Tips For Revision

Unfortunately for many of us, it is now exam season. This comes with a whole lot of stress, paper cuts and marks from highlighters where highlighters should not be.
During this time, it’s really important to not only study properly, but also look after your mind and body.
First would be to start revising early. But, if you’re like me, you’ve probably left it until a month before exams start. However, fear not, there’s still a few ways you can turn this around.

1. Start by giving yourself a mini quiz: A great way to start your revision is to identify everything you already know and the parts you need to spend more time going over.
2. Put your studies before anyone else: Don’t get influenced by friends that seem to have made it their life goal to distract you. If they appear to be doing little work, that’s their choice. At the end of the day, the effort you put into these exams affect only you and your life. However, if you and your friends feel like you’ve been particularly productive that day, you can always reward yourself with a day out.
3. Don’t over do it: Study in short bursts of 30-35 minutes. This is more effective as generally your concentration would lapse after about an hour anyway.
4. Do frequent short exercises: stand up and walk around, do some stretches, especially around your neck and shoulders.
5. Drink water, get plenty of fresh air and don’t let the room get to warm or you’ll start to feel tired.
6. Make sure to get enough sleep. If you don’t, everything you revise probably won’t stick due to the exhaustion.
7. Take a break when you start to get frustrated, overwhelmed or angry. You always come first.
8. Reward yourself at the end of the day with something to take your mind off of exams (just don’t start binge watching a new series)

Different techniques

1. Don’t just read: Be sure to make notes and use practice/past exam papers.
2. Make mind maps/spider diagrams to help organise your thoughts and visualise everything you’re learning.
3. Come up with catchy mnemonics and rhymes to help you memorise things (e.g “ πr² sounds like area to me, when you need a circumference you need πD).

What to eat/drink:

1. Be sure to stay hydrated. Stay away from the energy drinks and the coffee. While they may help you focus short term, it’s easy to get carried away drinking them and this often results in increased stress levels. It’s best to stick to water.
2. Other alternatives are black tea and green tea. Not only do they contain just the right amount of caffeine to give you a booster, but they also contain theanine which, when combined with the caffeine, works well to improve your focus.

Stay away from the sugary snacks. All they’ll do is help you crash. Instead go for:

1. Dark chocolate: To satisfy any chocolate cravings, go straight for dark chocolate to produce endorphins, increases blood flow to the brain and provides just the right amount of caffeine to give you a kick without making you crash.
2. Bananas: Bananas are great when it comes to revising as they contain vitamin b-6, producing ‘happy’ hormones by boosting your body’s serotonin level. They will also keep your blood pressure down and regulate your blood sugar levels, which will benefit you when the end-of-the-world feeling just before an exam kicks in.
3. Berries: Most berries contain vitamin C which is good for a lot of things, particularly reducing stress and keeping your immune system strong.