Okay Lady listen up!
We know that it's exam time and that you're head down, bum up, cramming all of the things into your beautiful brain.
And as important as it is for you take the pointy end of the year seriously, it's also really important that you aim for balance and maintain your self-care, in order to achieve top-notch results.
Illustration by Lisa Congdon
So here's some practical tips to help get you through the next few weeks:
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Dedicate your space - spending a few moments each day cleaning your desk, looking at your mood board and making sure you have water and snacks at hand, will lead to less distraction and help set your intention for your study session
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Adhere to time limits - use alarms or apps to help maintain a schedule and keep you on track
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Stay motivated - we don't believe in FOMO round these parts, but it can be hard to stay focused when you know all your pals are out in the sun, having fun without you. Remember the long game Lady - focus on the end result and remember it's short-term pain for long-term gain
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Ask for help - if you're stuck on a problem, don't spend hours trying to figure it out alone. Ask a friend or a teacher/lecturer for assistance. There's no shame in admitting you're a bit muddled and it will save so much time in the long run!
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Sleep, eat, exercise - these are non-negotiable!
Staying up all night will not help.
Eating sugary snacks and binging energy drinks to get you through will not help.
Staying hunched over your laptop and your notes will not help.
Instead:
- Meal prep healthy food so it's there and ready to rock.
- Have a bottle of water at your desk at all times.
- Get up and stretch every hour.
- Go for a walk at least once a day, even if it's just around the block.
- Call "time" at a reasonable hour and no screens for at least 30 minutes before bed so that pesky blue light doesn't mess with your REM sleep.
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Have breaks - just like your learning schedule, you need to timetable BREAKS too. Going too hard will actually make you less productive in the long run.
This is where the Puzzles come in, because getting away from your study space and practising some mindfulness is the perfect way to reset your brain.
And, because doing jigsaws activates both sides of your brain, they improve your short term memory function, aid problem-solving skills and increase attention span.
Um hello, win/win right? Because that's 3 crucial steps toward effective study, so even when you're having some down time, you're adding to your academic skill set.
Normally, we'd wish you luck Lady, but we know you don't need it. You got this!
