With exam season approaching rapidly, many students are entering “study mode” in preparation for the upcoming testing. As testing rolls around, it’s important to prepare in healthy and productive ways.

Many people use every waking minute studying up until the day of the test. However, studies have shown that this isn’t a very effective way to prepare. When you cram lots of information into your brain at once, it’s important to take breaks to give your brain time to rest and process. If you don’t take brain breaks, it might be harder to remember the information you studied. It might be a good idea to take a 15-minute break for every 45 minutes of studying, and take a longer break every few hours.

The night before a test, you shouldn’t take on any new material. Instead, you should look over your notes, maybe quickly run through your flash cards, and just give your brain a reminder of the information you’ve been studying. It’s also important to get a good night’s sleep so that you can wake up refreshed and ready to go on the day of the test. When you wake up on the day of the test, do a quick run-through of the material if needed (no more than 10 minutes) and make sure to eat a good breakfast. A good night’s sleep and a good breakfast will help make sure your brain is at its best to take the test.

Remember, while it’s important to study and prepare for exams, it shouldn’t come at the expense of your health or well-being. Use these tips to optimize your preparation without having to pull all-nighter study sessions. Good luck!

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