How To Increase Your Grades Before the End of the Semester

I have been a college professor for over 20 years. During that time I have seen hundreds of students fail without any apparent reason. They try hard, they spend a lot of time studying, they do their best. What can be causing so many troubles for them? The answer is one word: stress.

Stress is a well-known enemy of the education processes, particularly in learning and memory retention. It is an obstacle in the educational journey, deteriorating not only the effectiveness of learning practices but also the consistency with which information is stored and recalled.

Learning involves the acquisition of new information or skills. Retention, on the other hand, involves storing those learned materials in our memory bank for later recall. Both these processes require considerable cognitive resources, and, under normal circumstances, function quite efficiently.

However, when an individual is stressed, the release of stress hormones like cortisol has a detrimental effect on the brain's ability to both form new memories and retrieve old ones. High cortisol levels can lead to cellular damage in the hippocampus, the brain structure significantly involved in memory forming, organizing, and storing. In a 1996 study by Newcomer et al., it was found that even a few days of excess cortisol can lead to temporary cognitive impairment.

Moreover, stress can create an environment of constant distraction and concern, making it a challenge for individuals to focus on learning tasks at hand. Instead of processing new information or recalling stored data, the mind is preoccupied with stressors, significantly impairing cognitive function.

While acute stress may lead to temporary disruption in learning and memory, chronic stress can cause long-lasting cognitive impairment. Prolonged periods of stress can lead to a reduction in the number of neurons, change in neural connections, and shrinkage of certain brain areas, resulting in significant memory deficits and learning difficulties.

Additionally, stress also often leads to change in behaviors and routines that indirectly contribute to decreased learning. Physical exercise, good nutrition, and adequate sleep – all important for healthy cognitive function and memory consolidation – are often the first things to be affected when one is under stress.

It's also worth mentioning that something known as "test anxiety" can make learning tough. It's a type of stress that shows up during tests. It can block us from bringing up the information we learned when it's time to take the test. If you seem to be doing well with your study routine and then fall apart at the time of the exam, you are not alone. Many people suffer from test anxiety.

But I’m here to tell you there is a way to get through this troublesome time and improve your grades before the end. To help students improve their chances of finishing the semester strong, I have designed a digital toolbox to help you relax your overwhelmed brain and improve your capacity to learn. I will provide you with a cheat sheet and some extremely simple exercises to quickly teach you how to rewire your brain to be more efficient so you can turn on a dime and finish strong. To access this helpful set of tools click here or on the following link: How to Increase Your Grades Before the Semester Ends. It is my hope that this simple digital toolbox will make a huge impact on your life.