Desketic

Taken from Sophia Chua-Rubenfeld, daughter of the Tiger Mother

by a horrible procrastinator

scheduling:

keep things realistic. you may think you can read 200 pages of jane eyre in one night, and honestly, you could…but you won’t unless that essay that’s 30% of your grade is due, you know, tomorrow.

you know your habits better than anyone. try to work around what you know you’re going to do. can you read about 25 pages without getting totally bored/sidetracked? well, make yourself do that. it’s only 25 pages, right?

try to accomplish one thing every day. don’t ever let your day slip away from you without doing anything. even if that “one accomplishment” is making a stupid text post on tumblr or revising your notes or washing your sheets…just be productive!

this is especially important for those of you with mental illness! having a “zero day” can really plummet your mood or set you in an unproductive rut.

if you really feel like you need a day to just chill out, napping can count as your accomplishment

don’t push studying off! you’ve probably heard this one a million times, but seriously. don’t. you’re not going to retain 10 weeks worth of information with one study session…okay, maybe you can, but do you really want to?

the best, low-effort way of remembering information is to, at first, review it often. right after you learn the material, review it a couple times during the week. maybe re-write your notes that weekend. then, the next week, visit one or two times, just glazing over parts you don’t really remember well. then, maybe once every two weeks, etc…by the time you get to finals, you’ll be familiar with all the information! trust me, it works.

organize your to-do’s. personally, i make a huge to-do list for the entire week. then, i delegate different ‘levels’ of urgency to it (see below.) you can do this however you want, but i do it this way to help me visualize how lazy i can be and not pay for it…

i tend to organize it by these ‘categories’ / ‘urgent levels’

is there a quiz on the material due soon

how likely is there to be a pop quiz

what’s my grade in the class like / how badly do i need that ‘a’

does the homework/assignment need to be turned in

etc

actually doing it:

studyspo helps. okay, i know this is kind of obvious considering i’m a studyblr, but… you see that notebook you just bought? isn’t it fucking adorable? don’t you want to make some sweet, sweet note-love to it? you know you do.

don’t spend too much time setting up your work space or browsing tumblr. seriously. you know when you’re overstepping.

have some nice playlists. preferably with music you already know! if you don’t know the song already, chances are it’s just going to become a distraction.

8tracks is a great site for this! you can make your own mixes or take a listen to one of the many, many study / chill playlists available. again, take a listen to the track on your way to class or whatever before actually trying to study with it on.

instrumentals + classical + video game music are the standard

get organized. messy = stressy. seriously. organize your desk, organize your notes. even if it’s not really your style, at least try to keep things ‘in your personal order.’ try to pretend you have your shit together. you will be so much more productive & confident if you feel in control of your situation.

if you’re a perfectionist, you may want to disregard this. really. you don’t want to put ‘tidiness’ above productivity.

taking pictures of your awesome, super-nice work space is awesome motivation. give that illusion of productivity. become tumblr famous.

if you can afford it, matching stationary and cute shit like that is super awesome feeling. it makes studying aesthetically satisfying.

take care of yourself. brush your teeth, put on that nice-smelling lotion, drink water. eating healthy foods, getting some exercise, all that good shit people tell you to do…it really is important. it’s kind of hard to focus or remain motivated if you’re miserably bloated & haven’t showered in 3 days.

especially for my neurod or mentally ill followers!

i fucked up: 

repeat after me: IT’S OKAY. IT’S OKAY. we all fuck up. you’re allowed to fuck up. sometimes assignments don’t get done, sometimes we don’t do as well on tests as we’d like. it’s okay. you’re okay.

recovery. alright, so, now that we’ve accepted that we’re human beans who sometimes grow upside-down…

cuddle in a blanket, and write down what you think you did wrong. did you not study enough? do you need to go to your professors office hours? write down your ideas.

let your failure motivate you! you hit your lowest point, alright? now you can focus on doing better, even if it’s just a few points difference.

you can do some things wrong. you don’t need to get an A every single time. did you understand 50% of the material? well, that’s halfway there!

you’re not going to be perfect at everything. we all have growing pains.

this is for the girls with depression but are still determinated to kick ass

this is for the girls who feel lonely staying home studying on a friday night

Studytip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6Lxj11op3s

We’ve all been there: You have stuff you need to get done, you know you need to get it done, but no matter what you do you just cant get yourself to take out your stuff and do your work. 

