Take Care of Yourself Leading Up to Exams

It’s not long now, the date of the exams are near.  You are spending a tremendous time studying.  You’ve got your class notes, you have tutoring with the Community Schools, and those around you are supporting you. However, you must remember to take care of yourself as you continue this journey.

Life can be a bit like a roller coaster.  Before you get to the really fun drop when you can lift your hand in the air and enjoy the ride, there tends to be a long, hard climb.  You are in the climb!  When faced with days of laborious, rigorous studying, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Get enough sleep

You cannot perform well in your exams if you have gone days without adequate sleep. It is understandable that you may not get as much sleep as you like to have, but try to get enough.  Your brain processes information while asleep.  While we tend to think of sleep time as time when our bodies shut down, it doesn’t.  Sleeping after studying really hard can help your brain move information into long term storage.  You will feel refreshed, your brain will be more alert and ready for new information, and the old information will be stored and ready for recall.

Eat good food

Healthy foods such as lean meats, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, help your body be at its best.  Your brain functions much better if you have healthy eating habits.  You are more alert, have more energy, and you are better able to focus on the task at hand.   High carbs and lots of sugar can make you feel sluggish and drowsy. Just as athletes need healthy foods to perform at their best, you do as well.

Move enough

When you spend this much time sitting, you need to get your blood flowing again.  Your brain needs oxygen to work well.  The best way to ensure your brain is getting plenty of oxygen is to exercise.  While you don’t have time for hour long sessions at the gym each day, you can make time for a twenty minute walk.  In fact, if you take a break every hour for just five minutes and walk around the room, your brain will benefit.

Care for your body

Take hot showers and wear clean clothes. This is not about what others think of you – it is about how you feel about yourself.  If you haven’t showered in three days, you will not feel as confident or calm as you need to feel in order to study well.

Take brain breaks in the lead up to your exams

Give your brain some much needed breaks.  Maybe you can carve out two hours to watch a film at the local cinema with friends or family.  You may need a few minutes to play a game with someone or read a good book.  Do something every day that takes your mind off of studying. Your brain needs a chance to focus on something else for a bit.

As you prepare, take care of yourself.  You need to body and brain to be in top shape and ready to perform. So, along with everyone else who is supporting for you, make sure you put in the effort to look after yourself too.

Last Updated on November 18, 2020