Studying for an upcoming exam isn’t as easy as your parents may think it is, especially if you’re a full-time student. Not only do you have to attend several classes and sit through hours of lectures, but throughout the day and, and, of course, at night, you have to make time to study for any upcoming tests or exams.
Fortunately, there are many ways you can go about cramming in order to ensure you pass your next exam with flying colors.
Brain exercises before an exam are one proven method, but you can also take nootropics. Brain supplements for studying can really give you an edge when you need it the most.
Brain exercises before exams can be a great way to easily increase your brain power right before a big final.
Not only can it improve your mental focus and leave you feeling more prepared than ever, but it can also come in handy right before a long study session.
These exercises include:
- Double doodle exercises
- Listening to music
- Emptying your mind via journaling
- Participating in low-impact exercise such as yoga
- Meditating
- Word games to keep your mind sharp
In addition to these helpful, effective exercises, you can also try the nootropic supplements designed to help you study by reducing mental fog and promoting focus and mental clarity.
Additionally, if you find it difficult to retain information when you’re studying, especially if you’re pulling an all-night cramming session before the big final, then nootropics can also help with long and short-term memory retention.
Now that you know there are a number of ways you can naturally improve mental focus and clarity, read on to find out how these brain exercises and the leading nootropics can help you ace your next exam.
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Nootropics for Studying
Some students have it all. The ability to pay attention during a long lecture, retain the information, study a little right before a final, and pass with flying colors. But the rest of us tend to struggle right before the big day and end up scrambling the night before a final, desperate to learn everything we can before our time is up.
If you often end up choking on game day and are usually left feeling nervous, stressed and unprepared, then it’s time you look for a better way to prepare for an upcoming exam.
Have you ever tried nootropics for studying? If you’ve ever had coffee when you’re cramming for an upcoming exam, then you have. Caffeine is a powerful nootropic that works by blocking the natural brain chemical that promotes sleep called adenosine.
Caffeine is probably the most popular psychoactive drug in the world and it’s only one example of nootropics, also known as cognitive enhancers. But what does cognitive enhancement mean and can these drugs really help you focus and prepare for an exam?
The use of caffeine not only prevents drowsiness it can also improve cognitive functions including creativity, motivation, focus, and memory.[1]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK209050/
Nootropics can consist of synthetic and natural supplements, but do they really work?
Modafinil is one of the most popular and most studied nootropics on the market and it’s often prescribed to treat narcolepsy, a serious sleep disorder.
One Modafinil study showed that the drug’s neuro-enhancing effects varied from user to user and was heavily dependent on how complex the task was. In fact, the more complex the task, the better the drug helped to improve cognitive function.
However, more research is needed in order to determine the effectiveness and safety of this drug for both long-term and short-term use. The misuse of this type of drug can lead to serious health issues including heart attack or even death.
Prescription drugs used to enhance cognitive function work because they regulate important neurotransmitter systems including noradrenaline and dopamine, which is why the user is at risk if they take this type of drug inappropriately.
There are also certain ethical issues that tend to arise with the use of medication designed to boost brainpower. But should it be an issue?
Fortunately, there are many alternatives to powerful drugs like Modafinil. These drugs are also considered nootropics, but they don’t require a prescription for use, they’re safe when used correctly, they can give you that much-needed edge when you’re studying.
Top Brain Exercises for Students
If you’re loaded down with classes and it’s finals week, then you can expect to wake up stressed out and go to bed stressed out, only to repeat the process the very next day until you’ve taken all of your exams.
When you’re a full-time college student, you may find yourself struggling to keep up with the work and meet deadlines and have a life outside of school. Studying can be time-consuming, stressful, and you may end up feeling as though you got nothing out of your latest study session.
For any student, nothing in life is more stressful than finals week. If you find yourself struggling to remember the material you just studied, your brain feels foggy from overdoing it at last night’s study session, or you just feel wiped out and don’t feel like you can sit through another test, the following brain exercises for students can have you feeling refreshed, sharp, and ready to go.
Use the Alphabet for a Cognitive Boost
This brain exercise is pretty simple and it’s designed to get both hemispheres of the brain to work together. To do this, you’ll go through the entire alphabet and come up with a noun for each letter.
The left hemisphere of the brain will help you come up with the word, while the right hemisphere of the brain will provide an image for the noun you’ve chosen. This fun brain exercise will help to clear your mind, eliminate brain fog and improve focus.
If nouns aren’t your thing, and you consider yourself a music lover, then try out our next brain exercise for improved focus and mental clarity.