I have this problem quite a lot, so here’s a post to help some of you out!

Articles

Read this to get some quick motivation (tw: curse words) It’s sure to get your blood pumping and give you the vigor you’re lacking!

Harvard’s solutions on how to stop putting stuff off

7 helpful study tips 

8 helpful study tips

Manage your time studying

How to seriously study

Detailed article on how to get motivated to study

10 study motivation quotes for all types of students

3 scientific backed study motivators

Videos

Unbroken

Dream (EXTREMELY INSPIRING)

Be Phenomenal

Why Do We Fall

Mindshift

Be Hungry

Stop Killing Time

Destiny

Vision

You Will Win

Study Spotify Playlists

Deep Focus

Peaceful Piano

Intense Studying

Productive Morning

Electronic Study Music

Study Time Starts Now

White Noise

Epic All Nighter

Focus Now

Late Night Focus

Genius Time

Nice and Easy Workflow

Motivating Study Blogs

@elkstudies, @getstudyblr, @minimaliststudies, @nehrdist, @tbhstudying, @highschoolering, @saturdaystudying, @stxdybug, @dangostudy, @raavenclaw, @academla

There are so many more studyblr’s, but those are just some I can think of off the top of my head!

studygene:

Compilation of several master posts, resources, tips, and outside resources; will be updated regularly (or as often as a new master post hits my dashboard) - Tulip

Study Tips

Effective Study Routines for Intensive Classes by @study-strive

50 things to do between your study breaks by @junniestudies

Feynman’s Technique by @varsitystudent

How to create a study guide that actually helps by @strive-for-da-best

Different ways to study by @joolshallie

Study Methods by @kimmstudies​

Study like a boss by @wannabesurgicalgod​

How to earn more a’s: tips from an honors student by @abs-studies​

A complete guide to studying (well) by @scholarlysquad

Study Tips Tag Master-Post by @study-early​

Guide to last minute studying by @med-school-musings​

Things NOT to do while studying by @hexaneandheels​

Scientifically proven study tips by @swankiegrades​

Memory Tips by @brain-exercise​

Steps to get straight A’s by @strive-for-da-best​

Things top students do by @study-studymore-studyhard​

Achieving your full academic potential: Things to Avoid Doing by @portiastudies

No bull shit study guide by @studying-queen​

Revision tips by @stationery-enthusiast​

Some study tips by @quilavastudy​

Learning how to study by @study-well​

How to learn by @studygene​

Revising by @simply-study

Do’s and don’ts of a good study environment  by @etudias

 Exams

“Oh god, it’s the night before the exam and I didn’t study” guide by @renaistudying​

