Friday, March 6, 2020

Are You Ready to Have a Big Vision for Your Career - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Are You Ready to Have a Big Vision for Your Career - Introvert Whisperer Are You Ready to Have a Big Vision for Your Career? A big dream or big vision for your career isn’t the sole domain of the Extraverted in this world. Sometimes Introverts tip the scale on limiting how they see their future. It can be tough in our Extroverted culture to compete with the louder center of everyone’s attention, which is also our cultural ideal. After years spent seeing what looks like the majority of the rewards going to others, dreams can tend to shrink, but the ambitions are still there. All of that is easy to understand as you go from child to adult. But now that you’re a fully contributing Introvert adult, it’s time for you to understand you can create your path to greatness. We know more about how to adapt our behavior to situations through education and skill building, just like we now know how to shape great leaders. It all starts with the dream or vision. For some people, creating a “vision” feels like nailing Jell-O on a wall: kind of hard to get hold of, feels kind of squishy and may be pointless. If there were ever a good argument for creating a big, bold vision of your future, it would have to be to think about founding our nation and the guys who did it. No one told them what to do. They didn’t drag out of bed in the morning and say, “I suppose I better get that Constitution written today.” They had a vision that drove them through some of the worst adversity to prevail. That vision has fueled millions of people over multiple centuries. With these role models in mind, can you now see that nothing great is accomplished without a vision? (Click here to tweet this thought.) Here are the reasons why you want a vision for your career: We all need something big to inspire and excite us every day for a long time. It gives a purpose to your career and to your work. When times are tough and they will be periodically you need to know that a light will shine on you at the end of the tunnel. So, Why Is It Difficult to Create Your Own Career Vision? Because you don’t do it. Like everything else we do, if you don’t exercise a muscle, it will be very hard to use when you try. This means you need to start using your vision and get it pumped up. Here are some things you can do to start building a muscle for your career vision: Start with some quiet, private time and let your imagination run free. (You remember your imagination, don’t you?) If you meditate, even better. While in your tranquil state, think forward in time and observe the impact you have had. Ask yourself questions like: What would you like to say you impacted or accomplished through your work? How would that feel? What would you like others to say about you at your retirement party? Think about what you would do if money were no object. Think about what it would look like if you could accomplish everything you imagine. Once you’ve started this process, revisit this exercise until you squeeze as much as you can from your own vision. There really are no restrictions and no “right” or “wrong” ways to construct your vision. Your vision shouldn’t sound or be something like a checklist of tasks, because that’s not a vision. Be big, be bold, and just know that once you have the vision in place, figuring out how to get there will seem like play. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer What’s your vision for your big, brilliant, Introverted career? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Tips for Preventing Business Travel Anxiety - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Tips for Preventing Business Travel Anxiety - Introvert Whisperer Tips for Preventing Business Travel Anxiety Once upon a time, the average person rarely had to step foot beyond their home, whether that was an 18th-century house on the prairie, a medieval farm plot, or an ancient Roman provincial farm. In the modern world, though, travel across vast distances is both a common and regular occurrence. Just because traveling long distances on a weekly and even daily basis is expected, though, it doesn’t make it any easier to do if you’re an introverted person who also struggles with travel-related anxiety. If you find the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end at the thought of buckling in for a road trip or getting onto an airplane, here are a few suggestions for ways to help calm your nerves and make the best of each traveling situation you might find yourself in. Preparing to Travel While it’s important to learn to manage your nerves while in transit, it can also be very helpful to plan accordingly before you ever step foot on that plane, train, car, or bus. For instance, if you have a counselor, consider running any travel plans by them first. Don’t be afraid to do so in detail, as they may have valuable input or advice. Modern therapy is regularly evolving, and many counselors are much better equipped to offer sound advice for managing things like anxiety and stress in relation to a specific activity. Asking for a second opinion from someone uniquely qualified to answer can be a wise move. Another long-term element that is worth addressing, especially when you’re asked to travel for work, is your work-life balance. It’s well worth the effort to take time to define your own work-life standard and then try to stick to it. While this may seem like a separate issue from managing travel anxiety, it can actually play a key role. If