A GUIDE TO GETTING THROUGH EXAMS

We’re heading into the stressful period of swot vac and exams. To help you get through it, I offer the following advice:

Support Networks

Friends

If a friend messages or calls during this time, don’t answer.

If you run into a friend they will probably be a law student because you will be in the library. Make sure to tell them about how much work you are doing but how you are still very stressed. Don’t ask them how they are doing because their answer might psych you out.

Family

Depending on your relationship, family can be the perfect object on which to unload your general unhappiness. Communicate with family members passive-aggressively or aggressive-aggressively.

Lovers

Being mean to someone can be a good way of easing stress. Boyfriends and girlfriends are a good target. If they are not a law student, it’s important to tell them that they don’t understand what you’re going through. If they don't react well to your behaviour, just remember: if they can’t handle you at your worst they don’t deserve you at your best.

Time Management

Design a study schedule that is gruelling and almost unachievable. Consult it frequently and especially when you’re distressed to see how far behind you are with your study.

Food

You might lose your appetite if you are really anxious. This is good, it means that you won’t get distracted by food and will lose weight.

If you don’t lose your appetite, just eat whatever food is closest in proximity. This might be something from a vending machine, that’s fine.

If you’re at home you might want to consider buying some loaves of bread and eating lots of toast which can be any type of meal or snack depending on what you put on it.

Make sure to get enough sugar and caffeine.

Quick tip- cooking is a waste of time.

Exercise

Can wait till after exams.

Sleep

Similar to exercise but you might need to do it a bit. If you are too jacked up to sleep, get some sleeping pills.

Having breaks

People say that you should have breaks because your brain can’t concentrate for long, continuous periods. However, there is absolutely no scientific evidence to support this.

Good luck everyone, and work hard! As they say in the US Marines Corps, 'nobody ever drowned in their own sweat’.

Sophie Charles is a second-year JD student.