How to mentally prepare yourself for a test by @eruditicn​

Exam tips by @kimmstudies​

MCAT study schedules by @premedtomd​

Tips to help you study for exams by @examgradebooster​

How to study for a test by @tbhstudying​

5 Tips for during an exam by @collegerefs​

Overcoming Testing Anxiety by @staedtlers-and-stabilos​

How to study for an exam by @chemistrynerd2020​

10 Study tips Exams/Finals by @asianstudent​

A complete exam study guide by @strive-for-da-best​

How to remember everything for a test: 3 day plan by @getstudyblr​

Exam Prep Tips by @brbimstudying​

Note Taking

Lecture Notes by @caesarstudies​

How to take lecture notes by @studyquirk​

Useful symbols @ abbreviations for faster lecture note taking by @studyquirk​

When to use flashcards, mind maps, tables, etc. by @academicsandthearts​

The art of highlighting by @studygene​

Tips for Taking Efficient Notes in Class by @hexaneandheels​

A visual learner’s guide to textbook note taking by @studybug​

How I take notes by @darlingrachel​

5 Tips for Mindmapping by @howtostudyquick​

10 Tips for good note taking in lecture by @study-well​

Getting the most of lectures by @strive-for-da-best​

How to mind map by @study-nsp​

Guide to mind maps by @study-well​

Advice on note taking and studying by @studygene​

Note taking by @collegetothestars

Procrastination, Time Management, Motivation, Goals

The Procastinator’s Guide to Procrastination by @pythgaoras​

How to not fall behind in class by @studying-forever​

How to get motivated to study by @premedtomd​

Focusing on long term goals by @studybuzz​

Unconventional methods to beat procrastination by @hcmoeconomicus​

3 ways to set study goals + goal setting tips by @abs-studies

How to manage time effectively by @studygene​

Productivity: A masterpost by @effortanderudition​

Get motivated to study by @studyforyourself​

How to defeat procrastination by @hexaneandheels​

Developing self-discipline by @algorhythmn​

Focus & Motivation by @katsdesk

How to: motivation by @izzystudies​

21 tips on becoming the most productive person you know by @studying-towards-success​

Apps, Websites, etc.

27 flashcard apps & websites by @sarahedwardssheffieldthings​

Helpful Apps by @studypeaks

Helpful Apps by @gracelearns

App Masterpost by @studiyng

…another “masterpost” of apps by @studygene

There’s an app for that by @studygene

Apps for disorganized and/or ADHD students by @studiix

Education by Years

General

Tips that will make your school year easier by @warmvanillabookworm​

Study Tips for the lazy student: back to school / part 2 by @collegetothestars​

Staying calm at school by @gryhffindors

Back to school advice by @jessastudy

IGCSE Resources by @areistotle

School supplies by @areistotle

Middle & High School (includes AP resources)

The high school series by @studygene

How to survive high school by @anicetum​

AP Testing by @katsdesk​

AP Chemistry by @etudiance

AP Environmental Science Vocabulary by @prince-peter-pan

AP Psychology Study Stuff by @thisplacethatiknow

College Interviews Masterpost by @brain-exercise​

Higher Education (College, Grad School, etc.)

How to write emails to your professor by @studygene

The no bull shit guide to college by @studypops​

15 things I wish I knew before college

How to survive in college by @lilypotterr

How to write an abstract by @hayley-studies​

Essentials of doing well in college by @a-level-study-spo

College Survival Masterpost by  @college-campuses

Scholarships: A beginner’s guide by @collegerefs​

The Ultimate College Masterpost by @tisaybitch​

Applying to Grad School - Application Tips by @caffeinatedcraziness​

No to low stress college study strategy by @plannerdy​

Free MCAT resources by  @thecraftypremed​

Uni study tips by @lawbabe

College masterpost by @notquitenightingale​

Studying in college by @studygene​

Massive College Masterpost by @heyiwantyoutostay

Subjects

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM)

How I study for science by @hideandstudy

How to study for biology by @premedtomd

How to study biology

Study tips for biology

Survival 101 in: Organic Chemistry by @chemistrynerd2020​

How to study calculus by @studygene

How to study general chemistry by @studygene

Guide to general lab write up by @studygene​

Surviving lab classes by @caffeinatedcraziness​

How to read (science) journal articles by @caffeinatedcraziness​

How to succeed in hard science classes by @caffeinatedcraziness​

Tips for success in math class by @abs-studies

Precalculus by @etudiance

Geometry by @etudiance

Astrology masterpost by @witchbxbe

Coding Online by @perksofengineering

Geography by @learnal

7+1 tips for coding by @catsandcode

Ultimate science masterpost by @annie-tomy

Physics by @areistotle

Humanities: Literature, Psychology, History, Sociology, Art, etc.