you feel satisfied by your work-life balance, it will go a long way in helping to keep your stress levels under control when a trip is requested and may even give you more to look forward to as you travel. Substitute Controlled Caution for Unbridled Fear Dealing with fear is part and parcel of an introvert’s walk through life. But just because you need to confront fear on a regular basis doesn’t mean you should allow it to dictate any of your decisions. One of the common challenges with travel anxiety is the sudden, crippling fear that can completely paralyze one’s ability to enjoy a situation … or, at times, even function at all. However, if you take the time to step back and consider what situations set off this paralysis in your own life, it can allow you to formulate a strategic solution. Take, for example, long trips driving your car. If you find that driving long distances for a business trip or even a family vacation whips up your nerves, don’t be afraid to take some of the control back into your own hands by purposefully and carefully practicing defensive driving. Stay at the speed limit, don’t drink or impair your abilities before getting behind the wheel, and keep your phone turned off while on the road. These are already recommended ways to reduce the chances of getting hurt in everyday driving, and adopting them as your “travel mantra” can help restore a sense of peace and control while you travel. Keeping Perspective Every time travel requires public transportation, or really using any vehicle other than a personal car, it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning in a sea of other people. The conversations, bustle, and overall noise can be quite overwhelming. However, if you know you’re heading into a situation like this, it can be helpful to schedule out your traveling time in order to minimize the stress of the situation. For instance, the next time you know you need to hop on a cross-country flight for work or to visit relatives, plan on stepping back and mentally calming down whenever required as you travel. This isn’t just an empty suggestion â€" really take the time to pause your thoughts and then step back and consider each situation you find yourself in. If you know you get anxious about the possibility of perishing in a fiery plane crash every time you board a plane, remind yourself that there are literally fewer transportation options that are safer than a plane. Seriously, just as a point of reference, you’re nearly 90 times more likely to get die in a car than on a plane â€" and we use the four-wheeled option nearly every day. In addition to the mental battle, also consider scheduling in time to recover after you’ve finished traveling. Don’t plan your trip to end right before a big business meeting or family get together. Give yourself a chance to rest before you dive into the next adventure. Keep Things on Your Terms Whenever Possible Finally, whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, try to resist the temptation to over-book your trip. In addition to avoiding doing too much, try to choose quality activities that accommodate your own desires and interests. Pick activities that will help you keep your mind at ease and give you time to yourself before and after you travel. Don’t feel like you need to visit, say, Time Square the next time you’re in New York City simply because “you have to have the experience.” If you prefer serenity and tranquility, find a quiet coffee shop or visit a park instead. An important thing to remember as you prepare to face your traveling fears is that you are in more control than you might think. You can often dictate what you’ll do before and after a trip in order to prepare and debrief. In addition, as is the case with something like driving carefully, you even have a significant degree of control over how you get from one place to another. Take advantage of these tools and tips in order to make your next trip as stress- and worry-free as possible. By Sam Bowman Sam Bowman  is a freelance writer and introvert who enjoys getting to utilize the internet for the community without actually having to leave his house. In his spare time, he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore. Image Source: Pixabay Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Thursday, March 5, 2020

How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - 5 Tips for Learning New Words

How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - 5 Tips for Learning New Words I want to talk to you today about English words and how to learn English vocabulary easily.In past few lessons Ive spoken to you about written English and how to improve that. Ive also spoken to you about how to improve your conversational English and how to speak better English.English like any other language is made up of words. Its a series of words and we put all of those words into sentences. But on their own…. Okay, they have a meaning but they dont make much sense unless you put them together and you know how to use them.Many of my students have come to me and they want to learn words. Give me more vocabulary. Give me more words give me 10 20 30 words to use every day.I try to avoid that mainly because it just doesnt work. Okay.So you can sit there with an English dictionary you can learn all the words you want to learn but I almost guarantee that within 24 hours you have forgotten most of them.And the ones you do remember, you wont know what they mean. All youll see is just a page of words and youre trying to remember the word and try to guess what the meaning