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Even if you have been keeping up with class assignments; when it is time for finals, you have to put in extra time studying to get the grades you need. The problem is that after a while, all the words and facts seem to melt together and become meaningless and you have reached "study burnout".

Here are some tips I found helpful in preventing this from happening:

1) If you don't already have a study group, find someone you can study with. Human interaction can be a major blessing as long as all of you concentrate on the subject.

2) Taking breaks - Set a timer or an alarm to go off after 2 hours. Put it someplace you cannot see it; but, will hear it when it goes off. This prevents clockwatching, which can be a real time waster; but, you know if you keep working you will get a break.

When it is time for a break. Get up, move around, use the bathroom, get some food, take a shower, or take a walk; but, limit your break to no more than 30 minutes.

3) Change subjects - don't study one subject straight through. After your break, switch gears and study a different subject for a while. This lets your brain work on something else for a while so things are less likely to start to "melt together".

4) Sleep - you really do need it. During sleep your brain takes what you have been studying and organizes it for better retrieval. You can reduce your need for sleep with "energy drinks" and "no doze"; but, these can cause a major energy drop and some people forget everything they were studying when they use these.

A better alternative is self-hypnosis. You can buy a self-hypnosis CD on-line for just a few dollars. Stress relief, better concentration, and improve study habits are all great titles for this. In addition to the main subject, each 30 - 40 minute tape makes you feel refreshed and less tired. No chemicals; but, in less than an hour you feel like you got a good nights sleep. This will give you more study time for a day or two; but, your brain does still need sleep to get things properly organized.

4 - 5 hours of sleep a day and regular use of the self-hypnosis CD will get you through a couple of weeks, if necessary.

5) Using different types of study techniques - listening to recorded lectures, reading notes, question and answer sessions, etc. Varying the way you study during a study session can also help keep you alert and learning; instead, of heading for a burnout.

Try some of these methods and you should survive finals week without "crashing and burning".

Learn more about this author, Ginger Kazay.
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