Feeling burnt out from exams – let’s try the Pomodoro technique

Let’s take a deep breath in and exhale.  March exams are over! I hope that the exams went well and you were able just to relax this weekend after all that revision and stress.  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the gap between the March and May exams is one of the shortest, with 6 or 7 weeks in between depending on the type of exam you are sitting.

It’s at this time of the year that for the last 14 years now I have seen students who began their studies at the start of the academic year start to burn out, lose focus and feel like it will never end.  

I do have some good news though, it will end, and you are almost at the summer break now with just July’s exam series to go.  I find that the most effective thing to do to overcome that burnout feeling is to take it slowly, in small chunks only and not push yourself too hard.

A really effective method for studying, which can be used for time management in your professional care also, is known as the Pomodoro technique.  Essentially this technique means studying in timed intervals.

We can get overwhelmed if we set aside 5 hours for revision – it seems a daunting task.  Instead, break up your study into 25-minute periods, with a five-minute break after each.  So your revision would go as follows:

  • Pick a learning outcome from your module
  • Set a timer for 25 minutes
  • Work on your learning outcome until the time is up
  • Take a 5-minute comfort break
  • You can repeat four times, after which take a longer 30-minute break

Whenever I need to concentrate on a task, I use this technique, and you can also download free and paid Pomodoro timer apps which will automatically do the timing for you to make it even more straightforward.

So as you start to get into the content of your May exams, take it little and often in small chunks using this technique. Should you need further support with your studies then why not sign up to be a student of ours, all of the information can be requested by using the form on our website.  Simply select the level that you need and fill in the form for costs and further info.  Click here to join

Thanks for reading, and let me know how the Pomodoro technique works for you

Level 3 Diamond Timetable

Exam Series Module No. of sessions Dates
November 2023
M1
3
2nd Oct, 16th Oct, 30th Oct
March 2024
M2 & M3
6
15th Jan, 29th Jan, 5th Feb, 19th Feb, 26th Feb, 4th Mar
May 2024
M4
3
15th Apr, 22nd Apr, 29th Apr
July 2024
M5
3
3rd June, 10th June, 24th June

Level 6 Diamond Timetable

Exam Series Module No. of sessions Dates
November 2023
M1
3
5th Oct, 19th Oct, 9th November
March 2024
M2 & M5
5
25th Jan, 1st Feb, 8th Feb, 22nd Feb, 29th Feb
May 2024
M4 & M7
4
18th April, 25th April, 2nd May, 9th May
July 2024
M3 & M8
5
30th May, 13th June,20th June, 27th June, 4th July

Level 5 Diamond Timetable

Exam Series Module No. of sessions Dates
November 2023
M1 & M2
4
4th Oct, 11th Oct, 18th Oct, 25th Oct, 1st Nov, 8th Nov
March 2024
M5, M15 & M9
4
31st Jan, 7th Feb, 21st Feb, 28th Feb, 6th March
May 2024
M3 & M8
4
10th April, 17th April, 24th April, 1st May
July 2024
M4
3
5th June, 12th June, 26th June

Level 4 Diamond Timetable

Exam Series Module No. of sessions Dates
November 2023
M1 & M2
5
3rd Oct, 10th Oct, 17th Oct, 24th Oct, 7th Nov
March 2024
M3, M5, M7
6
23rd Jan, 30th Jan, 6th Feb, 20th Feb, 27th Feb, 5th March
May 2024
M4 & M6
4
9th April, 16th April, 23rd April, 30th April
July 2024
M8
3
4th June, 18th June, 2nd July