting, but once I do, I’m on fire. It’s like I make a mental note that there’s work that needs to be finished and I then remember to get the work done before the due date. This can only work when you remember that the assignment exists, this leads to my second point

Have a calendar that has all the due dates of the assignments issued as the trimester or semester continues, then set a reminder for one week before the assignment is due. This might sound a lot but if you just type it into the calendar just as the lecture has said it’s due that’s not so stressful.

• Use all resources available to you (lectures, the library, past papers, etc.)

You have paid to be in school, look for that lecture during their office hours. They are at your disposal. Use past papers honestly those are your best friends. Lectures put in the work but not that much the likelihood of the cat 1 for the previous trimester is the cat 1 for the one you are currently in is very high and if it’s not the same content it’s the same concept, take your chances honestly.

• Create a consistent schedule (for studying)

Consistency is key. Creating and trying your best to stick to the schedule is important, especially for staying up to date with readings. The best time to implement this is the beginning of the trimester. I mean after the first set of lectures do a recap and create short notes. So, by the time cats are coming around you are not reading from week 1-5 you are just re-reading your short comprehensive notes and you are good.

Also creating a schedule for re-reading your short notes is essential, what’s the point of making the notes if you don’t look through them at least once a week? Try to schedule in time for these two things and they will be an almost instant stress reliever in your revision and study time.

• Stop when you are tired

This is kinda funny but it’s true honestly. Strong disclaimer this can only work if you have followed the previous steps. Stopping when you are tired is important, a fresh brain with 1 hour of active studying is more important than a tired brain that has been in the books for 4 hours.

The concept of active studying changed how I study. Active studying is an approach to learning that emphasizes engagement, participation, and interaction with the material being studied. Unlike passive studying, where learners passively consume information without much interaction or involvement, active studying involves various strategies to promote deeper understanding, retention, and application of knowledge.

• Self-comparison is the thief of joy

This is something I learned early on.

If my best is a 2.8 at the moment then that’s great. I can work up the GPA but as of now it’s good and I’m happy with myself because I look at academic success through my lens. Comparison will take you out, the peace you feel once you’ve decided that your best is the best is so out of this world.  

• Find what works for you

Most importantly the only way you can succeed is when define success for yourself and you find what works best for you all in all. All the points I’ve given are great but that doesn’t mean you take them all and apply them in your life. If that works then that’s great but if you pick and choose what works for you that’s also good.

Conclusion

I hope this was helpful, in any way to your academic growth and development.