First off, let’s be real. You’re reading this article because either:
- Your exams are coming up.
- Your exams HAVE come up.
- You share Curious George’s DNA.
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Or...
You’ve consumed an obscene number of study videos and are amidst an unforgiving battle with yourself.
If you feel yourself nodding at either of these sentiments, stick around.
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Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)Why Should You Study?
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Now that you know who this is for, let’s tackle the next big question: why should you study?
Answering this is a crucial.
Because a powerful “why” is what catapults you into action, even when you’re out of seventh heaven. Let’s say you’re studying medicine. Your “why” would be wanting to become a doctor or pursuing related aspirations.
Only after rising an inch on the intellectual maturity spectrum did this truth reach me.
A great deal of motivational content often skips this step entirely or fails to elaborate on it correctly.
For me, the shortfall has been in writing down my “why” statement repeatedly. Instead, opt for memorization. Nestle it in your mind, and pull it out whenever procrastination hits. While action is the ultimate cure for resistance, recalling your end goal heavily steers you to conquer that barrier.
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When Should You Study?
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With your 'why' clarified, the next thing to address is: when should you study?
An important aspect to consider. Some of us work better during the day, others when black engulfs blue.
Most content online spurs you to work every waking minute (Andrew Tate podcasts, I see you), or underscores last-minute cramming sessions. And in my opinion, both these ideologies impose more harm than good. Without lack of sleep, or eluding yourself to last-minute cramming, your mind will start to slowly suffocate, dissipating your focus.
Personally, for me, blocking hours solely dedicated to studying while saving time to let up has helped me escape this mental trap. The Pomodoro method and 45/15 rule are other techniques that exist to mitigate Gen Z’s declining attention spans. Overall, it’s what’s best for you that’ll prove most effective.
What If You Don't Have Time To Study?
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Now, let’s imagine (some of you might not have to), it’s the day before your exam. You’re panicking because you were a late bloomer to this article. What should you do?
Fortunately for you, I’m a seasoned veteran.
To get the ball rolling, stop panicking!
I know it’s easier said than done. Which is why adopting a “What’s there left to lose?” mindset is crucial. Every cloud has a silver lining, and reiterating that has helped me reduce panic and cultivate focus even in predicaments.
Then, revisit important topics. I suggest inquiring with your professors in advance, to better facilitate yourself. Or, if you bypass this, consider emailing them or touching base with your classmates. After all, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take!
A lot of the content discussing this doesn't go into as much detail on calming your nerves. Even though a tranquil spirit is what drives the ability to put out fires.
What If You Really Don't Have Time?
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At face value, this may sound like a rather daunting question to answer. But for the sake of all the time-pressed individuals out there, I’ll try my best.
Truthfully, not a single social media post has helped cure this conundrum. So, one can only rely on personal experience.
Although embarrassing to admit, I, too, have been on massive time crunches hours before exams. So what to do?
Firstly, calm yourself. Reinforce that “There’s nothing left to lose” mindset, and just start. Oftentimes, we are unnecessarily pessimistic towards ourselves and our abilities.
But your past experiences, those flubs that you can’t look yourself in the mirror for, carry significant weight. In summary, believe in yourself, and know that yesterday’s “large” mistakes are tomorrow’s minor setbacks.
Conclusion
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Finally, if there’s any wisdom you absorb from this piece, let it be this. Wherever you are in your academic voyage, it’s never too late to steer the tides. All these questions are merely thorns in your side. And once you surpass them, there’ll be no space between you and your ideal self.
