As the temperature continues to drop and nighttime falls far too early, all anyone can talk about are exams looming around the corner. Maybe it’s the elevated stress of not having taken a proper exam in almost three years that’s causing me to disassociate during study sessions, but my mind keeps floating away from term papers and review notes to gondola rides and ancient monuments.
I spent the summer backpacking through Europe with my best friend. We visited 15 cities in 12 different countries (13 if you count Vatican City). From eating gelato every night in Italy to exploring the oldest castle in Austria, needless to say, I had the time of my life.
But the trip wasn’t always easy. My luggage got lost somewhere between Portugal and Italy, we almost got locked inside of a school in Barcelona, we got kicked out of our hostel in Lisbon, and our journey from Prague to Luxembourg turned into a 14-hour trip thanks to some lovely train delays in Germany.
However, I’m grateful for all of the troubles and turbulence (no pun intended). For one thing, they make for quite an entertaining story for anybody who will listen. But most importantly, I learned a lot of valuable lessons while travelling that are applicable to every university student’s current situation.
Here are some tips and tricks for surviving exam season that I learned while backpacking through Europe:
1. Be prepared… For everything
If travelling for two months has taught me something, it’s a good lesson in being ready for anything the world can throw at you. I was not ready to fill out multiple baggage loss forms, get pooped on by a pigeon, or walk up 360 steps of stairs in a forest during the middle of the night to find a hostel.
I’ve learned that preparation when travelling is everything, from packing well to expecting the unexpected. This translates to exam prep too! It’s always useful to start studying in advance to be as prepared as possible. This way, you will be ready for any curveball that may pop up on an exam.
2. Take breaks
We visited museums, monuments, and shopping districts most days for up to 12 hours, changing cities every three days. Taking breaks became a necessity to prevent travel burnout. Every now and then, we tried to find a quiet park to sit down and relax; my personal favourite was the Englischer Garden in Munich, where we watched river surfers for four hours on a sunny afternoon.
You have to give yourself a rest between studying for exams, so you don’t experience burnout either. Studies have shown that taking breaks will improve your memory, reduce stress, and ultimately be more effective than working non-stop for a long period of time. Whether it be getting some fresh air or reading a book, self-care is critical during this stressful time of year.
3. Remember to eat and sleep well
Of course, one of my favourite things about the trip was the food. I have yet to taste a noodle dish as savoury as the truffle pasta we shared on our first night in Rome, fries will never be the same as the ones from Bruges, and I’m still hesitant to try souvlaki from anywhere that isn’t Santorini.
We ate extremely well throughout our entire trip, and we definitely needed it after long travel days, or all that time spent out in the heat. Studying for and taking exams is mentally draining. You have to make sure you’re eating well to keep your mind and body functioning. This also goes for getting enough sleep and drinking plenty of water.
4. Stay ahead to avoid stress
Undoubtedly, one of the most stressful aspects leading up to our trip was sorting out our train trips. We purchased Eurail passes, but we didn’t know that you had to reserve your seats 90 days in advance. We had to spend an additional $1000 on more plane rides because we couldn’t get a spot on the trains in time. This could have been avoided if we had planned ahead with booking seat reservations, instead of waiting until the last minute.
Staying on top of your tasks is a great strategy to lessen your stress levels! Write your term papers a bit in advance instead of close to when they’re due. This way, you’re not rushing to meet a deadline, and you’ll have more time to polish your work. Of course, we’re only human and there’s only so far you can get ahead. So try not to procrastinate, but don’t work too hard at the expense of your mental health.
5. Develop a plan that works best for you
While being prepared is the best strategy for buying plane tickets and planning your route, we took a more spontaneous approach to our day-to-day excursions. We usually planned where to go the morning of, and tried to be pretty casual about our adventures. In France, for example, we decided on a whim to visit Le Marais, a neighbourhood that happened to be nearby. And thank god we did, because the quaint and friendly town was one of my favourite corners of Paris.
Some people like to have a detailed agenda when travelling. However, our lack of a day-to-day itinerary worked best for us. When preparing for exams, you have to pick a study method that works best for you. I like to hide in the library and type out a OneNote document with all of my notes for an entire course. However, my friends prefer group studying so they can quiz each other. Whether it be making flashcards or re-reading textbook passages, the most effective study technique will be the one that’s most efficient for you.
I’d much rather be spending my days traipsing through the cobblestone streets of Amsterdam, where the biggest stress of my day was figuring out what restaurant to eat at for dinner (they all looked so good!). Nonetheless, I do feel that my backpacking trip has prepared me for the up and coming exam season. With these tips and tricks, I hope that you can feel ready as well.