Pulling all-nighters to get your sociology essay in, or cramming for tomorrow’s psych exam does not have to be the route to that coveted high-distinction. Rather than pushing harder, try working smarter! Check out my strategies for being well-rested and primed to tackle the next half of this session:
- Flip it. Rather than slog on at 11.30pm when your body is screaming for sleep, give yourself a cut-off point, say 10pm, and CLOSE your laptop.
Instead, get up early when you are more refreshed and better able to concentrate.
You will get more done in a shorter amount of time to boot. - Take back nap-time. A short energy boosting nap of 20 minutes or less can help you reset for an afternoon of study.
Turbo-charge this hack by drinking a coffee before you doze off and you will wake up better able to tackle that pesky reference list. - Take breaks. Like actual breaks, NOT checking social media breaks.
Put down the tech and give your mind a rest.
A walk around campus, a few stretches or even closing your eyes and listening to a favourite piece of music can help revive you.
Breaks give your mind space to consolidate information and come up with new ideas. - Meditate. Deep meditation has been proven to have similar impacts on the body as sleep.
Improve your focus by taking a couple of mediation breaks per day.
Find a guided meditation on YouTube and set a reminder on your phone.
Regular meditation can also help you feel calm, centred and focused prior to that big exam. - Schedule a day off. This can be hard to do with a full study load, work, social and family commitments, but blocking out a whole day on a regular basis will prevent you from burning out.
Focus on activities that are restorative, nourishing and restful.
Think: sleep-in, a great book, big pot of soup, naps and maybe a yoga class!
Figure out what really replenishes you and book yourself a day of unapologetic self-care.
