Get Your Study On

You are almost done for the semester, Panthers! We pulled together 8 tips to help you ace your exams this semester and send you off to a long, well-deserved break.

SLEEP

This one is so important! All-nighters lower your cognitive performance and can lead to higher stress. Aim to get 7–9 hours of sleep on the days leading up to your exam. Don’t let sleep deprivation ruin the studying you did before.

Don’t cram the night before

To avoid all-nighters, use ‘spaced repetition’ when studying by breaking up the information over time and consistently reviewing it. It’s better to study an hour a day for a week than for 7 hours the day of the exam!

Understand, don’t memorize

You are more likely to retain the information you’re studying when you understand it, instead of just repeating it. Try studying with a friend and explaining what you are studying to see what you understand and what you still need to review!

Write it and say it

Hand-write your notes or say them out loud when you are studying. Your brain holds onto information better when you take the time to hand-write it. Reading out loud helps you remember it through reading and saying it.

Get focused

Start by doing small tasks around the house until you get into the flow of checking things off your to-do list. This helps you get focused and can keep you motivated to get tasks done when studying.

Take breaks

Taking breaks helps you stay productive and refocus you on your work. Give yourself short, regular breaks to grab a snack, call a friend, or get moving — then get back to work!

Brain food

Speaking of snacks… grab some nuts, yogurt, blueberries, or eggs for a brain-boost. These foods help improve your memory and brain functions! Stay away from sugar, it’ll make you crash later. And make sure to drink plenty of water when studying and on exam day!

Put the phone down

We know how easy it is to get distracted, especially when you don’t want to be studying. Try turning your phone off or leaving it in the other room while you’re studying. If you need your phone to talk with others, turn on the screen-time limits for social media while you are studying.

We hope that at least one of these tips can help you study smarter. Happy Study Day, Panthers! We believe in you.