Your Brain

How do you balance Studying and Partying?

• The ones you see at the bar every night aren’t the ones getting A’s in all their classes.
• You’re here to study, everything else is secondary.
• Designate certain nights for partying and more for studying.
• Keep everything in moderation.
• You need to have fun too because you’ll go crazy if all you do is study.
• Don’t just follow other people if they’re going out drinking every night.
• It’s hard to say “No” but you need to learn to do it.

Do caffeine pills or energy drinks help you study?

• Not worth it.
• You’ll probably get it done, but you won’t get a good mark.
• Don’t drink five 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 a sugar high (stick with coffee).
• If you’re tired you’re not going to absorb it anyway. Take a nap.

How does alcohol impair your judgement?

• It distorts your perception and your behaviour.
• It affects your judgement faster than you can even believe.
• People often do things they truly regret the next day.
• Running into people at meal hall the next day is not cool.
• Drunk dial — don’t do it.
• DFM — Dance Floor Make out. Another side effect.
• You tend to say things you’re thinking out loud and think it’s a really good idea.

Dealing with stress.

• Just the right amount of stress will motivate you to study or work harder.
• Make a schedule. It will save you so much stress if you write things down.
• You can always ask profs for an extension (do it two weeks before, not the night before).
• Take breaks. Do things you enjoy doing.
• Physical activity breaks things up well.
• Yoga. Meditation.
• Try not to worry about the small things that consume you.

Concentrating amongst all the distractions.

• Find yourself a study space where all you do is study.
• You have to set down times where you do work and nothing else.
• Try not to procrastinate — Facebook, MSN, meal hall — avoid these if you want to do some work.
• Go to the library or an empty classroom.
• Bundle up for exams, because it’s always freezing.

How do you Keep on top of things?

• You have to learn to manage your time well.
• 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.
• Don’t stay up all night working on an assignment.
• Go to class.
• Try not to procrastinate.