Music
Research has shown that listening to classical music can have a major impact on mood, mental state, and brain function.
A calming piece of music can help to decrease blood pressure by slowing down your heart rate and minimizing the level of stress hormones in the body. In order to improve mental clarity, you need to let go of stress, at least for the time being, especially right before you study or take an exam.
Low-Impact Exercise
Most athletes and fitness enthusiasts will tell you that working out is a great, fun and healthy way to relieve stress and improve mental focus and clarity.
However, many yoga practitioners believe that yoga is the best choice because it combines both meditation and exercise and can work wonders to declutter the mind.
When you hold a yoga pose, your mind tends to focus primarily on your breathing and remaining calm and still, which is why you can easily let go of stress and other thoughts that are crowding your mind.
If you have a big study session coming up or an exam, try practicing a few yoga poses for twenty minutes before you start and you’ll find yourself feeling relaxed, refreshed, and ready to go.
What is a Double Doodle Exercise?
These exercises work both hemispheres of the brain by using both your non-dominant and dominant hands. To do this, pick up a pen in each hand and draw a picture. Start off by drawing a very basic picture, such as a few shapes.
This very simple exercise should be done in the morning in order to help you shake off any stress and ditch any negative thoughts. Not only will you feel more relaxed and confident after, but you’ll also feel very focused and more productive.
Empty Your Mind
Emptying your mind involves transferring all of the thoughts in your head onto paper. This type of exercise involves writing down all of your issues, whatever is bothering you and hindering your ability to think clearly and focus on your studies, and just leave it there, on the paper.
It’s your way of getting rid of your stress by writing it all down, acknowledging it and leaving it behind. This exercise can also give you more insight in terms of priorities, which will make it much easier for you to focus on your studies and leave other, less important problems behind.
Calming the Mind
Meditation is obviously a great choice if you’re trying to focus your mind, relieve stress, and improve mental clarity.
When you’re feeling as though you’re trapped in a mental fog and random worries keep entering your mind, it tends to slow down brain function and leaves very little brainpower left for studying or test-taking.
Meditation can teach you how to relieve stress, get rid of mental clutter, and it can also teach you how to stop holding onto distractions that are only serving to slow down brain function. Basically, meditation can leave you feeling relaxed with a clear mind.
The best part about meditation is the fact that it can be done anywhere, in as little as ten to fifteen minutes right before a study session or an exam.
Challenge Your Brain
Fun games such as complex math quizzes, crossword puzzles, Scrabble, and Sudoku are all great ways to de-clutter your mind before you study.
Whether you prefer a brain puzzle or a word game, try playing one of these challenging games right before an exam or study session in order to improve brain function and give your brain that much-needed power boost for clearer thinking and improved focus.
Did you know that doing puzzles regularly can also help to improve memory while helping to reduce your chances of developing dementia later on in life? They’re mentally challenging, stimulating, and a great way to prepare for an upcoming test.
Keeping That Brain Sharp
There are several methods and exercises you can try that can improve mental clarity, these are just some of the best methods many college and high school students have relied on for years, with proven success.
These easy, fun ways to give your brain a boost can be done to improve your test scores or prepare your mind to learn new information, which is why they’re great to do right before a cramming session.
Aside from these exercises, you should also make sure you’re eating right, following a well-balanced diet, drinking enough water, and taking the best supplements to ensure your brain has the nutrients it needs to learn and focus.
When you combine the exercises we’ve discussed here with a healthy lifestyle, you’ll find that you feel more refreshed in the morning and ready to take on anything college can throw at you.
Cognitive Enhancement for Studying
Ask any college student and they’ll tell you that finals week is the worst thing to ever happen to them since puberty.
During this time, most students are hitting the books hard, spending most of their time in the library, much more than they have probably the entire semester.
It’s also a time when a student needs more of an edge in order to focus on their cramming sessions and apply what they’ve learned during a final.
Cognitive enhancement for studying may be just what you need to make the material you’ve learned during your cramming session stick for once.
Many students have reported that after pulling an all-nighter, studying for an exam, they’re left feeling numb, overwhelmed, and totally lost the next day. All the new material they learned throughout the night was simply gone in the morning.
These cognitive enhancement supplements will not only help you to focus on studying they can also make your brain work more efficiently and actually help you to retain that information, so in the morning you’re feeling refreshed and prepared for the day and the upcoming final.
1. Neuro Peak Brain Support Supplement
Neuro Peak brain support is a great example of a nootropic that’s designed to improve your performance during a cramming session or during a final.
