AP Survival Guide

18 December 2014.

Unrestricted academic warfare, sleep-deprived nights, negative amounts of free time, drifting from friends, slow mental and physical deterioration...welcome to the junior year of an AP student. All of these characteristics have attributed themselves to my life these past few months of school, and there came a time when I just wanted to give up because AP Biology had sucked every ounce of willpower out of me. But then I started thinking about how to improve my school life so that, even though it’s not necessarily always enjoyable, it is tolerable. This is a guide on how I’m able to survive AP classes and still keep my life in check.

STUDY: AP classes are tremendously challenging and there is no way to survive them without allocating some time to studying. Good study habits are a must, so the sooner you find what works best for you, the better. Personally I have a vivid photographic memory, so I find it best to just read and reread my notes multiple times. Others discover that notecards are the best way for information to stick. Some even realize that the best way is to memorize the textbook or watch a plethora of videos to reinforce their knowledge. Whatever it is, if you find a method of studying that is beneficial to your grades and boosts your confidence in your own knowledge, then take it and run with it. It’s crucial.

SLEEP: It’s not always possible to get the recommended 8 hours of sleep every night, but here’s a simple rule of thumb: if nothing else, go to sleep before midnight. This will still allow you about 6-7 hours of sleep, depending on when you usually get up in the mornings, but by going to bed before 12 you will still wake up adequately refreshed. Plus, 6 hours is much closer to 8 than 4 is, and it’s much easier to make up for just a few lost hours of sleep over the weekend, rather than days. An additional note: if you ever feel the urge to take a nap because you are emotionally exhausted or simply can’t keep your eyes open, then do it! You will not regret it and when you wake up you will find that completing homework is also easier.

EXERCISE: Not everyone has the time to work out every single day, but it’s crucial to your health to get a few hours in each week. Exercise is stimulating for the brain and the muscles: not only are you more energized, but a good workout has a positive effect on your mindset. Even if you can only manage to go to the gym or go for a run twice a week—it’s better than nothing!

TAKE BREAKS: Studies have shown that after 1-2 hours of studying, the brain literally cannot absorb any more information. This means it is time for a 15-30 minute break to relax your mind, grab a bite to eat, or organize your thoughts. Breaks are enormously beneficial to both studying and working in general because they increase your efficiency. Actual experiments have shown that people who take breaks during studying score significantly higher than those who cram nonstop.

DO THE LEAST-TIME-CONSUMING FIRST: I have learned that attempting to work on my longest assignments first is actually detrimental because they take up so much of my time and then I’m freaking out because I don’t have enough time to complete the other. Now I work on my other classes first and start the most lengthy last, giving myself a much smaller timespan. This boosts my adrenaline and I find that I actually finish so much quicker than when I start the tough assignments right away.

SOCIALIZE: Whatever you do, and however much you’re craving to, do not abandon your friends. They will be there for you regardless of how much homework you have and they don’t care if you get a C on that biology test. Friends are the people that make you laugh when you’re in the middle of a mental breakdown, and they’re the ones that force you to go out and have fun and stop worrying about that English test you have in two days. You’ve studied enough, it’s time to leave your books and spend some time with your friends.

EAT WELL: It’s simple: if you eat bad, then you feel bad. Eating well-balanced meals is critical for your well being in stressful times like these. I always eat breakfast because it helps me think; my lunch is just big enough to fill me up but not make me drowsy; my dinner is almost always a fresh, home-cooked meal and I add fruits and veggies to my meals and snacks as supplements. Eating well not only enhances your health and energy for the time being, but it has long-term effects as well: an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Literally. I eat an apple every day and I haven’t been sick in years.

TIME MANAGEMENT: Like I mentioned earlier with the homework assignments and the studying, time management is a valuable life skill. Juggling mental and physical health along with a social life and adequate hours of sleep is not easy. But believe me when I say it’s possible. You just have to learn not to procrastinate everything and instead be proactive in your work. If you have 3 assignments due at the end of the week but you have a free night tonight, don’t be irresponsible and waste your night on stupid things. Try to start your assignments or even finish one. You will thank yourself the next day when your teachers assign approximately 6 new assignments, all also due at the end of the week.

BE ORGANIZED: It’s extremely beneficial to be organized because it saves so much time when it comes time to study or look for an assignment you completed weeks prior. I have noticed that when a student has an organized binder/folder/notebook/locker, they’re not nearly as prone to freakouts. If your school supplies are a mess, then so is your life 99% of the time.

REWARD YOURSELF: There’s nothing more satisfying than treating yourself to Chipotle, a night out with friends, or a shopping spree after a tough week. Heck, you deserve it! Rewarding yourself every now and again is a great way to repay yourself for all the work and time you’ve put into your studies, and it’s also a great motivator!

BREATHE: There’s no way to put it in simpler terms. If you feel like you are swamped in an overload of work, then take a step back and breathe. If you don’t know the answer to a cryptic multiple choice question, take a breath and move on to the next one. If you can’t finish running that mile, don’t. Walk the rest of the way. It’s not a big deal. Breathing in precious oxygen is literally critical to life, remember that.

TAKE A PERSONAL DAY: Your grades are important, but your health is even more so. If you have 7 assignments and a test tomorrow but for tonight you’re freaking out, crying, screaming, and undergoing mini seizures, then don’t go to school. I can’t stress it enough: if you are incapable, do not go to school. You can hand in those assignments when you get back the next day. You can arrange to make up the tests as soon as possible. Nothing—and I repeat, nothing—is more important than your well being. Would you rather get a C on that test and be done with it, or suffer for a week in the hospital because you have brought onto yourself a psychiatric illness? The choice is yours.

LAUGH: Laughing your way through life is healthier and easier than stressing and getting worked up over the little things. I can’t go five minutes without laughing at a corny joke in class; frankly, it’s painful for me not to smile. Amiability is key to surviving AP classes: you need to learn to enjoy the little things in life, like dropping your phone on the floor in the middle of a lecture or someone stating a mindless comment that makes no sense whatsoever. When you enjoy school, it’s so much easier—really. Having a constant source of happiness is a privilege and a necessity and you shouldn’t trade it for anything.

Now I realize that my list of tips is incredibly long and time-consuming to read, but each of these things attributes to my own survival of high school thus far. If you find something else that you find to be dire for survival, then that is fantastic. It’s all about shaping your high school career to fit the mold you’ve always dreamed of. While there is still a certain amount of unrestricted academic warfare, I no longer suffer from the sleepless nights; I can allow myself to spend an evening reading or hosting a movie marathon and still maintain strong friendships with my favorite gals; I am mentally sound and physically fit. It’s the most stressful year of my life, and I’m coping with it quite well.