Art Masterpost by @mindpalacestudy

How to analyze historical sources by @rewritign​

English Literature Masterpost by @englishlit-chic​

English Literature by @areistotle​

Proofreading tips by  @civilisedstudies​

How to write an essay by @sciencescribbles​

Helpful Resources for Writers by @redeadpool​

A guide to vocabulary by @acdemic​

How to expand your vocabulary by @study-star​

Philosophy Masterpost by @getstudyblr

Philosophy by @areistotle

Amazing Literature Masterpost by @fairystudent

History masterpost by @iamerudite

Annotating effectively by @hideandstudy

Teach yourself psychology and neuroscience by @tobeagenius

The Ultimate English Masterpost by @areistotle

Languages

Helpful websites to learn languages by @les-langues-sont-ma-vie

How to study/learn any language by @collegemania

How to self-study languages by @e-tudiante

French Resource List by @openstudynotes

Self-studying Korean by @somestudy​

Studying Japanese: Resources by @fuckstudy​

Italian Masterpost  by @studybowie

Learning Foreign Languages by @a-pprendre

Arabic Language Masterpost by @rockinspired 

French Resource Masterlist by @nathalliastudies

Spanish Resources by @notquitenightingale

Korean Learning Language Masterpost by @study-mochi

Health & Self-Care

Mental Health & Self-Care

Avoiding burnouts by @acdemic

15 facts about people with concealed anxiety by @caughtthefox​

Tips on how to feel better and look better by @contourkits​

Tips on Self Care & Motivation by @collegetothestars​

Panic/Anxiety Attack Breathing Technique

Sleep? Sleep. by @studygene

A self-care master post to help you get through school by @effortanderudition​

Stress Reduction by @mindpalacestudy​

Self care cheat sheet by @jwstudying

Study and mental health by @getstudyblr

Keeping a balanced life by @hideandstudy​

Dealing with stress & anxiety by @studygene​

Coping with mental health by @overstudies

Self Help Masterpost by @recovery-saved-me

Soothe yourself by @areistotle

Food

Good for u 5 min study snacks by @universityandme

Healthy eating for students by @raineydaystudies​

Feed your brain by @studybowie​

Broke College Kid Masterpost to Food by @actuallypronounced-yee-ro​

Feed yo’ brain by @studylou

Growing Up

How to Get a Job Fast As Hell by @thechronicleofshe​

The education system won’t really be teaching you important shit like this…

Dealing with Worst Case Scenario by @lilypotterr​

How to become an adult cheat sheet by @lilypotterr​

Job hunting advice by @harryjamcs​

Strong words to use on a resume by @ladyhinata​

Music

Classical pieces you’ve probably heard but might not remember the name by @preciousnugget

Diving into classical music by @violaboss

Study Music Masterpost by @cutestudystuff​

8Tracks Playlists masterpost by @studyli​

Harry Potter ambient noise master list by @ambient-mixer​

Study sounds. by @acdemic

White Noise/Ambient Sounds for study by @amelialearns​

Press play and let’s study! by @getstudyblr​

Studying ft. soundtracks by @studygene​

Music master post by @studyaim

Other Masterposts

Printable masterpost by @studiyng

Favorite masterposts by @studybudyblr

Printables Masterpost by @studie-s

A master post of master posts by @iridescentstudy

Massive masterpost by @annie-tomy​

How to studyblr on a budget by @studygene​

The ultimate masterpost by @67study

Drink some tea or coffee, whatever pleases you. Notice every sip.

Have some fresh fruit and finish breakfast feeling full.

Stand outside and feel the air. Cool or warm, it will make you feel real.

Get some exercise. Yoga to soothe, running to breathe, lifting for strength.

Take care of your body. Have a nice shower and pamper as much as you want afterward. 

If you’re going to work, remember you have the chance to make anyone’s day or to ruin it. Act accordingly. 

Weed out the bad language. It’s only creating tension in your body and mind. Kind words are infinitely more appreciated.

