6 CONFIDENCE TIPS

In the midst of exam season, I find myself panicking at breakfast about what to eat and how it'll affect my mood and how that will then affect my performance in these numerous papers I have spread out over two months... Have you felt the same way? Probably not, as different people have different worries. While some can be good at speaking in front of a crowd but scared to the brink of death at the though of taking a test, others are the exact opposite. I am by all means no expert at confidence; these are just a few (quirky) tips I use to boost my self-esteem and make me enjoy all the things I do.

In general:
1. Get a mood booster.
Songs, poems, dance routines, jogging on the spot etc etc. These are like your personal key to the secret garden that is the confidence somewhere inside you. I like taking a break from whatever I'm doing and jump up and just do a tiny jig to cheer myself up (make sure you're alone or you'll find you tend to attract quite a lot of stares).

However, unlike actual keys, the more you utilize these, the less effective they become, so use sparingly! Good examples of confidence-boosting songs are:

 Stronger Kelly Clarkson Roar Katy Perry

2. Enough sleep.
It's important. I try to sleep as much as I can but end up with 6 hours every night.

I guess different people have different tiredness-tolerance levels (yes, it's a scientific term). For me, as long as I have enough energy to get through the day, I'm fine. Which brings me to food.

3. Good food.
Teens, whether you're male or female, this is not the time to be on fad skimpy diets. Treat your body properly; sleep isn't the only thing that removes that tired dead feeling from your legs, healthy meals are crucial too!

Eat enough carbohydrates, as they are the things that your mitochondria release energy from in the process of respiration. Eat enough proteins so that you can grow (yes, you keep growing till 20) and so that your cells can regenerate. Keep the snacks to a minimum, but don't cut them off entirely: everyone needs a pick me up in the afternoon! Healthy options are the best: apples, plain crackers, and dark chocolate are some of my go-tos.

Confidence in tests/exams:
3. Know your stuff.
Of course, when it's exam season, the best way to get the "Yes I know this!" feeling is to actually know your stuff. And strut it. There is simply no shortcut to hard work; the more effort you put into revising, the more time you spend trying to understand those boring paragraphs, the more likely something is finally going to go *click* in your brain.

The confidence comes automatically; if you know what you're doing, you'll believe you can do it!

4. Trust yourself.
When you encounter an extremely difficult question or perhaps a more tricky challenging task, believe in yourself. Tell yourself "Okay  (insert your name here) . We're going to do this okay? I'm giving you five minutes for this question. You know you can do it. Okay? Okay." Whilst it might seem weird that you're talking to yourself in an exam, I find it's beneficial to spend two seconds giving yourself a thumbs up before continuing.

The thing is, if you revised properly, you'll know how to finish the question. It's just a matter of self-esteem!

Confidence in public speaking:
5. Your audience is wearing silly top hats.
I'm a shy person at heart, but onstage in front of the masses, you just have to convince yourself that the audience don't know any better!

If you imagine them wearing silly hats (some people like imagining their audience naked but er...) you'll be laughing inside and that smile you've been trying to force out will just come naturally!

6. Wear your favourite underwear.
If all fails, give yourself an edge. Why not wear those comfy bright blue undies today? No one can see them anyway. If you find yourself shivering and stammering, just take a second to think about that secret weapon under all those layers of clothing, and this will give you an instant uplift to continue on!

Note: This trick only works if you never, ever, ever tell someone about it. I solemnly swear that I am up to no good ;)

Yup those were my 6 tips! As usual, not all of them apply to everyone. Hope you enjoyed this post! For studying tips, here's a little something that might interest you.

AGGIE'S GUIDE TO REVISION 2014

      For those of you taking iGCSEs like me and are about to tear your hair out in frustration at the amount of material in front of you, don't. You'll cause some serious damage to your scalp. The question I get asked most often, after "How do you concentrate in class?" is "How do you revise?"
      You don't.
      Let me explain. Somehow, in the minds of teenagers, revision = cramming. Your immediate response is "No, of course not!" but it's true. Given the amount of work we have, including extra-curriculars, we just don't have time to revise. So here's my tips for you, it's what I do and it has worked for me since Primary School. Remember that different people learn in different ways, so if you find this doesn't quite match your style, don't worry; send me an e-mail silverstudies42@gmail.com and I'll be happy to reply! (assuming I'm not busy revising)

7 TIPS

Tip #1
Concentrate in class!
Really, this one should be obvious. Why doodle and daydream when your teacher is actually implanting the material into your brain? Why "revise" afterwards when there is actually a set time everyday to do it? Teachers are best at what they do: teach. They're the ones who know the subject best and know how to present it well. Concentrate in class and I promise 50% of your "revision" is done. You'll be surprised how much your brain remembers afterwards, if you just stop getting distracted in class-time.

