1. Get good sleep. Your brain power is most affected by a lack of sleep. Poor and insufficient sleep impairs learning, memory, and attention.
https://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/benefit...
https://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/benefit...
1. All nighter is never worth it no matter how little material you think you know.
2. If you're semi confident in the exam, prioritize getting a full sleep over a little sleep.
3. If you're not confident in the exam, definitely still aim for at least 5-6 hours of sleep.
That's what I've noticed when it comes down to cram studying, otherwise my performance goes out the window.
They were smart, as people. But not sleeping whole night makes you dumb. And they inability to figure what was not memorized harmed their performance a lot.
Looks like the brain has stamina that will be depleted little by little when used, either during exam or studying.
Instead, I get a good book, or a movie I've been looking forward to, and I veg out and relax.
This always lead to a good night's sleep and a better exam result than if I'd stayed up late studying instead, hoping to learn just one more thing- that I would never remember due to lack of good sleep anyway.
I can't sleep well, trying to do everything in my power to make sure I get enough.
Whenever I'm well-rested for a week or so, I'm smart.
Whenever I'm ill-rested for a week or so, I'm only capable of basic functioning.
Not sure what it means though, but I would caution.
[1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BD0RT0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm...
Just a word of warning, I've experienced this becoming a bit of an obsession. I was losing sleep over not getting enough sleep. I'd bring the subject of sleep up in conversation a few times a week, making it almost part of my 'identity' that I was a bad sleeper, and I'm convinced this made it worse.
For anyone who thinks they might have the same problem, my unqualified anecdotal advice would be: Don't tell people you're a bad sleeper, even if you are. Generally don't talk about it too much. Do define some sensible rules (e.g. consistent wake-up time, no snooze, etc) and follow them blindly for a month - don't allow yourself to review or change these rules for at least a month, or you'll be thinking about sleep too often. If you have a sleep monitoring device, definitely don't look at the data more than once a month.
We recently bought a set and it has been a revelation. Darker, quieter room. Better sleep.
Instead of sleeping at 11/12pm and waking up at 6/7am, sleep at 9pm-ish and be up by 4:30am. It's usually still dark, it's extremely quiet and perfect for study!
Pro tip: a nap in the afternoon really recharges the batteries for another work session.