Take some time each day to improve your mind. Keep reading that great book. Listen to an incredible piece of music. Practice an instrument or a skill. The progress is its own reward.

Pictures will help you remember how wonderful life is. But spend less time on your phone and more time seeing the world face to face. 

Go to sleep knowing that you have done well. Tomorrow is there with room to become even better.

Addition

To begin with, 

In the first place, 

Firstly, 

The first reason

Additionally

Furthermore, 

Another reason why

Secondly, Thirdly, 

Next, 

Pursuing this further, 

Also

Lastly, Finally

In the same way,

Comparison

Similarly,

In the same way,

Likewise,

As with,

Equally,

Contrasting

However,

Nevertheless,

On the other hand,

Even so

Alternatively

At the same time

Otherwise

Instead

Conversely 

Result

Hence

Therefore

Accordingly

Consequently

Thus

As a result

In consequence 

For this reason

For this purpose

Time

Meanwhile

Presently

At last

Finally

Immediately

Thereafter

At that time

Eventually

Currently

Subsequently

In the meantime

Importance

Importantly

Especially

Above all

With attention to

Example

For example

For instance

That is

Such as

As revealed by

Illustrated by

Specifically

In particular

For one thing

This can be seen by

An instance of this

Literary

Clarifies

Conveys

Depicts

Demonstrates

Determines

Displays

Emphasizes

Establishes 

Explains

Exemplifies

Highlights

Illustrates

Indicates

Potrays

Represents

Shows

Signifies

Suggests

Beginnings/Causes/Effects

Affects

Generates

Ignites

Impacts

Imposes

Influences

Initiates

Introduces

Involves

Launches

Leads to

Presents

Promotes

Prompts

Results in

Summary

In conclusion,

To sum it all up,

To summarize,

In the final analysis

You can see why …

Finally,

Therefore,

In summary, 

In short,

Wear jeans/pants that “breathe” and bring a sweater, even if it’s scorching hot out, until you know which building blasts the AC to 60 degrees F and which feels like a sauna

Backpacks with thick straps are your friend!  Messenger bags are cool and all but if you’re commuting with a lot of stuff, symmetrically styled backpacks are better for your back

You are your own person and you can walk out whenever you need to or want to, so long as you’re not disrupting the class.  Meaning you can go to the bathroom without permission, take a breather if you’re anxious, answer an important phone call, etc.

If you don’t like the class on the first day, if you can- DROP THAT CLASS AND TAKE ANOTHER ONE!  It’ll only get worse from there!

If you can, take a class outside your major; it’s a good break from your expected studies.

You are in charge of your schedule.  Your adviser and guidance counselor is there to ‘advise and guide’ but if you don’t like certain classes and you can substitute for others, that’s your choice.

Consequently, if you are changing anything drastic in your plan, talk with your adviser and instructors.

Pay attention to your credit hours and grades.  Never leave this to the last week of school, you will be sorry and stressed beyond belief!

Unless it’s a lab book or otherwise specified, go to the class for a week or so before buying an expensive textbook.  Some classes, while having it on their required list, do not actually use the textbook a whole lot and you might find some of it scanned online.  Rent if you can or buy used online (schools actually don’t give discounts).  Use your best judgement on what you think you need.

Tell the people who go up to you selling or advertising things you are not interested in that you are in a rush to class and don’t have time to listen to them.  It’s less rude and they’ll leave you alone.

The smaller the class, the better it is to have some sort of acquaintanceship with a couple classmates.  They might save your ass if you are absent one day or need to study.  And talking with them makes the time go by faster without it being so insufferable.

You don’t need to join a club or sport, but internships are cool and useful!

If you can afford it, take a day off once or twice each semester if you’re too exhausted.  Just be aware of what you missed and if it was worth missing!

Your health is the most important, this goes for mental health too!!  Note: College-age/upper teens is when mental disorders like depression and anxiety are most commonly diagnosed.  Most schools have therapy services, especially during exam time.  Look into it if you need to!