is. How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - 5 Tips So lets look at it in a different way how to approach this, to get those words to have more meaning.When you’re trying to learn English, you want to make sense, you want people to understand you. And the best way for them to understand you, is if you speak sensible English correct English using the correct word in the correct way.So you have to understand the word and understand how to use it. So if you want to practise your words, then practise how to use that particular word either in an expression, in a sentence, in a paragraph, in an essay, some written work, whatever it might be.Im not telling you not to learn words. But I am suggesting and recommending that in addition to learning the words, you learn the true meaning and then how to apply them in your English.Whether youre at the lower intermediate level or intermediate or upper intermediate. It really doesnt matter what level youre at, you still have to have the same approach. How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - Exercise 1 I get my students to select a theme.The theme can be absolutely anything. It could be a visit to the dentist, could be a visit to the hospital, it could be taking a boat trip.Firstly, I get them to put down headings: nouns, adjectives, verbs. For those more advanced adverbs and other expressions.Then try to get them to identify those particular words connected with that theme. How many words can they think of connected that are nouns to the theme visit to the dentist? How many words are adjectives? With verbs is the same and so on.So you then identified those words with the particular theme. When youve got those words, I then get my students to put them together in an essay or a written piece and try to use them in the correct way.This is a much better way to remember the word and how to use it and how to apply it to that particular theme. How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - Exercise 2 The second example that I use when I talk to my students then is to get an article.Pick an article from a magazine, a newspaper, even a book. It makes no difference. What youve got to do first of all, youre going to read the article once just to get an understanding what does it mean or try to understand 60 65 percent.When youve read it once, read it a second time. As you read through the second time I want you to highlight words and phrases you dont know phrases you dont understand.When you come back to me at the next lesson, then youll have a list of all these words phrases and expressions and I’ll explain what they mean and how to use them.Then we go back to the article and read it together and understand exactly what the author was trying to get at. This way you have a much better chance of understanding the words and certainly a much better chance of remembering them. How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - Exercise 3 The third exercise is connected with pronunciation. And you might be wondering how is that connected with words.I take a number of words there might be 10 or 15 or 20 (depending on their particular level).Firstly, we practise the pronunciation. We practise where the stress should be. But more importantly, were trying to understand what those words mean. As were going through each of the words I ask the student: ‘Do you know what it is? Can you understand it? Can you use it yourself?’Having gone through each of the words, having put the correct stress on the correct syllable, we then go back to the words and we put them into a sentence. How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - Exercise 4 The fourth exercise I get my students to write short passages or an essay or a letter. It doesnt really matter what it is but what I get them to do is to make sure they dont repeat the key words more than once in each paragraph.For example, youre going to write a little passage about the holiday that youve had or the book that you just read. And youre going to try and explain those feelings but dont repeat the same key word more than once in each paragraph. Its quite tough to do and its a great exercise to get you to understand, remember and use all of the words. How to Learn English Vocabulary Easily - Exercise 5 The final tip that I have for you is practice. English only gets better if you practise it and particularly with words we want to practise words, we want to practise collocations, expressions and phrases.For example, if we take the phrase ‘discharged from hospital’ Thats on its own its fine ‘discharged from hospital’. In a sentence ‘I was discharged from hospital yesterday.’ So I left hospital yesterday. You get an understanding of what it means and how to use it.Another collocation ‘I have a splitting headache’. Splitting headache is the collocation. ‘I have splitting headache all day because of the weather.’ So practise how to use it an expression.The room that Im sitting in here is bright and cheerful. Bright and cheerful is the expression meaning colours are very nice, the decoration is wonderful. So when you come in you feel alive.You have to find expressions, collocations, phrases and words and practise putting them into appropriate sentences so the meaning sticks with you.Thats all for this particular lesson.Remember to subscribe to my channel as always and join me on www.englishlessonviaskype.com.When you look in the description, youll find a great link to all of our courses. And weve got some great news coming up shortly about a very very special club that you can join. So join me again soon.

