Over my many of years being a student, I know that there is a time when you need to work- even if you are a self-confessed night-before-deadline-assignment-finisher. The fact of life that everyone ultimately has to come to realise is that unless your parents are Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, or you Grandmother is The Queen- you aren't going to get everything handed to you on a plate. There are times in life when we really have to knuckle down, get our hands dirty (from ink explosions) and put in as much as we want to get out.
Cue exam period...
For me, this is always a stressful time when I'm trying to fit in revision and so I've devised what I hope is a very productive and helpful way of making the mountain a little less like Mount Everest and a little more like the hilly mound of grass that you would run up in a park and get just a little bit worn out.
♥ Start early.
I don't mean get down to the hardcore revision sessions a month before your first exam but I do definitely recommend getting in the mindset of doing a little everyday. Half the reason people get so panicked and end up not feeling prepared is because they've left it too late in the game to be able to fit in all the revision they need. Be prepared- you wouldn't go to war without having all your armour and having checked your guns have enough ammunition for the task ahead; so you shouldn't leave yourself vulnerable for exams.
♥ Make a plan.
It's easier to get small, manageable tasks done when you have a plan of what you're going to do, on what days and how much you want to achieve. If you sit down and just expect to revise you'll end up not feeling a sense of achievement in the long run.
Small goals = small victories = motivation = success.
Plan, plan and plan. If you don't stick to it because you're having a bad day- that's fine, you can always make up for it the next day.
♥ Clear your work space.
There's nothing like clogging up your mind with useless crap in your work space that will distract you. A clear table = a clear mind ready for the task ahead of you. This also means that if you don't need your laptop or Internet- Turn. It. Off. There's nothing more distracting than anything around you posing as much more fun that your revision. It may be a small price to pay to be isolated from the whole for a couple of hours but when you get your results through; you know it would've been worth it.
♥ Keep hydrated, energised and well-rested.
No, I don't mean have a stack of Redbull next to you to give you more energy- I mean real energy that is taken from eating good dinners and having healthy snacks to give you brain power. If you're hungry, or thirsty or dead on your feet, you're not going to work to your best of your ability. If we think about the bigger picture, exam period is a month and a half- maybe even 2 months, and in retrospect to your life, it's practically a minute. Set yourself up for the best possible start in life; take every opportunity with two hands because they might not come around again.
♥ Always remember that you can do it.
I've definitely felt the feelings of just wanting to give up and asking myself what the point is, but you are there doing whatever exams, whatever qualification/degree for a reason. You can do it or you wouldn't be where you are. It's difficult to remember that you are smart and you can do it but knowing that you can will change your whole perspective and make you work more efficiently. You've got this! Have faith in yourself, my duckling!
Happy revision to you all, I shall now get back to my own now that I have finished my good cause of the day to inspire you all.
I shall leave you with one final quote in case my preaching to you all didn't quite work its magic.
"You don't have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things - to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals." ~ Edmund Hillary
Lots of love,
Your ever so consistent, albeit silly, blogger, Nicole!
xxx
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