Communicate with your professor if you are having trouble with something.  Anything.

Eat and stay hydrated.  Bring a water bottle and snack to class.

All-nighters will happen but never go over 36 hours without sleep.

ADDITIONAL ADVICE

Don’t let a mental health day turn into a mental health week because you will be so screwed.

Pay attention to the syllabus and do not lose it. A lot of professors put all of the assignment due dates in there and ONLY in there.

If your school has blackboard or moodle etc. CHECK IT. a lot of professors will only post certain info there and not talk about it in class

READINGS ARE NOT OPTIONAL.

I REPEAT. READINGS. ARE. NOT. OPTIONAL.

Put them in your schedule, read BEFORE class. And summarise it. For bonus points, come up with some questions about the text and go introduce yourself to your professor either after class or during office hours, and ask them about it. This will make them much more likely to remember you in a positive light (and possibly bump your grade up if you hit a hard patch.)

Your library will have a copy of your textbook. If you cannot afford to rent it, you can go to the library and borrow it from the front desk for a few hours whenever you need it. It is there for you, okay? 

I’m sick today (like properly sick, I’ve been up since 2am with a bucket beside me the whole time) so obviously I don’t feel much like studying, but I had some thoughts and I figured now was a good time to ramble.

So. “Aesthetic studying”, that is taking ages writing out your notes perfectly in pastel colours, spending a long time organising your desk before you do any actual work, etc, gets a bad reputation among many studyblrs. And hey, sometimes they have a point- if you’re spending all your time worrying about whether or not your notes look pretty then you won’t be actually revising those notes, and really how your desk looks isn’t as important as how much time you spend actually working at that desk.

However, in the last year or so I’ve found that it really does help me. Here are my reasons:

I am a very visual learner, and so rewriting my notes genuinely does help me- of course it’s not the only way I revise, but for me it works. I could just rewrite them all messily (so long as they’re readable) but I find that making them look nice is my main motivation to actually revise. I am a very ambitious person, but it’d be so easy to just… not revise. But I like pretty colours! I like bubble writing! It makes me actually want to spend time revising.

It calms me down. My desk doesn’t have to be perfect, but keeping it clean and neat and full of calm colours and nice images makes me feel far less overwhelmed than I do when my desk is messy and cluttered. This isn’t the case for everyone of course, but this is why “aesthetic studying” works for ME, so whatever.

It makes looking back at previous notes more pleasant. I find I actually want to reread and study from old notes if I’ve rewritten them to make them look nice. Again, it makes me feel less overwhelmed and more like i have everything under control.

The *~*studyblr aesthetic*~* keeps me motivated in general. For me, that aesthetic is usually based on a book or film I like-during my GCSEs, for example, it was often The History Boys. It’s a bit childish, but honestly it helps me to make my notes and my surroundings visually reminiscent of those books, films, characters, etc that make me want to study.

Hey hey!

So first off, let me know if you like my new icon thingo. I made it with my bare hands, Word and zero creativity, and I’m a little bitty bit proud.

Now, this post was inspired by the student special of the weekly science segment with Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki on triple j (g’day aussies). 

These tips are aimed at uni students but a lot of this info can help school students too.

And I’m not going to promise anything, but I believe I can give you at least one tip you didn’t know already (eek.)

So here it is, things to do on the day of your exam:

Eat a good brekkie

I know EVERYONE nags you about this from your mum to your lecturer but it is so so so important to fuel up on the big day. 

Make sure you have a glass of water before you consume anything else

Try to avoid high-sugar cereals, muesli bars, muffins, etc.

My fave breakfast to keep me full until lunch time (usually beyond lunch time) is eggs on toast. Just crack them into a frypan on low heat, season and eat with toast. Or you can scramble, poach, etc. if you have time.

If you don’t eat eggs or like them or don’t want the fuss - go for 2 minute microwave oats. So delicious with a bit of honey and they’ll give you plenty of energy to last the whole day.

