1. Set goals for each day, but always give yourself more time than you think you need. You might get stuck, which will take more time than you had initially intended, which will obviously lead to stress. Stressing yourself out for no reason will make studying less efficient.

• When you’re tired, stop. DO NOT STUDY ANYMORE/TAKE A BREAK. This can mean either physically or mentally tired. Your health comes first. It’s also much better to rest for 2-3 hours than waste the entirety of the next day lying sick in bed. I usually stop studying at 7:30 pm, but if I’m tired I do something light like printing out past papers.

• Again, take breaks. How you do this is totally up to you, but it has to be efficient. It takes some time to figure out the perfect schedule and length of breaks, so don’t panic when it doesn’t work the first time. For days of intense studying, I can fit 7.5 to 8 hours of efficient and productive studying in the whole day, still saving enough time for meals, some light cardio and 9 hours of sleep.

• During your breaks, do not do something intense. The whole point of breaks is giving your brain enough time to rest and properly process the information you have just studied. I recommend listening to some calm music (with or without lyrics; that’s up to you) or maybe cleaning your room/desk area, or even going for a walk outside. I do NOT recommend watching Netflix or anything visual (even social media, especially social media), or listening to loud music.

• Find time for things you love. This might seem a little absurd, but Not Going Insane is pretty important during exams. Doing the things you love and make you happy is so important for your mental well-being. A healthy mind will also help you study better. Don’t actively indulge yourself so much that it’s all you think about, and don’t take on any more large projects. You can do this during “longer” breaks or for unwinding.