10 Ways to Survive the School Year

Now that school is well and truly underway for most Mibbians, the stress and panic that comes with impending exams, deadlines, and a general sense of disorganisation may be rapidly descending. No need to fret, though! There are a few simple tips that can help you prepare for the remainder of the school year and keep you as stress-free as possible in some of the most important years of your life!

1. Buy a Whiteboard

Whiteboards can be a saving grace for us disorganised members of the population. In most areas, small whiteboards will be relatively cheap and as long as you have a dry-wipe marker and a place to hang it in your room, you can note everything and anything you need to do in somewhere that you’ll definitely see it!

2. Do Homework as Soon as You Get It

Everyone hates homework. It’s a fact of life that bringing your work home with you is heartbreaking. Despite your dismay, the easiest way to keep on top of homework and coursework tasks that you need to do at home is to do them as soon as you get them. Sure, spending the remainder of the afternoon playing Xbox sounds more fun, but getting your homework done the second you get in the house after a school day means your mind will still be in that working zone and you’re less likely to put it off until the night before everything is due in!

3. Study Throughout the Year

Much like homework, no one likes to talk (never mind think!) about exams. They pile on added stress and reduce students to tears almost every single year. However, you can get a head start on everyone by studying throughout the year and not just cramming everything in the night before! Not only does this mean you’re going to have less to do when the stress of exams finally comes crashing around your ears, but it will allow you to discern what topics you need more help on before you go into the exam itself!

4. Ask if You’re Unsure

There seems to be a stigma attached to asking for help because it apparently makes you look stupid. That is 100% not the case! If you don’t understand something, then ask the teacher, lecturer, or professor! You don’t have to do it in class if you feel uncomfortable with the idea of asking in front of your peers – you can always wait until after class or send off an email. Most, if not all, teachers will respect you for asking and will endeavour to do their best to help you out!

5. Take Advantage of Study Groups

Again, there seems to be a stigma associated with study groups and after-school classes. Contrary to popular belief, going to these classes does not make you a dork or a geek. It gives you a chance to discuss potential problem areas with other students who may have a better understanding of the subject that you’re unsure about. Many teachers will also put on their own classes after-school where you can ask questions and take the time to get one-on-one tutorials regarding the subjects you don’t get. These can be invaluable experiences when it comes to final exams!

6. Organise Your Time Effectively

One of my biggest problems at school was organising my time effectively. I would use free periods to play cards and then spend hours after-school struggling with work that I could have done in the library with the help right there. Not doing your work when you have the time just leads to last-minute panic and more stress overall. However, organising your time will help avoid those periods of panic! If you can, set up a small timetable for studying certain subjects after school and utilise any free time you have in school (aside from your lunch break, of course!) to get help with anything you don’t understand or to catch up on anything you might have missed.

7. Find What Studying Method Suits You

Just as we all have different personalities, the study methods that work for us all differ. Personally, I’m an auditory learner – I learn things mostly through being talked to about the subject at hand. Some people find it easier to study through visual aids and some prefer to just read books. Try all of these methods out and when you find one that works for you, stick to it! Studying should be easy for you, so don’t make it any more difficult by using a method that doesn’t work for you!

8. Read Books

Many teachers, lecturers and professors will recommend books on the subject they teach you. It’s a good idea to either get these on loan from your school or local library or buy them as they can be invaluable to understanding whatever it is you’re studying. A teacher won’t recommend you something they think is useless and as they teach the course, it’s a good idea to listen to them when they recommend anything!

9. Organise Your Work

Messy school work is a distraction and can cause problems when you try and find a specific series of notes. Organising your notes and any other important class materials into a ring-binder is an easy way to keep yourself tidy and allow for simple searching for any notes you may need. A small thing, but something that can alleviate stress in an instant!

10. Relax Every Now and Again!

They say your school years are the best of your life, so don’t let them fly by whilst you lock yourself up in your room and study until your brain aches! Take regular breaks from studying, make friends and do what you want to do. After school finishes, you’ll likely end up tied down to a job that won’t let you have as much you time, so take the time now to get all of the things you want to do out of the way. Having fun isn’t a crime and with all of the studying, homework and tedious classes you’re bound to come across in the next year, you deserve it!

Special thanks to silent hearts. and Fandango for editing!