Sleep can be hard to resist when you’re feeling tired, but it’s a good idea to avoid sleep while writing exams. This is because you might write nonsense in your exam, which will result in poor grades. So to help you avoid sleep, we put up this blog post that offers tips on how to avoid sleep while writing an exam.
How to avoid sleep while writing an exam
1. During the exam period, avoid eating foods high in sugar.
Consuming foods high in sugar should be limited during exam time. According to research, the breakdown of such foods produces a lot of alcohol, which causes sleepiness, and if this is the case, you will fall asleep at any time, even when writing your examinations. A minimal quantity of sugar consumption is therefore advised by avoiding huge amounts of tea, fruit, or sugar.
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2. Get plenty of sleep.
Exam night is usually the most hectic night of the school year because most students tend to read all through the night, not realizing that this will only increase stress, which will have a negative impact on their physical well-being. No matter how much you study at night before exams, make sure to get enough rest; 6 to 7 hours is recommended in order for your brain to function properly.
3. Optimize your anxiety.
Most students fall asleep during exams when they are anxious; it is natural to be anxious before exams; almost everyone is guilty of this, but it should not be at an optimum level. And if it is really difficult to get over this, learn to see exams as normal moments but ensure you prepare because that anxiety can lead to the brain building up a defense mechanism and eventually shutting down its function, which means going to sleep.
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4. Be careful with the amount of caffeine you take
There is no better way to stay awake during the exam period than with some caffeine. Though caffeine is recommended, too much of it can cause drowsiness, so limit yourself to 400mg per day, and when it gets really late at night, it should not be taken at all because taking caffeine 6 to 7 hours before bedtime tends to disrupt your sleep due to the powerful element (Nicotine) that is present in it.
5. Get some exercise every day.
Over the years, daily exercise has consistently been shown to improve sleep quality, no matter how little. Even a brisk walk around campus is healthy enough for you, no matter how little. Just make the most of your workout by doing it soon after waking up.
It helps to realign your circadian rhythms and get a night of quality sleep with the extra energy boost that comes from it. Getting daily exercise will allow you to sleep well at night, consequently allowing you to write your exams without falling asleep.
READ ALSO: 11 Ways on how to not feel sleepy in class
6. Limit your phone use after studying at night.
Because social media has made it impossible to do any task without being distracted, every student should restrict their phone use, especially during test and exam periods. The reality remains that the amount of light emitted by your phone will simply fool you into staying up beyond your bedtime. During your test time, be sure to switch off your phone at least 40 to 60 minutes before going to bed, and instead, read a book or listen to music.
7. The general approach
Everything depends on obtaining a good night’s sleep to effectively write your exams without the interruption of sleep, but how can you successfully have a good night’s sleep when your examinations are in the morning? We recommend that you always begin your studies on time so that when exam time comes, you will not trade your sleep for all-night study.
Most students make the mistake of studying for long hours the night before exams, which will do them no good but to sleep during exam time, study early, believe in yourself, keep your books aside after a light study, and with good music, you can get off those stress and take a good night sleep a night before an exam, do well not to worry about those topics you are still having issues with, as this will only drain the precious time you need to rest. And you’ll notice how relaxed and prepared you are for the day when you wake up in the morning.