Study Time Exams are Coming Soon!!!

Top 5 Tips

1. Good organisation is the key to being a successful student. Plan your tasks using a study timetable, daily planners and to-do lists. 

2. Creating SMART goals (Specific, Measured, Achievable, Realistic, Timely) will propel you forward with purpose and show you the way to reach your desired results in the Leaving Certificate.

3. Identifying and breaking down common study blocks, such as practical problems with a part-time job or feelings of self-doubt and anxiety, can be the key to unlocking excellent results.

4. The five steps to quick and clever note-taking are to listen actively, select the relevant information, summarise it, organise it logically and ensure that it is easy to understand when revising.

5. Work out if you are an auditory, a visual or a tactile learner. Then use the appropriate memory techniques – idea mapping, flashcards, acronyms, acrostics and so on – to make sure you are not wasting study time. This will greatly improve your information recall come exam day.

Essential Items of Stationery for Studying and Also to bring to Exams 

Pens

Note that we have written pens, not just pen. The last thing you want is to run out of ink during your study and have no other pens to hand. This will also break your flow and concentration.  It’s worth getting yourself a pen you are familiar with too. It sounds slightly temperamental, but using a comfortable pen for hours on end can really make the difference .

Pencil

Classic wooden pencils are just fine for studying. You will usually need pencils during exams as you may want to change your mind on questions you may not be sure about. You should also ensure that they are all sharpened beforehand to avoid fiddling with sharpeners and pencil shavings during the exam.

You may also want to bring some colored pencils with you in case you need them, such as for geography exams. If you’re allowed to take notes in your exam, colours are a fantastic way of memory association too.

Eraser

Bringing in an eraser is always a good idea in case you need to make any changes to your answers, especially in multiple choice exams and exams that require additional workings (like maths and physics). Be sure to take any wrapping off beforehand

Small Sharpener

Buy a good quality sharpener, such as a metal one. These are cheap, easy to find and you won’t have to worry about them breaking like with plastic ones. 

Ruler

Many exams will require the use a ruler, such as maths, physics and geography. Choose a sturdy or bendy ruler that won’t run the risk of snapping. 

Highlighter

Highlighters can come in handy, especially in highlighting important notes and in English  exams where you may need to read long pieces of text. You can highlight anything you feel will be relevant when answering the questions at the end. 

Maths Set

You will usually be asked to bring in a geometry set with you if you are taking a maths or physics exam. This includes a compass and protractor, so be sure you have them with you. 

Calculator

Usually, a scientific calculator will be sufficient. 

Bottle of Water

Finally, you should bring a bottle of water with you to the exam. 

Now that you have all of your essential stationary items for your exams, you should be ready to give your study and the exams your best shot.

Best of luck everyone!

15 Things Successful People Do On Monday Mornings

Here are 15 things successful people do on Monday mornings:

They wake up early and exercise. This gets your circulation going and helps you stay alert, putting you at an advantage for a productive week ahead. “You’ll get your endorphin rush, which will help your mood, too,” .

Eat a healthy breakfast. On Monday morning, you want to handle everything you have control over. Eating breakfast is one of those things. “You don’t want to be staring at the clock, awaiting lunch time as your stomach growls at morning meetings,” 

They arrive early. Do not succumb to the snooze button. “Commutes are bad on Monday, so beat the odds,” . Getting in earlier than others will help make Monday morning seem more like the afternoon because you’ll have had a chance to breathe before responding to the barrage of people and issues. “Being an early bird will give you some wiggle room for the unexpected at work, not to mention any important personal matters that may arise,” 

They clear their desk and desktop. “Hopefully you already did this before you left on Friday. But if you didn’t, get this out of the way, or you might add to Monday stresses in a sea of disorganization,”. Organise and prioritize your files. Put aside unimportant paperwork and keep critical files easily accessible. You want to be prepared when you, your boss, or colleagues need something at the last minute.

They carve out time for unexpected projects and tasks. Successful individuals expect the unexpected on Monday. “Your boss, team members, or staff may have remembered some loose ends over the weekend, so you’re wise to build in some extra down time on Monday morning.”

They greet their team and boss. This is important to do first thing every morning to keep morale high, but on Monday it’s particularly valuable, as your team needs a special boost. “Ideally, you’ll spend an few extra minutes with your colleagues on Monday mornings. It reinforces a sense of purpose and community for everyone, including you."

They update their to-do list and goals. “Get yourself current on priorities and tasks." Then set five to eight goals for the week.

“Accomplished professionals have several goals in mind for the day and week. They know that if all goals aren’t achieved, they can take pride in accomplishing most of them, and there’s next week to achieve additional objectives.”

They visualize the week’s successes. By envisioning the positive outcomes of various projects at hand, you can work backward and determine the necessary steps to get your desired results.

They screen emails for urgent requests. You can sink into email oblivion if you don’t scan your inbox for urgency. “Star emails that are priorities and think quality, not quantity.”

They tackle the tough challenges first. The least desirable but critical projects are easy to put off, but your energy is stronger in the morning, so that’s the ideal time to confront the most difficult assignments.

They make an extra effort to smile. “It might be the last thing on your mind, but overcompensating for the pressure cooker morning will help you get through it." You may well stand out in the crowd, but your smile will likely be contagious, helping both you and team members relax.

They add a “blanket of humanity” to their emails. It’s tempting to power through all your emails in the most efficient way on Monday mornings. But before you hit send, read them over to ensure that they’re friendly and clear. “Put yourself in the recipient’s shoes. It’s relatively easy to appear curt when you’re in a hurry, along with the impersonal nature of emails and texts. You want to mitigate false starts and misinterpretations." One way to do this: Start the email by saying "Hi" and "I hope you had a great weekend."

They’re able to say no. “On Monday mornings there will be many distractions — from people, to emails, to calls, meetings, offers for meeting in the break room, and so forth." “Successful people can diplomatically and politely say no to colleagues by offering to engage at a later time.”

If your boss needs you, that is clearly an exception. However, if you have crucial calls to make or meetings to attend, give your boss the heads-up. “It’s stressful to be a people pleaser, particularly on Monday mornings. Generally, no one ends up being pleased, as you can’t do your best work with conflicting priorities.”

They stay focused. Successful people don’t dwell on any challenging events that occurred over the weekend, or other frivolous thoughts. “Compartmentalize by putting them in a separate ‘box’ as you start your week,” she says.

They remember that there is Tuesday. “In all the chaos it’s easy to believe that the world will cave if you don’t solve all Monday’s problems on Monday. But when the dust settles at the end of the day, you may realize that certain tasks could have waited.” Sometimes you obtain more information over time that enhances your decision-making. Or you may find that certain problems you’re pondering will resolve themselves.

Monday morning can challenge even the most industrious, successful business leaders. “But if you compensate for all the anticipated distraction and intensity by remembering to focus, plan, and stay calm, you won’t relive Monday all over again on Tuesday."