Every spy needs a plan

Procrastination courses through our veins. Perish the thought of studying for finals when The Office is begging for another run-through.
To an extent the need to escape from the stress and expectations of finals has merit, but too much time neglecting your studies will have a negative consequences.
You cannot know stuff if you don’t learn about the stuff.
You are a spy gathering intelligence to systematically destroy your enemy: finals.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is use research-supported techniques to formulate a plan of attack. Every spy needs a plan.
According to the University of California in San Diego Department of Psychology, combining spaced and retrieval practice maximizes your ability to retain information over long periods of time.
Spaced practice is learning through multiple sessions at different times. This helps form the schedule you create for intelligence gathering.
Attempting to cram a textbook directly into your brain during the wee-hours of the morning before your exam will leave you tired, overload your brain with information and most likely cause a brain injury.
Retrieval practice is the method of learning by periodically testing your knowledge. Restudying information is not enough to master content. Recalling information from memory will not only secure that knowledge in your long-term memory, but also prepare you to recall information during the exam. A good spy never forgets an important piece of intel.
Spaced and retrieval practice covers the when and how of studying, but even spies need a break to allow their brains to rest for their mission.
According to Mental Health America, “Sleep is not the only rest that’s important. Building in breaks for fun will help you work better for longer.”
Portion time for enjoyable activities like watching the new episode of Game of Thrones, or taking an hour to read theories on Reddit about who will be sitting on the Iron Throne at the end of series.
Taking breaks will help reduce stress levels that come hand-in-hand with finals, but they are not the only way to combat stress.
According to Study International, “Take care of yourself by eating healthy food, exercising regularly and cutting back on alcohol near finals week. Remember to wash your hands often, or keep a little bottle of hand sanitizer with you. And if you do happen to fall sick, stay home and rest rather than pushing yourself and spreading the illness to others.”
An intelligence agent is only as good as their health.
Use these tips, and you will crush your exams with deadly precision, but it is important to remember that no spy is perfect. People make mistakes. Don’t be too hard on yourself if a topic is particularly challenging.
This article will self-destruct in 10 seconds. Good luck agents.