1. Breathe.

I never realized how important it was to just take a minute to breathe and relax than I did when I came to college. In high school, the testing is status quo. That does not take away from difficulty however for collegiate testing, every single professor tests so drastically differently. Also, in college professors do not care about the other classes you are taking. They do not care if you have 4 other tests or projects, they just load you with the work they feel you need to complete to master the course material. And believe me, it adds up. The most important thing is to sit back, and breathe.

2. Do not procrastinate

Throughout high school there was not a moment that I did not procrastinate. I nearly always waited until the last minute, despite sometimes where I felt the need to be proactive and get my work done. However, in college, that will not work. I still do procrastinate but not nearly to the extent I used to. The more time you spend studying or on a project, the grade will reflect that extra time.

3. Take time to eat

This may seem like a “duh” moment, however it really isn’t. When you are in the library or hunched over a desk for hours, the time passes extremely quick and you end up missing meals in the process. Yet your body needs fuel and you will not be able to keep pushing through the hours without something to fuel your body. Plus, eating something delicious always makes me feel a little bit more energized because who doesn’t love food.

4. Sleep!

For me to be saying this, it is quite hypocritical. I am the girl who can pull all-nighter after all-nighter and still keep kicking, however I can admit that getting sleep the night before a final exam is so much better than staying up all hours. Yes, sometimes it’s necessary to lose a little bit of sleep but if possible, put your head on the pillow because no one can think 100% clearly in a test without an ounce of sleep for days.