This supplement is scientifically formulated and contains the perfect amount of ingredients for improved clarity, brainpower, focus cognition and memory. It’s perfect for that all-night studying session.
It also contains ingredients designed for mood and stress support, such as Rhodiola, an all-natural ingredient that’s been used for centuries for its performance-enhancing ability.
Neuro Peak will not only improve focus and re-energize your mind it also comes in an easy-to-take dose that consists of just one capsule a day, making it more convenient to use compared to competing products.
What We Love:
- Once a day dosage
- Contains all-natural ingredients
- Designed to re-energize the brain
- Improves mental focus and clarity
- Reasonably priced
- Money-back guarantee
What We Didn’t Love:
- May cause nausea
You can learn more about this popular nootropic by clicking the button below.
2. Natural Stacks: CILTEP – Mental Performance Supplement
This nootropic contains forskolin, artichoke extract, and other powerful, all-natural ingredients that are designed to improve mental clarity and focus.
This product is also soy-free and vegan. Designed to sharpen your mind and improve mental focus, this supplement is highly recommended for studying, exam taking, work, and more.
Basically, it’s a great choice whenever you need a nootropic you can rely on to improve your performance.
What We Love:
- All-natural
- Thirty-day money-back guarantee
- Gentle
- Designed to improve mental clarity and focus
- Natural brain booster
What We Didn’t Love:
- Price
Click the button bellow to learn more about this exciting nootropic by Natural Stacks.
3. Ambition Nootropic Brain Booster Supplement
Ambition is a brain-boosting supplement that promotes improved focus and mental clarity.
The manufacturer claims this product can work to improve both cognitive function and mental clarity while minimizing brain fog.
This is an all-natural nootropic that’s caffeine-free, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for a brain booster that won’t leave you feeling jittery.
It contains Rhodiola Rosea for concentration and energy, L-tyrosine for increased dopamine production, citicoline and huperzine A for focus and memory, and neurofactor for mental clarity and brain health.
What We Love:
- All-natural ingredients
- Caffeine-free
- Zero artificial fillers
- Promotes mental clarity and energy
What We Didn’t Love:
- Can cause an upset stomach
Click the button below to learn more about this leading brain booster.
4. Qualia Mind Nootropics Top Brain Supplement
Qualia Mind is a nootropic that focuses on cognitive performance, mental clarity, memory, and is designed to boost mental focus.
The manufacturer claims this nootropic consists of a unique variety of nootropics that together, can naturally elevate your mood and leave you feeling focused and determined.
This nootropic is free of artificial flavors and colors, is vegan, and is non-GMO.
What We Love:
- One hundred day money-back guarantee
- All-natural
- A unique blend of nootropics
- Natural mood elevator
What We Didn’t Love:
- Price
To learn more about Qualia, click the button below.
Brain Supplements for Students
Brain supplements for students are designed to improve academic performance by increasing mental focus, clarity, and cognitive function.
The following all-natural supplements can give you the type of edge you need when you’re cramming for an exam or during finals week.
Huperzine A
Derived from Chinese club moss, this nootropic can improve cognitive function, memory, and focus and is often recommended to prevent or treat age-related memory loss.
This supplement can also help to keep you feeling refreshed and energized during the day.
So, how does it work?
Huperzine A increases the production of acetylcholine levels, which is a type of neurotransmitter that’s responsible for important brain functions such as sleep, memory, learning, and other cognitive functions.
To learn more about Huperzine A, click the button below.
Ginkgo Biloba
This nootropic supplement can promote blood circulation to the brain, thus improving cognitive function, focus, and basically giving your brain a much-needed boost. It has also been proven to naturally reduce anxiety by reducing cortisol hormone levels.
Additionally, the seeds of the Ginkgo Biloba plant contain substances that can kill fungi and bacteria that can cause infections.
This powerful, natural nootropic has been used for hundreds of years but has received more attention recently for its ability to improve cognitive function and naturally boost the immune system.
To find out which is the best Ginkgo Biloba product on today’s market, click the button below.
DHAs
DHAs are essential omega-three fatty acids that can provide a wide range of benefits, including improved memory and mental clarity.
Research has shown that the memory cells located in the hippocampus are able to communicate with each other easily and more efficiently when the levels of DHA in the brain were at an elevated level.
This is why DHAs are often recommended for studying purposes and for people who want to prevent or treat age-related memory loss.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
This amino acid is naturally produced in the body and helps with energy production. It’s also considered a very powerful antioxidant that is able to cross the blood-brain barrier where it can play a major role in the production of acetylcholine.
