It’s that time of the year once again: midterms. Don’t we all wish we could instantaneously transform into some type of super genius like Bradley Cooper does in Limitless. After popping a few pills, he’s able to finish his novel, makes millions on the stock market and no longer needs sleep. Now doesn’t that sound appealing?
Unfortunately, the shelves at Student Health aren’t stocked with a pill to make us superhuman like Cooper; or to make us equally well-built, handsome, beautiful … you get the picture.
For midterm week, we pretty much have to rely on our personal willpower and self-discipline to conquer each exam. When you feel like you’re approaching the last straw, think of each test and paper as an opportunity to boast your intelligence to professors, prospective employers, and ultimately, to yourself.
How, you may ask? Well, forget about that stat saying humans only use 10-20% of our brain’s potential. According to University of Minnesota physics professor James Kakalios, we actually do use 100% of our brainpower every day (we’re just not sure exactly what we’re using it all on). It’s all there for a reason.
So stick to the following tips to amp up your brainpower to 100%.
Do: Sleep. Get a reasonable and consistent amount of sleep each night in order to clear your mental clutter. Everyone has different sleep requirements, so make sure that you fulfill yours. And that saying about getting your beauty sleep isn’t just a cliché. So get your solid 8 (or however many) hours the night before an exam and look fab while taking it!
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Don’t: Overload on stimulants. It may seem that Adderall, Ritalin and other stimulants maximize your productivity quickly, conveniently and without consequences. Using them casually can lead to terrible side effects and consequences such as addiction and psychosis; yet, the long-term effects of these specific drugs on people without A.D.D. or a prescription (which is illegal, by the way!) remain mostly unknown.
Do: Eat healthily. Your diet is critical. Your body needs to be nourished to function at its full capacity. We all know the essentials of a healthy diet, but if you’re looking for something new to try, snack on some almonds. The omega-3’s in nuts help keep stress hormones, such as cortisol, in check, says Bernadette Latson, R.D., a nutritionist in Dallas. And don’t forget breakfast! Oatmeal boosts the calming brain chemical serotonin, and oranges contain vitamin C, which is proven to counter stress hormones.
Don’t: Procrastinate. Sometimes the hardest part can be just getting started. Make a study schedule instead. Estimate about how much time it is going to take to complete each assignment, and realistically try to block out each day by the hour. Even schedule in eating and exercise times! It will help train your mind and reduce the stress of an exam as your mind already gets the routine. Having books out in front of you while checking Facebook, watching “The Bachelor,” or the new episode of “Gossip Girl” only extends the total time each task should take and diminishes the joy you get from those activities in the first place.
Do: Identify your study idiosyncrasies. What works best for you? Whether it’s chewing gum, listening to music or sitting under a certain tree, find a routine and stick to it. Listening to music, whether it’s Beyonce or Bach, is a great way to improve your mood, focus and brainpower because it’s proven to increase brain cell growth and repair. (Check out composers such as Alexandre Desplat, a personal fave!) Also, fun fact: the muscle tension that results from chewing gum can increase heart rate and alertness to stimulate the nervous system. Who knew?
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Do: Exercise. Exercise is a great way to break the monotony of studying while providing an outlet to reflect on what you are learning without being bombarded by facts. If you know that you are going to be studying for hours at a time, try to get a good, hard work-out in before starting your studies. Get up for breaks to stretch your legs, and get the blood flowing every hour or so!
Don’t: Turn on the TV. Watching television is a major agent in the rotting process of brain cells. It slows the brain cells and causes a decline in brain fitness. Watching Carrie and Miranda sip yet another Cosmo is not worth the loss.
Do:Phone home. According to Leslie J. Seltzer, Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, hearing the supportive, familiar voice of Mom (or your BFF!) incites the brain to release oxytocin, a stress-fighting, mood-elevating hormone.
Yet, the most important thing to remember is to BE POSITIVE! If you go into the exam thinking you are going to fail, most likely, you will. Having the right mind-set when confronting obstacles or challenges (e.g. a mid-term exam) in life is essential to success and personal growth.
Besides, the capabilities of your brain are truly limitless, especially without Bradley Cooper’s so-called smart pills … but we can still daydream of him during study breaks, can’t we?