Don’t cram on the day

You. Know. Enough. You’ve done enough, you’re prepared. Don’t try to stuff anything else in that full brain of yours.

If you have time:

Read through your notes

Maybe right down some formulas without looking at your notes and check them

Quiz yourself on definitions

Draw out some diagrams

Pack your bag the day of

I don’t care if it’s an 8am exam and you don’t want to get up early. If you pack your bag the night before, there’s a chance you may have missed something or didn’t think of something or said, “I’ll pack it tomorrow” and then forget to pack it.

If you did pack the night before, do a thorough check to make sure you have everything you need i.e. student ID card, correct pencils for the marksense cards, etc.

Bring water and tissues

There’s nothing worse than sitting through a 2.5 hour exam without having a drop of water. That will make you dehydrated, decrease your ability to concentrate and make you feel like shit during AND after the exam.

As for tissues, for some reason I always get a runny nose in exams. I think it’s because the temperature is usually too cold or a nervous reaction thing. But I don’t want you to have a sleeve full of snot because you didn’t want to waste writing time to ask for a tissue (that’s never happened to me).

Pack a jumper (sweater, if you’re not Australian hehe)

I don’t care if it’s 38 degrees outside and 80% humidity I come from Cairns, pack a jumper. The thermostat is never set to an ideal temperature during exams and sitting still for 2+ hours makes you cold as well

Arrive with plenty of time

But don’t hang around outside the venue if you can avoid it. I absolutely hate hearing that girl asking her friends, “do you know (insert term or figure that the lecturer explicitly said we did not need to know for the exam).” But do make sure you’re not rushed and sweaty because you didn’t give yourself enough time to get there.

Morning exams are the way to go

Now here’s what I learned from Dr. Karl yesterday:

For every hour after you wake up until your exam, your performance will decrease to the equivalent of you missing 10 days of class. For example, you get up at 8am and the exam is at 9 - that’s the same as you missing 10 days of class; at 10am - that’s the same as 20…

Now I know you’re freaking out (and I did too) and here’s the thing, you don’t control the time of your exam. Right?!? 

Dr. Karl then says that the way to get around this is to 1. realise this is a real effect 2. don’t cram, be prepared and *3*. do some gentle exercise (I’m assuming he means walking, maybe light swimming or some yoga or Pilates) to avoid the effect that makes you feel tired, unable to concentrate and remember because it’s the end of the day. 

I hope that makes sense to you. If not, check it out here (it’s within the first three minutes of the segment).

So, if your exam is in the afternoon, do some gentle exercise in the morning

See above for why. But I think just a little bit of stretching or a walk with your pup or a friend can do wonders for your energy and concentration levels.

Listen to the instructions given to you when you sit down

I know they drag on for ages and make you forget that definition you’ve repeated 10000000 times already today but just listen to them.

Check there’s no pages missing in your exam paper

Check whether you can write in the allocated reading time (and if you can write on the exam or on the rough paper)

Please don’t be that dick that gets his/her paper taken away 30 minutes in because you wrote during reading time and now it’s causing a big scene

Know whether you can leave any time or if you have to stay in the exam for x amount of time and can’t leave during the last x minutes either.

After the exam

Go relax! Treat yourself. Grab something to eat with some friends or take a nap.

Don’t try and study for your exam tomorrow - you need a break.

Try to avoid discussing the exam with friends and peers as this will increase anxiety levels in all of you. You did your best, and the answer that Shelly is trying to convince you was right for question 9 might actually be wrong and your answer was perfect. So just don’t talk about it. 

But…if you really have to know what the answer was, go look up the definition or topic in the textbook/lecture notes when you get home. I personally don’t like to do this because there’s nothing you can do to change the answer now so why put yourself through the anxiety if you were wrong? 

I wanted to help you create explosive productivity so you get big things done (and make your life matter). Here are 21 tips to get you to your best productivity. 

#1. Check email in the afternoon so you protect the peak energy hours of your mornings for your best work. 

