Here’s a quick rundown of the five most common study downfalls to avoid.
1. You can’t read over old notes whilst watching Game of Thrones and call it studying
Not only will your brain most likely decide that dragons are more interesting, but you won’t be learning anything new, or testing your recall of information you already have stored away. Get into good habits early next semester by creating a quiet study zone (whether it be your bedroom or the library) and test yourself, test yourself, test yourself.
2. Taking everything so seriously
Yes, exams are serious business, but you also need to have some downtime and release some of that pent-up tension. Have a laughing break. Seriously… dog fail videos, people falling over, Snapchat filters - it’s all there for the taking during break time.
3. Skipping meals
No, just no. With so many delicious and healthy food options on campus, there is no excuse to miss lunch. We don’t need to lecture you on what happens to your brain when you’re not fuelling yourself correctly. Fuel your thoughts!
4. Using a highlighter like a lightsaber
A highlighter is for highlighting things that you consider important to remember. That doesn’t mean that if you highlight EVERYTHING, your brain will magically upload and store it immediately. Also, your textbook will end up looking like unicorn poop, so use them sparingly.
5. Freaking right out
Yes it’s an exam, yes it’s important, yes you only get one shot at it, but… no, you will not die if there is one question you cannot answer on the exam. And yes, you will make it through the semester. Stress makes your brain think you’re under attack and it will ditch all knowledge apart from the skills required to survive. Sound familiar if you have ever experienced a mind blank during an exam? FYI this can also occur when being attacked by a UQ ibis. We recommend playing dead in this situation. Don’t let your nerves get the better of you. Breathe, acknowledge and embrace the tension and get on with your study. You got this.