Trying to cope with hectic schedule and uni exams
Hello everyone,
Recently I have been feeling a little chaotic and lazy at the same time. I have my Uni exams in like next 15 days and it is so stressful that I don't feel like doing anything and cherry on the top i still have some assignments due for next week. I feel like I am in a vicious cycle of just going to uni-studying then relaxing studying again and sleeping.
I have been planning my days like what all I need to do and how but it is not working like i am not able to keep up with what I expect myself to finish in a day as I feel hopeless sometimes with just thinking about exams
even my exam timetable is like i have 3 exams in 36hours like One and a half day.
Does anyone have suggestions on how one should try to plan out on studying and actually retaining information?
I would appreciate all the ideas😅.
Comments
Hey @Figuring_out
I'm in the exact same predicament right now as I have 3 exams occurring in a few weeks that I have to study for as well.
As others have suggested, a key way to keep up is to ensure that there is some diversity. So, what I usually do is spread out the tasks and dedicate specific days or timeblocks to a particular subject rather than just binging one subject for multiple days. This makes studying feel fresh and it allows you to digest the information while you tackle other subjects.
Another key thing and probably the best thing to do would be to do alot of practice tests. With exam season, I usually go and look for past exam papers (usually posted by the unit coordinator) and do them for each subject that I have. Once I have done a paper, I typically go and look at the general feedback to search for areas that I could have improved upon. Outside of practice tests, I suggest also reviewing past tutorial questions as it really helps too. The idea here is to develop a backlog of questions that have been answered to ensure that you are prepared for any scenario that may arise on the exam. I feel like this strategy is the best in terms of giving me the confidence to handle the exam and in filling up any knowledge gaps that I may have had prior.
Best of Luck! 😎
Hi @Figuring_out , looks like some others have had some great suggestions. How are you going at the moment?
Hey @mw24
I am finally done with all my assignments submissions yesterday, which is quite a relief now I just need to focus on studying.
So I am giving 4 exams out which I have 2 exams on the same day and another one the very next day. Atm I am focusing on going through the material trying to learn it and then going through gpt and doing questions from gpt. and I am also focusing on not being harsh on myself. I think I am getting a little clarity on the topics ehich I am good at, and the ones I need to focus on.
so, yeah overall, my situation is improving bit by bit thanks to everybody's suggestions and tips.😄
Wow you certainly have a lot going on. I am also a student but I have never had that much of a crisis. Although its great to see you planning out your day.
One of my biggest tips even when planning out your day. Over estimate your time, espcially at this period. For me I found this to be helpful because then I knew I had extra time which meant I either finished it ealier or could slow down and take my time with things. Like for example I said I would study between 11 and 4 on Friday. I started with one assignment, my largest one which was mostly complete and said I would have it finished by 1pm, turns out I had it done by 12. This allowed me to allocate more time to my other assessments.
My next tip would be this is something my friends would do, you've mentioned in other posts you use chatgpt. Now I haven't tried it myself because I use notebooks for notes, but they have suggested taking the content or lecture notes and getting chatgpt to write condense it, so they are able to better focus on the key concepts. This is also a great tool in recognising and testing your knowledge if Chatgpt gets it wrong or whatever and you are able to identify it. It means you know your stuff.
I also found dedicating a main assignment and exam prep to a day instead of trying to fit them all into one. This make sure I am offering each class and content a chance to give it all my all and I am less focused and worried about completing other tasks that day. Even if it is as simple as I need to write 2 paragraphs or something to that assignment or prep.
I hope some of these helps, and good luck
Fellow student here going through a similar crisis. It is fantastic that you have been planning out your days, but it is incredibly frustrating when things do not go according to plan and you start to feel stuck.
One thing that has helped guide my study habits is understanding that spaced practice is more effective for long-term retention. Instead of cramming everything within one day, you should break down each subject into chunks and prioritise certain topics which you struggle with the most to study first.
Use palm cards! Quizlet is a great site to make digital palm cards, I highly recommend using this to assist you in memorising content. Make sure you give your mind a break from time to time so that it can absorb everything you have just learnt. Take one step at a time and don't be too hard on yourself, after all you're only human.
