1

End of Term 2 ReviewWednesday 20 March 2013

Please note the workshop on the daymay be delivered in a different format

Adam SandelsonLSE Student Counselling Service

2

Aims

Revision strategies Practical tips To review stress management

skills

3

Revision Strategies

4

Best use of time Complete and practise exam tasks, using texts

/ lecture notes etc. as you get stuck

Look to produce answers that Show you can think (answer the question) Show you’ve done the reading

(references / context) Show expertise (detailed knowledge, real

world context or use, locate the debate etc.)

5

Revising Topics – 2n + 2 Look for repeated questions on same topic Find links, key ideas – see the whole Pareto Principle – 20% gets 80% of marks

Reduce each week to a single page Pare down further as you get closer

New material if necessary and interesting Find work you enjoy – motivation is key

6

Resources

Each other – read each others essays, try the same questions and talk through the solutions (good end of day task)

Revision sessions – examiner’s mindset, marking preferences etc.

Office hours – take answers / plans rather than questions of detail

7

Practical tips

8

Practical approaches Time management skills Set realistic and achievable goals Plan short term targets and

longer term strategies Recognise your achievements Talk to others Concentrate on the task, not the

outcome

9

Focussing on the task

Monitor perfectionism Remember past successes Recognise you are likely to pass Be methodical, and allow time for

breaks and space to breathe and think

Use mind maps, scribble ideas Go for a walk, talk out loud

10

Procrastination top tips

10 minute rule –at least make a start! Time scheduling – SMART – specific, measurable,

achievable, realistic, timetabled (by when) Utilise when you work best Self esteem/ confidence-building exercises

(positive self-statements) Practicing imperfection – aim for 80% or even

60% Good self care – breaks, relaxation, time off

without guilt, sleep, exercise, diet, fun

11

Procrastination top tips

Trust your unconscious to work it out Imagine looking back on this task in 3 months,

1 year Talk to others/ check out if your fears are

reasonable – can help get a sense of perspective

Look after your physical environment. Last minute works well for some people

12

Perfectionism

Perfectionism can reduce achievement Trying to be perfect can reduce your

satisfaction and make you achieve far less It’s an undesirable illusion

Experiment with your standards for success Try for 80% or even 60%

Focus on the process of doing an activity not just the end result. Evaluate the outcome - what did you achieve? Did you enjoy the task?

13

Underlying dynamics

The family / historic context for your success

Wanting to be the best Trying to please others Setting yourself impossible targets Re-enacting anxiety, fear of failure

…

14

Dynamics of study

Pastrelationships

Relationshipwith LSE or

course of studyor tutor or …

Currentrelationships

15

Stress Management Skills

16

Stress Management Skills Physical, behavioural, cognitive Regularly switch off with some kind of

physical activity Good self care – sleep, diet, caffeine,

alcohol and nicotine Allow yourself time out without guilt Acknowledge anxiety, rather than denying

it. Ask if your negative thoughts are realistic

17

Challenging negative thoughts Apply ‘Socratic reasoning’ or imagine

this being tested in a Court of Law

Identify the negative thought Eg, I am going to fail the Course

Ascertain the evidence For and Against Ask if you are making a ‘thinking error’ Propose a more reasonable alternative

thought

18

Thinking errors

All or nothing thinking Discounting the positive Believing a catastrophe will

happen Emotional Reasoning

If I feel it then it must be true

Overgeneralizing Because something bad

happened in the past it is certain to happen again

19

LSE Student Counselling Service

Free and confidential Mainly offers short term counselling Appointments need to be booked in

advance Drop in sessions – each day at 3.00 Stress management handout Relaxation MP3’s Links to self help resources on a wide range

of student issues, including study – related and personal difficulties