A GAT’s top 5 tips to keep you sane this exam period

And it’s approaching.

Oh yes, that dreaded exam period is just itching closer and closer every day. Can you believe we’re already in week 10? It feels like only yesterday that the semester was just starting. I’m beginning to stress, just a little, about how I’m going to fit it all in. Friends, family, study, work, job applications… and it’s all becoming a little overwhelming.

Trying to manage everything and retain some sort of a social life proves to be a daily challenge for the best of us. On that note, I thought I would be a good citizen and give you all some advice. So here goes … my top 5 tips for my fellow students out there, about how to best retain your head during the exam period.

1. Get your priorities straight. This may sound like a bit of a cliche, but it’s true. Working 30 hours a week in a job that doesn’t relate to your  post career aspirations might be beneficial for your bank account, but it pries time away from your studies and your potential to do well. Prospective employers will look at your transcript, and by working too much, you are limiting your opportunities for the future. Sometimes we need to make sacrifices to succeed! (and lets be honest, we’re all poor anyway).

2. Be passionate about your studies! If you’re genuinely interested in your course, study is less likely to feel like a chore. For example, I always make sure that I choose interesting and stimulating assignment topics (when I can), that help keep me going when I’m starting to loose motivation. For my most recent assignment, I chose to write about the ethical misconduct of Apple’s leading manufacturer, Foxconn. They produce the majority of our iPads, iPhones and MacBooks, in an environment that is so harshly managed that it lead to attempted suicides by 13 of its employees. Make you think twice about hanging out for that iPhone 6, doesn’t it?

3. Please,  please get enough sleep. No-one can function to the best of their ability on minimal sleep. Personally, when I haven’t had enough sleep and have study to do, I attempt to take a 30 minute nap which, before I know it, has turned into 3 hours. Not only will a sufficient amount of sleep stop you from feeling like you might doze off at any minute, but it also helps with memory consolidation. So instead of staying up that extra 2 hours studying, maybe if you get some sleep you will actually consolidate the knowledge that you have already learned.

4. Try to make time to do something that you love, whether it be yoga, playing a sport or writing a blog. You might think that this will take away from your time to study, but a well deserved break never hurt anybody. You will feel relaxed, rejuvenated and more motivated to return to study after you have spent some time focused on another activity that you enjoy. Variety is the spice of life, people.

5. Never give up! I know, sometimes its easier, but the relief is only temporary. Try to keep your eye on the prize and think about the end result, rather than letting the stress get to you. Drink a cup of tea, watch your favourite TV show, and come back to the task with your guns blazing! You never know where your hard work will take you. And just remember that there are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

Good luck, my warriors, and keep fighting!!

Until next time,

Monique