This isn’t another one of those cliched exam
prep blog posts that give you the typical a) get
rid of distractions and b) theres power in
numbers, study in a group – study tips.
We all know the usual study tips, but here’s
what most people won’t tell you
HAVE SEX BEFORE STUDYING
Studies have proven that having sex
improves focus. Many pre-exam study help
guides advise that people who tend to get
distracted easily and who often get antsy
when sitting and focusing on one thing for
too long should get active. Kelly Roell from
About.com Guide says
“Some people are just antsy. They need to
be doing something, and their bodies don’t
make the connection that they are doing
something during studying. Sound familiar?
If you’re one of them, get out a few things to
anticipate an “ants in your pants” issue: a
pen, a rubber band, and a ball.
1. Pen: Underline words when you
read. Cross off incorrect answers
when you’re taking a practice
test. Moving just your hand may
be enough to shake off the
jitters. If it’s not…
2. Rubber band. Stretch it. Wrap it
around your pen. Play with the
rubber band while you’re
answering questions. Still feeling
jumpy?
3. Ball. Read a question sitting
down, and then stand and
bounce the ball against the floor
as you think of an answer. Still
can’t focus?
4. Jump. Read a question sitting
down, then stand and do ten
jumping jacks. Sit back down
and answer the question”

Continuing with the theme of staying active
in order to improve your focus, let’s skip the
rubber band and jumping jacks and take this
‘getting physical’ thing to the next level.
According to USA Today, Harvard University
completed a study proving my sex-before-
exams theory:”2,250 participants were
prompted at random times throughout the
day using an iPhone Web application. They
were asked how they were feeling, what they
were doing, if they were thinking about
something other than what they were doing
and whether whatever they were
contemplating was pleasant (say,
daydreaming about a vacation), unpleasant
(perhaps worrying about a relationship or
finances) or neutral in nature.According to
the study, participants spent nearly 47% of
their waking hours with their mind in a
wandering state. “This study shows that our
mental lives are pervaded, to a remarkable
degree, by the non-present,” Killingsworth
said.That is, with one notable exception.
When describing what they were doing,
participants could choose from 22 activities,
including walking, eating, shopping, watching
TV, commuting and working.The only activity
during which people seemed to be quite good
at staying on task mentally was while making
love. During sex, only 10% of people reported
wandering thoughts.”Of course there are still
those who would prefer not to use sex as a
studying tool, but don’t feel
overlooked because this post applies to you
as well. Beyond the fact that the participants
were having sex, they were happier and
therefore found focusing on studying easier
to achieve.
“Generally, people also reported being the
happiest when making love, exercising or
conversing. They said they were least happy
when resting or sleeping, working or using a
home computer….And while people who
were thinking of pleasant things were
happier than people thinking of unpleasant
things, even those thinking happy thoughts
were less happy than people who were fully
engaged in whatever they were doing…
Barbara Becker Holstein, a psychologist and
“happiness coach” in Long Branch, N.J., said
the findings speak to the importance of doing
things that provide a sense of purpose and
meaning. Such activities make it easier to stay
focused”
For your exams this semester try something
new; instead of becoming a hobbit and hiding
on the 10th floor of the library try staying
social and doing the things you enjoy all year
round. Staying positive and attempting to
avoid cluttering your mind with stress is the
key goal. Sex may help some because it’s hard
to focus on anything other than that moment
of ecstasy (or at least it should be…) and yoga,
basketball or maybe even video games is
better for some because it helps channel all of
your focus into one goal without clouding
your mind with your upcoming test. Try
activities that keep you positive and stress
free before cracking open your course
readers.

BETTER YET!
Crack open the condoms before cracking
open the course packs…. HAHAHA! I’m on a
roll in this blog post! (pats self on the back) I
think I deserve a happy-pre studying activity
for this post =D

What are some tricks you use for studying?
If you’ve actually tried having sex or
other activities before studying what were
the results?