Exam Season Revision Tips

A Bournemouth student survival guide for January's exam season.

1. One word. Organise.

If your desk resembles a WHSmith explosion, chances are it won't assist your productivity. Messy space, messy mind. Only keep what you need, invest in a binder or two and then utilise the world of post its, paper clips and blutac. They needn't just be in your work area- who doesn't want historical facts on their bathroom mirror as they brush their teeth, or science formulas scribbled on to their orange juice in the morning?

2. Find an animal.

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Fur real, studies show that spending times with animals increases endorphins and eases stress. No qualms if you don't have a house cat- never underestimate the power of your local pet store. If they have rabbits, you know what to do. Once I rented a cat for the day from a local pet shop during peak dissertation stress- I owe a First to that little fluffy ginger moggy.

3. Get colouring.

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With the success of books such as Secret Garden putting colouring as a legitimate (and fashionable- Instagram is eating this for breakfast) activity for adults, there's never been a better time to sit back and spend time creating beautiful masterpieces with ease. Low cost, easy to do alone or with friends, portable and you have something tangible and rather splendid as the finished product. Anybody can be an artist. Trust us- it's curiously satisfying and soothing.

4. Disengage from Uni. (Within measure.)

Now this may sound a bit odd. Hear us out. 24/7 pressure on a sole topic isn't healthy for anybody, and you need to give your noggin' a small break by focusing on something other than exams. To reiterate, we're not promoting day trips to theme parks the day before an exam.

5. Talk to everyone around you.

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Classmates, lecturers, friends and family will all be happy to listen. Whether it's needing them to quiz you, needing advice on structuring responses, ideas on revision methods. If you need help with coping with stress, or if anything else is on your mind, potter to your Student Union Advice Centre and they'll happily support you during the exam season and beyond as you require.

6. Family time.

Catching up with family members can be a great use of down time. They'll keep you in perspective, offer appropriate advice and be a friendly ear outside of your University life. Even better, if any of them have been to University they may have useful tips with hindsight. If you have any little eggs in the tree, spend some time joining in their games and playfulness. Sitting down to a few hours revision isn't so bad after a morning of pretending to be a Pirate King with your 6 year old cousin.

7. Don't beat yourself up.

Nobody is perfect and scores 90% on their assignments all the time. It's okay to make mistakes, it's okay to have given to peer pressure and gone out instead of revising. It's what you do afterward that counts, and negativity gets you nowhere. So keep the chin up and keep trucking- you will get there.

8. Breathe fresh air.

We live in a stunning area. Not only do we have miles of beautiful beach, but Christchurch and the New Forest are a stone throw away. Walk pier to pier, don't underestimate the value of fresh air. Besides, the arcade for ten minutes could also help keep you in good spirits. All in the name of wellbeing for revision, right?

9. Work up a sweat.

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Nobody's expecting you to do marathon training. But next time you're in the house alone (or not alone, your call) crank your speakers up and dance like nobody is watching. So much so that it's more flailing off-beat than dancing. Take a free taster kickboxing session. Instead of screaming into your pillow, take out the pent up frustration on a karate class. You'll thank you afterward.

10. Go back to basics.

Drink water. Eat healthily. And by healthily, we mean that pizza leftovers for breakfast may not be the wisest of decisions on a daily basis. Fresh fruit, vegetables and meats are affordable on any budget and do you the world of good… sorry to sound like a parental figure, but they really are speaking sense you know. Simmer down the caffeine and alcohol for a couple of weeks, keep in a routine. Sleeping during the day and working through the night is scientifically proven to be counter productive.

11. Try the 'time management' thing.

Set your exam dates down and work backwards with a revision plan. Keep things manageable and take into account what else is happening in your world. Failing to plan is planning to fail, as lecturers often remind us. (They have a point.)

12. Have confidence.

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YOU GOT THIS.