It also promotes improved blood circulation to the brain. This supplement is a great choice if you’re looking for a nootropic you can take daily and for the long term.
Studies have shown that when taken over a period of several weeks, an increase in acetylcholine levels was noted, in addition to improved learning capacity and mental focus.
So, while this isn’t a fast-acting nootropic that can help to give you an edge right before you take your final, it’s still a great choice if you want a supplement that will work with you throughout the year and help you focus on your work and make it easier for you to retain newly learned information.
Nootropics For Studying: How to Get an Edge
Finding the best nootropics for studying isn’t exactly easy, especially considering the dozens of options to choose from online. But if you’re hitting finals season, then now is the time to start looking for a supplement that will work for you, whether you need a boost in brainpower, a nootropic that promotes relaxation and improved sleep, or one that will work to keep you focused and ready for your upcoming exam.
There are a couple of different types of nootropics that we’ll go over. First up are the nootropics that can help to improve your focus.
The nootropics that can help to improve your focus while you study are called, focus nootropics. These supplements often involve a combination of ingredients that are designed to boost your ability to learn and retain information.
If you’ve been preparing for your upcoming finals for weeks, then you may be running a little low on energy and having trouble focusing. And that’s where this type of nootropics comes in, working to keep you focused for a long period of time.
What are Sleep Nootropics?
If you find yourself struggling to fall asleep at night, especially if you’ve taken a focus nootropics supplement, then nootropics that promote relaxation and improve your sleep cycle can be a true lifesaver. These natural sleep supplements can also promote deeper, longer sleep, allowing your body and brain to recover and prepare for the big exam the next day. To learn more, click here to read my article on do nootropics keep you awake?
Related Questions
How Can I Sharpen My Brain Before a Big Exam?
Aside from the best brain exercises before an exam, you can also take nootropics while you’re studying for your upcoming final and the day of.
Many of the leading nootropics are designed to boost cognitive function, improving your focus and alertness, making it easier to concentrate on the test and power through it like never before.
Should You Study the Night Before an Exam?
For some, this is a no-brainer. Studying before a big exam can leave you feeling more prepared, but is it really worth the sacrifice of sleep and the increased stress?
Many students feel that if you don’t feel prepared the night before an exam, then cramming for the big test can only make matters worse and can essentially overload your brain with information, making it difficult to retain important facts.
Others feel that this type of cram session can be a great refresher if you don’t feel quite prepared but are somewhat confident that you’ll pass your final.
Ultimately, it will depend on the type of student you are, how you handle stress, your unique way of learning and retaining information, and whether or not you’ve dedicated time and effort to learning the test material.
If you’re determined to pass your exam and study the night before, try taking a nootropic, one designed to improve mental focus and memory, which can leave you feeling more confident the day of the big test.
Is it Better to Work Out Before or After Studying?
Did you know that working out regularly can have a major positive impact on brain health? When you work out it not only helps to keep you in shape, but it also helps with relieving stress, anxiety, and tension and also naturally boosts mental focus.
However, some recent studies have shown us that it’s better to work out right after you study as opposed to right before. But why?
The brain is able to retain the information you learned during your cram session, easily, when combined with an intense workout session right after.
Because working out can excite the body much in the same manner as an emotional experience can, researchers believe that if you work out right after you study, you can retain the information you just learned for a longer period of time since emotional memories tend to last the longest.
How Can Nootropics Help With Studying?
When you’re studying for an exam, the odds are you have a million things running through your mind, most of which are not even related to the course material.
If you have a long cramming session ahead of you and a ton of information to retain, taking a nootropic can help you keep your mind in the game and will help to sharpen your mind, reduce brain fog, and give you the confidence you need to get through your study session and crush the exam the following day.
Final Thoughts
College life isn’t easy, especially when it comes to finals week. Fortunately, there are ways you can feel more confident about passing your exams, without having to spend hours in the library frantically trying to cram an entire semester’s worth of course material into your brain with no success.
If you have a plan, know the right exercises, and use the leading nootropics, you can easily have every final in the bag.
The best brain exercises for studying will not only help you feel more relaxed and focused during a study session, but they can even help to improve mental clarity and may even help you to retain more information.
Of course, the addition of nootropics for studying can further improve your chances of retaining more information and acing your final, as long as you choose a product that has a reputation for providing the types of results you need at a time when you need it the most.
There are many different types of nootropics to choose from, however, the products we’ve covered here are all great choices for the college student in need of an edge and a product that can really work.
Taylor Bates
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