Taking a Summer Break from Anxiety for Teens with ADHD

Taking a Summer Break from Anxiety for Teens with ADHD Summertime typically provides a much-needed break from the academic and social pressures of school for kids with ADHD. Elementary school kids can spend their summers involved in activities that play to their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. They have an opportunity to focus on making new summer friends, forming friendships that arent complicated by school anxiety and stress. In an ideal world, teenagers with ADHD also have the chance to take a real summer break from high school pressures. However, as competition for college admissions and career success grows, many high school students are increasingly encouraged to maximize their summer breaks by participating in experiences that will bolster their chances of getting into their preferred college. This often means seeking out competitive internships and participating in multiple sports or intense extracurricular activities, sometimes while also holding down a part-time job. Taking a break from the social pressure of high scho ol is also more challenging with social media playing such a prominent role in teenage social life. Teens continue to feel the pressure to keep up with their classmates, often comparing themselves to their peers and scanning Instagram posts to make sure theyre not missing out on (or being left out of) events and activities. This year-round pressure is just one of many factors that researchers and clinicians think may be driving the rise in anxiety among teenagers. A recently published article in the Journal of Developmental Pediatrics found that in the U.S. rates of anxiety disorder diagnoses increased 20% between 2007-2012.1 Many clinicians suspect that rates have increased even more rapidly between 2012 and 2018. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, about one-third of todays adolescents will experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. Teens with ADHD are at even higher risk, with up to 50% experiencing significant anxiety. While some of the factors driving up teen anxiety are pervasive and cant be changed in a single summer, there are still many things parents can do to help their teens keep anxiety in check. Help your teen focus on experiences that are meaningful and personalized. Its smart to start thinking about college and career paths early on, and to use time away from school to build skills and experiences that bolster college and career success. But for teens with ADHD who have struggled to succeed in school, and whose self-confidence has eroded over time, focusing first and foremost on finding activities and internships that build confidence and self-esteem is important. Encourage your teen to think about the big picture and seek out experiences that tap into his or her strengths and minimize weaknesses. Ideally these experiences should be in areas that your teen is passionate about, where he or she can feel confident in his or her knowledge and abilities and be an equal or a leader among his or her peers. Encourage your teen to devote some time working on academic skills. A complete break from academics during the summer months can make it difficult for teens with ADHD to start the new school year off with confidence. So, while your teens activities and internships should play to his or her strengths, that doesnt mean your teen shouldnt spend any time building up weaker academic skills. The trick is to set your teen up for success by providing him or her with academic experiences that build confidence as well as skills. Working with learning professionals who provide personalized instruction tailored to your teens learning style and strengths is the most surefire path to academic confidence and success. Quality family time is important. Its normal and healthy for teens to prefer to spend time with friends rather than family. But, that doesnt mean that family time isnt important. In fact, family time can provide a healthy break from social pressure, and the anxiety that comes with it for many teens with ADHD. Schedule family activities that include a break from technology when teens (and their parents) dont check their social media accounts for extended stretches of time. The focus of this time should be on blocking outside distractions and spending quality time with each other. Activities that are naturally less compatible with cell phone use (like hiking, swimming, amusement parks, paintball, horseback riding, trampoline parks) will help make the technology breaks a little easier. Work with a therapist if your teen seems highly anxious or unmotivated. Finding time for therapy appointments can be hard during the school year. If you are worried about your teens level of anxiety, or if he or she seems to be constantly irritable or unmotivated, use the summer months to find a therapist who can meet with you and your teen to assess his or her mood and anxiety. Even a few appointments with a good therapist can make a big difference when it comes to treating anxiety and having a go-to therapist your teen can meet with if anxiety spikes in the fall can mean getting treatment more quickly when your teen needs it the most. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Math and Science Teachers in High Demand in Abu Dhabi

