Exams: few people like taking them. It’s a period of living in the library and with a book constantly attached to your arm. Many students do the wrong thing. They eat too much of the wrong thing for the energy boost, they get insufficient sleep and try to do too much. Inevitably, students tend to struggle not because they didn’t work hard enough, but because they took the wrong approach. Self-care isn’t just another buzz phrase, it’s a strategy to keep yourself mentally healthy.

Cut Back on Junk Food

It may seem the reasonable choice to consume foods high in fat and sugar. Logic suggests that these high energy foods will help you do more for longer. But this thinking is erroneous. The sugar hit subsides, making you crave more of it, leading to lethargy and weight gain. Instead, pay more attention to your diet, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, lean meat and fish rather than burgers (if you aren’t vegetarian or vegan). Try not to have caffeine too late because you need sleep.

Don’t Skimp on Sleep

It’s tempting to work late into the night and/or get up early to start again. But scientific research shows repeatedly that tiredness saps our energy and our ability to concentrate. Working until 1am only to get up at 6am to start again will have the opposite effect of the one intended. You will struggle during the exam due to exhaustion. Get your 8 hours of sleep and feel refreshed each day. You’ll find you perform better when you get enough rest.

Know When to Stop

Which brings us to point three. Your revision exam schedule should factor in days where you don’t do any revision or exam work at all. A change is as good as a rest. Treat yourself to a day at the beach or in the park with friends. Stay in your PJs all day and watch Netflix. Whatever you do, you need to disconnect, and completely, from the workload. It’s amazing how much better you will feel about the workload when it doesn’t consume you and when you schedule in break time.

Reward Yourself

Set up a system of work and reward, effectively teaching yourself to earn that takeaway or beer/wine on a Friday night. It’s easier to drive and motivate yourself when you have a certain treat in mind for getting through a certain amount of revision. A system of rewards can also be tied into knowing when to stop – promise you’ll have a beach or park day at the end of the week. Also, set a big reward for when the exams are over.

Exams are important, but it’s just as important to be kind to yourself throughout. A good exam plan must include “self-care”. Good luck!