1. Call home
Call home to discuss plans for the break or simply to update your loved ones on how you’re about to ace every final. You may prioritize staring at a book for hours, but that occasional call to your parents or siblings may be the perfect midday pick-me-up you never knew you needed.
2. Have an existential crisis, and wonder the true meaning of life
My personal favorite: Instead of memorizing Bernoulli’s equation or tracking the Kondratieff wave for the past three centuries, attempt to solve the question that has been haunting humanity forever: What is the true meaning of life? Be warned: this tip may not be as efficient as the others, hence use this as a last resort.
3. Find your song
Rap, pop, country, classical, or whatever you like to listen to, music will make studying a little more bearable, and you might be able to squeeze a dance party break in the mix.
4. Buy caffeine
The Greer and the Koch café report that coffee consumption triples during finals weeks. Let’s try, to quadruple that number. Essentially, during finals week, Deerfield Academy runs on Acrylamide, caffeine, 2-ethylphenol, and quinic acid. (Dr. Thomas, notice me!) If coffee isn’t your thing, tea is always an option.
5. Converse about things unrelated to exams
Do not fall into the trap of taking a “break” from studying but then talking to your friends about your exam. Your conversations with friends should serve as a distraction from studying. Stay away from conversations about any exams!
6. Forget about calories
Exam feeds are worth missing fifteen minutes of grueling studying. Indulge yourself with pancakes, chicken tenders, and other snacks. If you’re lucky, you might get to hear Punisa Lekovic sing the U.S national anthem.
7. SLEEP
Do not pull an all-nighter! You will not be able to concentrate if you don’t ge any sleep the night before your exam. Studies have shown that sleep has proven to increase test-taking skills. Try to get at least eight hours a night. It will pay off!
Although you should always strive to do your best, a single exam is not going to make your break your life. Happy exam week and happy studying (but hopefully not too much)!