It's finals time for many students out there. The culmination of the semester's work that is now focused on a single exam. It is easy to get lost in the panic of all the uncertainty of what you need to know for the exam. I'd like to offer some suggestions to help you not only cope with these challenges, but also make the best of them.
First I would like to start by pointing out the difference between extreme pain and pleasure. Both are experiences that pull us out of our mind's word into the immediate time and reality. When you feel extreme pleasure or pain you forget about everything around you and focus on the pain/pleasure.
To that point lets move to the next level - being in the zone. Being in the zone is focusing on an action or activity with all your mental capacity. Everything else no longer matters. You focus on your task in hand, and everything begins to fall into place and to flow. This is very similar to the physical pleasure, and perhaps even more intense. This is the most seaked pleasure out there, since it can last longer then the physical pleasure and can be sustained for longer.
You can compare the physical pleasure and being in the zone to having great sex and being in love. Sex gives you a short pleasure, while being in love focuses your mind on that one person and gives you a constant euphoria and keeps drawing your attention to that one person. You can combine the two experiences to create an even greater one, and each can lead to the other.
Now let's look at the other side of the coin - the emotional pain. This is the negative "zone". Here you also focus on one thing and lose and tune out the reality. This is the worry and depression. However this "zone" gives you pain, weakens and drains you at the expense of everything else. Just like euphoria, emotional pain can accompany physical pain and each one of these can precede each other.
So where am I going with all of this? Well studding and taking an exam can be one of these "in the zone" experience. And it is up to you to make it pleasurable or painful. What? Comparing taking exams to pleasure? Well sure. Right now you are focusing all your mental energy studding for the exam ( or you should be at least ). During the exam you will tune out everything around you to focus on the exam. And here is the key - depending on what you add to that mix you will be in the negative or the positive "zone".
So the key is then to come to the test preparation and taking with a positive focus. Study without worring about not studding enough. Worry will take your energy away and drain you. Instead get into the zone and focus on your studing. Then when are taking the test calm down, relax and remember - at this point it does not matter how much you've studied or did not study. You have to put your fear, worry and frustration apart. Do as much as you can, and focus on things your remember/know best, then address the things you might not now as well.
If you come to take your test with a positive attitude you can be in the zone, do your best and the flow of things will actually care you further. On the other hand if you come with worry and frustration about what you could have done you will drain yourself and won't be able to do as well as you actually can. Just remember you cannot move a single grain of sand by worrying, yet how much energy it drains from you! Leave worry frustration and anxiety outside. They will not help you in any way.
And finally a note on the Phisical aspect. Remember the physical pleasure/pain? Well can will play into the test expereince as well. Here are some quick notes. Get plenty of sleep before the test day. Think of it this way - an hour of sleep is more valuable then an hour of extra studding as long as you get upto 8 to 9 hours of sleep. ( this does not of course apply if you cramming the night before, but then unless there is not other choice that is not the best way to studdy for the test).
When it comes to diet don't eat junk, avoid too much greasy and sweet food. Now, don't change your regular diet too much, you don't want to end up with an upset stomach, but go lightly on sugar and caffeine. I usually get a little caffeine drink right before the test to get the mind going, but remember that caffeine also makes you more irritable and worried.
Finally during the test don't forget to breath calmly and deeply, and sit up strait in your chair so as to allow for the max blood flow and oxygen to your brain. Slouching may feel more comfortable at first, but will hurt you long term since it will constrict the flow of blood/energy, prevent calm full breathing and also may lead you into muscle tense position.
Well make the best of you test, and enjoy them fully. Your tests are a perfect opportunity to be in the ZONE and to enjoy lives best moments. Just remember people pay tons of money to go sky diving or bungy jumping just to be in the zone, and you got it for free at the end of your classes ;).