Math and Science Teachers in High Demand in Abu Dhabi Math and science teachers - apply now for upcoming jobs in the UAE! The current job market is increasingly demanding graduates with math and science skills, and schools, in turn, are demanding teachers. As a part of Abu Dhabi's English-language education initiative, schools across the Emirate are hiring math and science teachers for middle schools and vocational schools, both at the secondary and post-secondary level. To apply for the jobs below, please register at /teacher/register/a>. Math Teaching Jobs1.  Grade 6 Math Teachers - Abu Dhabi Public Schools These lucrative math teaching jobs attract teachers from all over the world. Candidates must have a valid teaching license in their home state or country, plus at least 2 years of experience teaching middle school math.2.  Math Teachers - Vocational Institute in Abu Dhabi To teach Math in Abu Dhabi's esteemed vocational schools, applicants should have a Bachelor's degree in Math, and 3 years of related experience. A Master's degree is preferred, as is a teaching license.3.  Secondary Math Teachers - Vocational School in Abu Dhabi These secondary vocational school jobs require a Bachelor's degree in either Math, Physics, or General Science. Teachers should have at least 3 years of experience teaching middle school or high school Math. A teaching license is preferred, but not a requirement.4. *NEW*  Math and Science Teachers - Vocational Schools throughout the UAE Teachers at this secondary vocational school will teach both Math and Science. Candidates for these positions must have at least 3 years of experience teaching Math, Physics, Biology, or Chemistry, but are not required to have a teaching license. Apply through Teach AwayScience Teaching Jobs1.  Grade 6 Science Teachers - Abu Dhabi Public Schools Experienced teachers can find excellent Science teaching jobs in Abu Dhabi public schools. Applicants must be licensed teachers, and must have at least 2 years of experience teaching middle school Science. 2.  Physics Teaching Jobs - Vocational School in Abu Dhabi Physics teachers who would like to teach in this vocational school must have a Bachelor's degree in Physics, plus a minimum of 3 years of teaching experience. A teaching license is preferred, but not required. 3.  Biology Teaching Jobs - Vocational College in Abu DhabiTeach Biology in a renowned vocational college in Abu Dhabi. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Biology, and 3 years of experience teaching Biology at a high school or college level. Preferred candidates will have a Master's degree and/or a teaching license.4.  Chemistry Teaching Jobs - Vocational School in Abu Dhabi Chemistry teachers considering teaching in Abu Dhabi should have a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, and at least 3 years of experience teaching Chemistry at a high school or college level. Preferred qualifications include a Master's degree and a valid teaching license.5.  Physics Teaching Jobs - Vocational Institute in Abu Dhabi Teach Physi cs in Abu Dhabi at this renowned vocational school. Teachers who have a Bachelor's degree in Physics, and 3 years of related experience (preferably in a vocational institute) are welcome to apply. Candidates with a Master's degree and a teaching license are preferred.6.  *NEW*  Math and Science Teachers - Vocational Schools throughout the UAE Teachers at this secondary vocational school will teach both Math and Science. Candidates for these positions must have at least 3 years of experience teaching Math, Physics, Biology, or Chemistry, but are not required to have a teaching license. Apply through Teach AwayTeaching Jobs in Related Subject Areas1.  Mechanical Engineering Teaching Jobs - Vocational School in Abu Dhabi For Mechanical Engineers who want to teach in Abu Dhabi, this career-focused vocational institute offers lucrative positions with excellent benefits. Prospective teachers should have a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Applicants must also have 3 years of re lated teaching experience, or 3 years of industry experience. Preferred qualifications: Master's degree, teaching license. 2.  Electrical Engineering Teaching Jobs - Vocational School in Abu Dhabi Electrical Engineers considering teaching abroad in Abu Dhabi can apply for positions in this vocational institute. Teachers should have either 3 years of related teaching experience, or 3 years of industry experience. A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering is also required.Candidates with a Master's degree and/or a teaching license are preferred.3.  Chemical Engineering Teaching Job - Vocational School in Abu Dhabi Applicants for this Chemical Engineering position must have a Master's degree in a related discipline, and a minimum of 3 years of related teaching experience. A valid teaching license is an asset, but not a requirement.4.  Computer/ICT Teaching Jobs - Vocational School in Abu Dhabi   Teach ICT in Abu Dhabi vocational schools! These teaching jobs require candidates to h ave a Bachelor's degree in ICT or Computer Science, plus 3 years of related teaching experience. Preferred qualifications include a Master's degree and a teaching license.ApplyTo apply for the jobs above, please visit /teacher/register

Teach in Kazakhstan in 2018 Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools now hiring (with job postings)

