Pushing past exhaustion?

GypsyNurse54 · Feb 18, 2012

The only way to push past study exhaustion is to take breaks. When things start getting foggy and you can't remember the last sentence you just read, your brain has stopped being able to take in/retain info (believe me, I feel your pain!). It seems like it goes against your instincts to stop studying and give yourself a break, but trust me, brain breaks are beneficial and crucial to retaining info from all the studying you're doing. Study for 1-1.5 hours, then reward yourself for the time you just put in, go outside for a 20 minute walk & take in some fresh outdoor air, you deserve it! :)

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2012

You can't learn when your exhausted. There were so many nights where I had read the same paragraph four times and still had no idea what it said. Those were the times that a realized I needed to rest, since I clearly was not studying effectively. I wouldn't suggest pushing through exhaustion (I'm really not even sure it's possible).

You'll need some trial and error to find out when your best study times are. I learned that I studied the best in the middle of the day, usually right after I got out of classes. I also did okay early in the mornings, and I would rather go to be at a decent hour and wake up early to study, rather than staying up late. I learned better if I blocked studying into 2-3 hour periods and then took a break. I also could not study at home, so I frequented cafes and book stores with wi-fi that allow you to sit and study while sipping a tasty drink.

So I'd recommend trying different study techniques to find out how to maximize your study time. Quality is much better than quantity.