Exams is something we all dread..I think? If you don't then you are lucky! But it is something that I hate to prepare for as I create an immense pressure for myself yo achieve. If your like me who scrolls through Youtube, Google and Pinterest to find anything that will help and motivate me to do revision when I just don't want to because it feels so so overwhelming, then pull up a chair and take a few minutes to read through my post and take in all my tips and tricks to feeling more motivated and more positive when it comes to hard work with revision!
1.Keep fit and healthy
This is so important when it comes to doing revision as it means you can take time for yourself to really make your body happy. This is because if your body is happy you will more than likely find it easier to do tasks you dread due to feeling more content in yourself. For me, during exam periods I can't run because it makes me so much more stressed but it may work for you. I really found contentment when my mum introduced me to Yoga With Adriene on Youtube as yoga is so calming for the body and can really relax all the stress from the day you have just had. I found that making time for yoga after a few hours of revision really helped me wind down for a good night's sleep as it was a good workout to make me tired but was also so beneficial for my body that I felt that bit more confident with myself.
Let's get real here; I know it's hard to bring yourself to do some sort of activity after a workout as you are probably so mentally drained from all the effort you have just put in to try and retain a huge amount of info. But, TRUST ME in the long run it will make you feel so much more mentally stable to complete tasks, take each day as it comes and most importantly complete those exams to the best of your ability. You will also feel so much more confident when it comes to taking those exams as you have kept your body healthy and happy.
2.STRUCTURE!
I know the title is quite aggressive but it is so important that you use this technique. It helps so much more mentally than it does physically to have an exercise and revision table that you feel you can stick to. This is one that I made for my college exams. I ensured I did a realistic schedule to so that I knew I would stick to it and not fail it. As failing it can make you feel so much worse. I ensured I did a quick exercise in the morning so I felt energised and ready for the day and then after revision would do a main exercise. It gives you something to work around. Having structure within your life can really make you feel collected and organised which can give you a clearer mental space. Make sure you don't go on all these websites that show overwhelming and unrealistic timetables that there is no way you can achieve with a busy schedule, also you can guarantee these timetables don't allow break days, but ensure you give yourself them. Else, you are definitely going to burn out. I find a simplistic table can really help me have a structured and clear mind, but if you do better with decoration add stickers and colour too it.
3.Find your method
Now, this is something that seems quite simple and you have probably heard over and over and over from your teachers. But it is so important to try different techniques to see which one benefits you the most. I would recommend trying out these techniques a couple months before you are scheduled to start revising as this will allow you to feel more comfortable and on schedule when the time comes that you start revising. A few techniques are;
Revision cards, these can be helpful as you can use them to test with your friends and family and for me it meant I could have a laugh with my sister as she was creative when it came to helping me remember things.
Posters, this was another technique I used as it meant that I would spend the time creating the poster and then it would be engaging so I would read them as I would stick them on my walls.
Mind maps, for me I had big A3 card on my walls and I would sit and add the mind map using colour and diagrams as I revised for my exams. I would decorate them so that it was a relaxing and calm method that didn't feel heavy but was effective.
Powerpoints, this is an effective method as you can almost present the powerpoint so you are speaking it over and over and it can help stick in your mind. You can present it to your friends and family as if you are trying to teach them it. This will help you feel more confident when it comes to answering questions on it.
Practice papers, this may seem obvious but it is probably the one that worked best for me. Doing practice papers over and over again can help you understand how the examiners want you answer the question and makes you familiar to how they word it.
Voice record, if you record yourself speaking information like quotes or a passage you have to remember then you can listen to it over and over, like on the bus to school or before you go to sleep. This can help you memorise them and they will stay in your mind easier.
4.Turn it off!
This is such an important method that everyone has told you to do already. BUT TURN IT OFF! You don't need to check your snapchat every minute as a form of procrastination. Also, if you don't have enough willpower to not turn it back on again, give it to your family or put it in another room so you don't have to look at it. It will really reduce your distractions and therefore you can get a lot more done it a shorter space of time. Turning your technology back on will feel so much more rewarding as well as you know you have taken the needed time to work hard so therefore you can have the best reward.
5.Just Breathe
This is so crucial for any stressful period. Have 'me' time. After a few hours of revision you deserve to treat yourself to some time to relax and take a minute to look back at your achievements of the day. Throughout the day we do lots of things that we don't really give ourselves credit for and I think it is so important to do that. You need to look at yourself and see the strong and independent person you are. Yes, you may be going through a hard time with a large amount of stress but also look at how much you achieved through this hard time. Really feel proud of all the things you are doing. Taking time for you can be in many different forms. Some of these are;
Warm bath
Meditation
Exercise
Reading
Writing
Watching your favourite movie or TV programme
Making yourself a herbal tea
Pamper night
Painting your nails
Taking time to do your hobbies.
There are many different ways you can reward yourself and make your body happy.
6.Youtube
This can be seen as a revision technique but I think this is so important it can be its own revision subtitle! Watching Youtube videos can be so effective as they can help you retain information quicker as they are more interesting to watch than other techniques. I have found a few Youtube channels that I used through my GCSE's and I hope they help.
I hope these techniques has helped motivate you to revise and take the time you have to get the best out of your revision. This is a process that takes hard work and dedication but I know you can do this. Go and Work hard! You've got this!!
Many thanks,
Jessica-Jayne.
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