#2. Stop waiting for perfect conditions to launch a great project. Immediate action fuels a positive feedback loop that drives even more action. 

#3. Remember that big, brave goals release energy. So set them clearly and then revisit them every morning for 5 minutes. 

#4. Mess creates stress (I learned this from tennis icon Andre Agassi who said he wouldn’t let anyone touch his tennis bag because if it got disorganized, he’d get distracted). So clean out the clutter in your office to get more done. 

#5. Sell your TV. You’re just watching other people get successful versus doing the things that will get you to your dreams. 

#6. Say goodbye to the energy vampires in your life (the negative souls who steal your enthusiasm). 

#7. Run routines. When I studied the creative lives of massively productive people like Stephen King, John Grisham and Thomas Edison, I discovered they follow strict daily routines. (i.e., when they would get up, when they would start work, when they would exercise and when they would relax). Peak productivity’s not about luck. It’s about devotion. 

#8. Get up at 5 am. Win the battle of the bed. Put mind over mattress. This habit alone will strengthen your willpower so it serves you more dutifully in the key areas of your life. 

#9. Don’t do so many meetings. (I’ve trained the employees of our FORTUNE 500 clients on exactly how to do this – including having the few meetings they now do standing up – and it’s created breakthrough results for them). 

#10. Don’t say yes to every request. Most of us have a deep need to be liked. That translates into us saying yes to everything – which is the end of your elite productivity. 

#11. Outsource everything you can’t be BIW (Best in the World) at. Focus only on activities within what I call “Your Picasso Zone”. 

#12. Stop multi-tasking. New research confirms that all the distractions invading our lives are rewiring the way our brains work (and drop our IQ by 5 points!). Be one of the rare-air few who develops the mental and physical discipline to have a mono-maniacal focus on one thing for many hours. (It’s all about practice). 

#13. Get fit like Madonna. Getting to your absolute best physical condition will create explosive energy, renew your focus and multiply your creativity. 

#14. Workout 2X a day. This is just one of the little-known productivity tactics that I’ll walk you through in my new online training program YOUR PRODUCTIVITY UNLEASHED (details at the end of this post) but here’s the key: exercise is one of the greatest productivity tools in the world. So do 20 minutes first thing in the morning and then another workout around 6 or 7 pm to set you up for wow in the evening. 

#15. Drink more water. When you’re dehydrated, you’ll have far less energy. And get less done. 

#16. Work in 90 minute blocks with 10 minute intervals to recover and refuel (another game-changing move I personally use to do my best work). 

#17. Write a Stop Doing List. Every productive person obsessively sets To Do Lists. But those who play at world-class also record what they commit to stop doing. Steve Jobs said that what made Apple Apple was not so much what they chose to build but all the projects they chose to ignore. 

#18. Use your commute time. If you’re commuting 30 minutes each way every day – get this: at the end of a year, you’ve spent 6 weeks of 8 hour days in your car. I encourage you to use that time to listen to fantastic books on audio + excellent podcasts and valuable learning programs. Remember, the fastest way to double your income is to triple your rate of learning. 

#19. Be a contrarian. Why buy your groceries at the time the store is busiest? Why go to movies on the most popular nights? Why hit the gym when the gym’s completely full? Do things at off-peak hours and you’ll save so many of them. 

#20. Get things right the first time. Most people are wildly distracted these days. And so they make mistakes. To unleash your productivity, become one of the special performers who have the mindset of doing what it takes to get it flawless first. This saves you days of having to fix problems. 

#21. Get lost. Don’t be so available to everyone. I often spend hours at a time in the cafeteria of a university close to our headquarters. I turn off my devices and think, create, plan and write. Zero interruptions. Pure focus. Massive results. 

The Curve of Forgetting (originally called The Ebbinghuas Curve after the German philosopher Hermann Ebbinghaus who developed it in 1885) demonstrates how quickly we forget new information we don’t work with repeatedly.  It shows just how important it is to revise everyday - even for a few minutes!