Tip #2
Write notes.
These can be in any form, from straight-forward copied sentences from textbooks or your own paraphrased material.
Feeling lazy? Write in bullet-points. If you're a visual learner like me, it's also helpful to draw small labelled diagrams to help your brain link graphics to concepts. A great thing about the brain is it has a "left side" and a "right side"; so when I make notes, I usually put text on the left and pictures on the right.

Tip #3
Organization.
Feeling like your notes are all over the place? I have this notebook for the three sciences. I arrange notes by subject, then topic, then subtopic. Write a clear heading at the top of each page so it's easier to read.

Tip #4
Schedules.
For me, I have one day of the week for each subject. This can be arranged any way you like, as long as you feel comfortable working this way. Once you've made your timetable, stick to it! Don't procrastinate, whatever you do. You'll end up stacking up your revision and resorting to that "cramming" the week before examinations.

Tip #5
Break up revision hours into sessions.
What I find most effective is 1-hour slots. Sit down, promise you won't touch any electronic gadgets (i.e. phone, ipod, laptop, tablet etc). Have your water cup in front of you and begin. Either make notes or read notes you have made. Once the hour is up (use a timer/clock instead of your phone for this), get up, stretch by walking around to shake off that dull feeling in your bottom-side. Look at faraway objects for a change, especially green ones as they help your eyes and brain relax. Listen to soothing music (classical for me) for 15 minutes.
Next? Sit down again, of course. Make sure your 15 minutes do not turn into hours of texting and snapchatting, as that really is a waste of time.

Tip #6
Drink water while revising.
Keeping yourself hydrated is very important! More than once have I felt dizzy or tired during revision hours. Water really helps.

Tip #7
Sharing is caring!
Feeling bored whilst revising? Why not revise with friends?
*WARNING* Choose friends who you know will not distract you from revision; and vice versa! Ask each other questions and compare notes, who knows, you might have missed something! The best place to study with friends is away from your room, as miraculously you'll find something else interesting to do. Go out into open air, such as a field or a park bench.

WHAT I NEVER DO WHEN REVISING

Below are what I like to call the 4 Failed Methods of Revision:

1. Mnemonics
Reason --> you know have to remember double the stuff, if you think about it! Takes up too much space in the front of your brain.

2. Flashcards
Reason --> tiny bits of cards are very messy and undistinguishable from each other; they confuse my thoughts and cloud my judgement and who knows what else. Stay away from the little devils.

3. Downloading notes from the Internet
Reason --> Why? Because your own notes are much more effective and accurate, of course! Just think: would anyone actually spend time caring for YOUR exam and selflessly prepare for YOUR exam for YOU, for free? Unless that person is really empathetic and know you really well, most Internet material is of worse quality and may not be accurate. Moreover they might not be specifically targeted at your exam board. You're better off with your own ones, or trade with a trust-worthy friend.

4. Big, ugly handwriting
Reason --> Some people just can't stop the narcissism of looking at their own writing. Write neatly, compactly, so that your brain absorbs the material quicker. Huge loopy handwriting just distracts you, you'd tend to focus on the aesthetic beauty of the writing rather than the stuff it's saying. Writing small saves paper, too. *Note: My mom tells me off and says that the examiner can't see small words, but here's what I think: as long as it's neat anyone can read. Writing small saves time, ink, and space. Anyone would thank you for that!*


      I hoped this mini-guide helped; I repeat, everyone learns in different ways. You might find that my 4 failures are your 4 successes. You might find that my 7 tips are rubbish. Whatever you like. (I sincerely apologize if I have offended anyone in the above points.) It's your exam, it's your revision, and it's your future. Have confidence and trust your instincts whenever you're in doubt.

      Wishing you effective revision & good luck in your examinations,

Assessment Week

CURRENTLY IN EXAM MODE.

Assessments? You must be kidding. 

Talk later,