Your Brain

Caffeine pills.

• Not worth it!
  
• You’ll probably get it done, but you won’t get a good mark.
  
• Don’t drink five Red Bull before you need to go to bed, because you’ll stay up late, but you won’t be able to get to sleep.
  
• It’s harder to concentrate because you get the sugar high (stick with coffee).
  
• If you’re tired you’re not going to absorb it anyway. Take a nap.

Finding the Balance.

• If all you do is play hard, you are going to find that you end up stressed out, because you are not doing well in your courses.
• Look at your schedule and figure out how long you need to study for tests or papers and look at what is coming up in your social calendar.
  
• Hang with people who are doing the same stuff as you are so that you have the same type of schedule [test and papers due] and are not with people who want to do stuff when you can’t and vice versa.
  
• There is always someone going out, so there will be another chance after you get what you need done to go out.
  
• Work hard, study hard and play hard. It is all about the balance of the three.
  
• It’s hard to say “No” but you need to learn to do it.

Stress management 101.

• Just the right amount of stress will motivate you to study or work harder.
  
• Pace your self and take breaks.
  
• Try to get things done early in the day so you can relax later.
  
• Physical activity helps. Hit the rock climbing wall, the Pilates or yoga class, or join an intramural sports team to relieve stress.
  
• Know when you are going to be productive and use that time to your advantage.
  
• Take time for yourself. Do things you enjoy doing — read for pleasure, go for walks, meet friends for coffee, etc.
  
• Make a schedule. It will save you so much stress if you write things down.

Keeping on top of things.

• Go to class.
  
• Use the four month calendar that they give you and write down the due dates from your syllabus.
  
• Get things done before there is an opportunity to go out.
  
• Prioritize. Look at what’s more important (worth more) and do that one first.
  
• Agendas are the best tool you will ever have.
  
• Big whiteboard calendars are great too.

Concentrating amongst distractions.

• Get away from the noise and everyone, so you can be alone.
  
• Find yourself a space to study where all you do is study.
  
• Turn off your MSN and Facebook when you want to study. In fact get away from the computer if you don’t need it. Chances are you don’t.
  
• Go to the library, there are lots of great study places there where you won’t be disturbed.
  
• Wear a set of headphones, even if you have nothing playing in them, so people can see that you are in the zone, and that you are off-limits.