Yes! I know its that time of the year! So close to the holidays yet we all have to put off decorating the house and sipping hot chocolate till the exams are over. It is certainly a tough time and I am sure all you will get through it in a breeze and will start celebrating the holidays in no time! Here are some of my tips to make this time a little more bearable:

• MealPrep!!! (and Eat well)

I am a big supporter of meal prep. You don’t have to be a body builder to partake, and it saves heaps of time in the week when you normally have little to spare. I know it seems like an arduous task, but it’s importance in achieving your goals really can’t be underestimated. Knowing what to eat, how much to eat, when to eat and then preparing your meals is one of important aspects of achieving a healthy, balanced diet.

The key to getting ahead with meal prep is to have a few staple foods that you can batch-cook and use in a number of different ways. If you really don’t have the time, opt for tinned fish, salads, raw veggies (think carrot sticks, cucumber, avocado, tomatoes, capsicums), fruit and nuts, which take zero time to throw in a Tupperware.

Here are some simple meal prep ideas (courtesy of the-fit-foodie.com):

• double up your dinner and saving the rest for the following day
• roast a tray of your favourite veggies ready for salad additions
• choose raw or no-bake snacks such as almonds, fresh fruit and simple home-made protein balls
• make a large soup and freeze in portions
• grill or poach chicken breasts, allow to cool and store in the fridge
• buy pre-washed salad mixes

• Sleep well

Sleep is an active process where the brain works to heal the body by producing hormones beneficial for repair and growth. This is also the time for the brain to consolidate memories of what we studied and learned that day. Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (REM Sleep), which happens in the last part of the night, appears to be associated with learning and memory. This reinforces the mantra that you should be getting eight hours of shut-eye if you want the full benefits of sleep.

Here are some tips to sleep better during this period of time: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-robert-oexman/all-nighters_b_1501263.html

• Feel well

Of course! This is a no brainer, if you had been reading through my series of posts on mental health and all matters associated to it, you would know the importance of this! I can’t stress this enough guys! Make sure you feel well going into that exam hall; A clear and sharp mind is a very important advantage to do well in exams, that is often overlooked.

This often goes hand in hand with my previous point of sleeping well. I personally make it a point to get at least 8 hours of sleep before my exams to feel fresh. I know, it might seem like a waste of precious time when you could be cramming more facts and finishing writing up that one last lecture. But what would be the point of all that if you will not be fresh and alert during the exam!

• Do well!

This is yet another point that doesn’t need mentioning! Starting revision and working hard to remember and understand all the facts is definitely the most thing in an examination. Doing well does not always mean stressing yourself to be the best in the cohort (don’t get me wrong – it is good to aim high). Please do not feel like you will be letting someone down or that your whole life was dependent on getting that “A” in your examination. If you think that you didn’t do well for one paper, shake it off, and move onto the next paper. Do not let yourself be beat up for not doing well as expected in one paper! There are multiple ways to make up for that slip in the grades and reach out to your mentors or course mates to help you explore those options!

What else can I say, other than – Good Lucks guys!!