A slackers guide to exam prep

Relieving stress around exam can be a tough thing to accomplish --with eight page paper due Wednesday and two exams on Friday, it's hard to find time to sleep or even eat. But there is hope. Here are a few things that can help you stay sane during exams: The No. 1 thing is to prepare for your test days before the actual exam. Doing so will give you more confidence and make it easier to study the night before. If No. 1 isn't your style and you like to cram the night before, then No. 2 might be a better choice. Spend the week before the exam hanging out with friends and completely ignoring the test coming up. Play video games, eat cheese puffs etc. Then the night before the exam, pop in a few Red Bulls and peanut chews and set sail for an hour or two of straight studying-that is, before you crash. Maybe you should have tried one of those power energy shots, but it's too late now for you to run to the store and you don't have the energy. What is a slacking student to do? Well, if you wait until the night before the exam, this is likely to happen. So plan ahead get the right supplements and snacks. No. 2 is the most stressful option, but it limits the stress to one all-night cram session. So you have been studying for three hours now and you feel that if you read one more article or complete another round of note cards your face will melt like the Nazi from Raiders of the Lost Ark. It's probably time for a break. Make it at least 30 minutes, because if you go beyond that you are likely to give up for the night. Stop, breathe, get some caffeine and glue your eyeballs to those dreaded note cards. Music is another thing that can relieve the stress. While on your break, pop those buds in your ear and listen to that playlist titled, "I waited until the last minute to study yet I still had time to make a playlist." Listen to a few tracks and relax and try to let the information sink in without thinking too heavily about the material. Now you are ready to spend another two hours before repeating your break. If you are pulling an all-nighter, the best thing to do is to bring a pillow and blanket to the library and during your breaks take a snooze in a study room or couch in Joyner. Happy testing.

This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.