How to Maintain Balance During Exam Season

Finals are coming soon and for most people, such as myself, have trouble with time management. I sometimes find it challenging to balance both school and work at the same time as I have to prioritize my coursework and studying. Being a full-time student and working a part-time job can be exhausting and I struggle to have energy for both. Here are the ways I found to have time to study, work, and make time for myself! 

1. Plan Everything Out 

Personally I find it useful to either mark stuff on my calendar or use a planner to map out due dates and work days to find time to complete assignments and days that I can commit to studying. I find out how many days I can study before the test and when the exam days are. I prefer having a visual of my schedule rather than organizing things in my head then later forget essential pieces of information. I can determine which days I can set apart for rest or meeting with friends by organizing my schedule. In order to keep myself motivated to finish the grueling semester, I normally make plans for what I will do following the exams. 

2. Study Techniques 

It took me a while to finally find a studying technique that I liked. The techniques that I found useful are spaced repetition and active recall. Instead of cramming the night before, it is better to begin studying far in advance of your tests. I used to put off studying until the last minute, which always led to less than ideal results. In order for the material to truly stick, I have started studying and reviewing immediately after lectures, and just keep doing so until exam time. I have discovered that study programs like Gizmo or Quizlet help with active recall and allow me to assess my knowledge without checking my notes. 

3. Prioritize Rest 

We have all heard that getting enough sleep is essential for studying. Sometimes I would study all day while I am exhausted and at the end of the session I would forget all I had learned the following day. We are more likely to retain information when we are well-rested and receive enough sleep at night. Cramming the night before your test never works out well, and studying when you are tired and sleep deprived will make it difficult for you to remember the material. In order to have plenty of energy the next day to concentrate on studying and not feel worn out, I always go to bed as soon as I finish work. On other days, if I did not have enough time to prepare for an upcoming exam, I call off work in order to focus on studying. 

Even though I do not always stick to my schedule, these suggestions have helped me prevent burnout. Individuals handle stress differently, and they all cope differently during exam season. My strategies for navigating exam time may not work for others. We can all survive exam season in different ways, but good luck to everyone who has exams coming up and do your best not to burn out!