Teach in Kazakhstan in 2018 Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools now hiring (with job postings) Want to join a highly supportive and visionary team of education professionals? Ever dreamed of teaching somewhere truly unique? Here’s a teach abroad opportunity that happens to tick both boxes! Right now, Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) in Kazakhstan are looking for a number of physics, chemistry, biology and computer science high school teachers, starting in January 2018. You’ll be teaching gifted and talented high school students with an aptitude for science, math and languages. All NIS students are highly-motivated scholarship recipients. Sounds pretty awesome, right? But there’s more - besides teaching your chosen subject, you’ll also have the chance to mentor a local Kazakh teacher. You’ll be working to actively further student achievement at your school by sharing best practices around critical thinking and co-curricular activities. These one-year contracts come with a lucrative monthly salary (which varies depending on whether you’re teaching in a rural or urban school) and stellar benefits, including: Settling-in allowance Flight reimbursement Furnished accommodation and utilities Medical insurance Tuition allowance Interested? Successful candidates need to meet the following requirements: Bachelor’s degree Teaching certificate Three years of teaching experience Major in physics, chemistry or biology Teaching in Kazakhstan with NIS is the perfect career opportunity for enthusiastic and self-motivated international teachers. By joining the NIS team, you’ll not only to get the chance to mold and educate young minds, you’ll also be making a crucial contribution to Kazakhstan’s ambitious education system reform. Kazakhstan is also a travel buff’s dream - home to beautiful scenery, a rich history and culture and friendly and welcoming people. Check out Dave and Zora’s story, teachers who were placed with NIS through Teach Away, for more on what it’s like teaching in Kazakhstan. When you’re done reading, simply click the links below to view and apply for NIS’s vacancies. Good luck with your application! High school physics teachers High school chemistry teachers High school biology teachers High school computer science teachers

5 reasons to avoid cramming for a test

5 reasons to avoid cramming for a test Tips from an Irvine Test Prep Tutor: 5 reasons to avoid cramming for a test Whether a student is in middle school or college, there will always be tests throughout the semester. Some are short quizzes meant to help the teacher understand how the students are absorbing information while others are essential to the student’s final grade. Regardless of the length of the test, one thing best to avoid is cramming the night before. Its so tempting to leave stressful events until the last minute but, this can leave students more stressed in the long run. Additionally, students who save all of the work for the night before will probably not score as high on the exam as they were capable of. When students stay up all night or try to memorize a plethora of information in a short period, they end up not learning important elements. Also, they will show up to their morning exam feeling mentally fatigued. 1.   Cramming encourages sleep deprivation Everything is harder when a student is overly tired. Many students think about doing all of their studying for an exam in just two hours. It wont be so bad because they have from 8 till 10 to review the night before, right? Students fully intend to be in bed at 10:30, so they are well rested for the test the next day. However, most students find out that two hours just isnt enough time to prepare for a midterm or final, and they end up staying up until 2 or 3 AM. 2. Absorbing important details Students are not able to absorb all of the important details necessary when they are fatigued. When people have focused on a particular subject for more than a few hours at once, their brains become uninterested in the topic, and they want to move on to something else. Even students who force themselves to stay at their desk and study wont be getting all of the important information they could have if they had several shorter study sessions. Its valuable for students to make sure they can focus on those important elements of the topics that will be on the exam (READ: 5 Things to do Before Taking the fall SAT). 3. Time to take breaks When students cram for a test, they prevent themselves from being able to take sufficient breaks. Its important for students to be able to step away from stressful situations even if they are interested in the topic they’re studying. Tests produce a lot of stress and anxiety, so students may need to take more breaks than they originally thought. When students prepare well in advance of an exam, they have the opportunity to take as many breaks as they need to to be successful and maintain a work-life balance. 4. Work-life balance Most students dont have an ideal work-life balance. Even students as young as elementary school are feeling overly stressed about the amount of work they have to do each week and they miss out on fun social, creative, or sports activities. Cramming is usually a result of a student just not having enough time to get school work done without feeling a ton of stress. Unfortunately, cramming tends to unbalance students even more, and they come out of their exam feeling defeated. Even though test prep is stressful, students are encouraged to start early even if they only write an outline or work for 15 or 20 minutes. If students need help getting motivated or organized, they should consider joining a study group or working with a tutor who can help them one-on-one in their home. Work-life balance is important for everybody, but especially for students who are still learning how to manage their time. 5. Grades Students are also encouraged to think about how cramming might affect their overall grade. When students show up to an exam fatigued they dont perform as well as they would have if they had a good night’s sleep and had prepared in advance. Most students could improve by several percentage points if they didnt stay up quite so late. At the end of the day, students who avoid cramming are more likely to have higher grades throughout the year. The best way to prepare for a test is with the help of Irvine private test prep tutoring. Call us today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.