Best wishes for your exams! All the best, hope this helps 🤗
Thank you @LittlePisces for sharing these tips. till now I have been using Chat gpt to help me test my knowledge through multiple choice questions. I have not tried Quizlet yet I will definitely give it a try. 😄
Yes Chat GPT is such a powerful tool for studying I love that you have discovered it on your own!! Wondering how your studies have been going and how you have been managing the stress 🤗
Hello @Figuring_out,
I am also in a very similar scenario with my university exams coming up soon. I think confidence, but also positivity is key. A good way to reduce stress is to plan ahead and schedule your time efficiently so you can have a clear mind for your exams. Perhaps setting healthy goals may help you to organise and understand your academic expectations (without going too crazy 😄). By setting goals like "I'm gonna do 4 hours on this" or "I'm gonna revise on this today" means at the end of the day you can rest, knowing you have made tiny accomplishments on a path to a bigger accomplishment.
Have you thought of engaging in some physical activity or even simply some breathing exercises? From my personal experience, it's so important to allow yourself some time to disengage from your study and do something you love. Ironically, I taking breaks is actually better for learning and this is scientifically proven - studies show improving your self care and wellbeing is correlated with academic performance. Maybe give this a go and hopefully you can retain information more efficiently.
From what it sounds, you are committed to your studies, and that's all I need to know that you are ambitious and are driven for success, which is guaranteed for you. Don't be too stressed and remember that you are already doing really well. Hopefully this can help you 'figure things out' (see what I did there? 😏). 💯💯💯
Hey @Beach_enjoyer2101 I am not into any physical activity but I do take time out for myself to just relax and sit outside in the backyard and sometimes I go for a walk. I think I will try to do something about the breaks and I see what you did there😂. Lets see how I figure this out😌
I'm glad to hear you can prioritise a relax here and there. Tbh your post has helped me with my exam stress as well so thanks for making the thread. ✌️
Hey @Figuring_out!
Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I am also at uni and can relate to that endless cycle of sleep, study and repeat.
Please be kind to yourself during this very stressful time and forgive yourself when you don't get everything done that you expect yourself to. We have good study days and bad study days, and it is totally normal, so be nice to yourself and listen if your body is telling you to stop.
Regarding retention of info, taking regular 10-minute breaks, taking the first 5 to go over in your brain what you have learnt in summary and then taking 5 minutes to leave your desk and walk around the room or get a snack works well for me. Giving my body and mind those breaks helps with my productivity! That being said, everyone is different, so try and find a study/break routine that works for you. I also use a Pomodoro timer, which times your study and breaks for you. There are some fun themed ones like Harry Potter which can make studying more engaging, Example! Another strategy I use is teaching someone else the content of my exam. Teaching someone is a great study skill as it shows you truly understand the topic.
My other tip is to prioritise. If you have assignments due before your exams, make sure you leave enough time to complete them. Work on these first, and when you get sick of them, break writing up with studying for your exams. This way, you aren't being unproductive but are changing your brain and resetting it to complete another task.
15 days is a lot of time!! You have got this. Be kind to yourself and best of luck 
Thank you @Plum_Polar_Bear these are great tips I have been teaching my friend stuff when we do group study sessions it does help me with the learning. but for the break thing its like once i take a break I end up procrastining to sit again like the 10 minutes break turns into 30-45 minutes🙁. I will try the timer it might help me. I think I should stop being so harsh on myself😅.
Good to hear you are teaching others, yay!
I hope the timer works out for you, but of course you need to follow the timer, which can be hard to motivate yourself to do. I find my phone is a big distractor for me. Try putting the thing that distracts you in another room or with a trusted person, this might help you engage more with the timer.
Best of luck during exam period and please be kind to yourself!!
I know right phone distracts me a lot so I have been putting it on silent when I study. I will try putting it somewhere else so I cannot see it around me as once i look at the phone it gives an urge to just open it scroll through stuff.
