Working environment

The setting in which you work is of great importance, as you'll be spending a lot of time there alone with your lessons. So choose your cocoon carefully and furnish it to make you feel at home.

Whether it's your bedroom or a room you'll be occupying, make sure it's well ventilated (a quarter of an hour with the window open in the morning regenerates the ambient air and sweeps away germs; an operation you should repeat often to oxygenate your lungs and grey matter and chase away fatigue and pessimism!) 

• You'll also want to find a quiet place where you can avoid the tempting sound of the TV, which the rest of the family might be watching at times when you need to concentrate.

• Try to maintain order and cleanliness: order to help you find your way around your various courses, and because it also helps to clarify ideas; cleanliness to spare your health and keep what is your main living space as pleasant as possible during these assessment periods. On the subject of order, systematically put out of sight the courses for which you have already taken the exam: case closed, even temporarily; no need to return to them for the moment and, in this way, you can concretely see the work that remains to be done diminishing.

Surround yourself with a few objects you like, but eliminate those that are likely to distract you: if you're going to spend too much time daydreaming in front of a photo of your girlfriend/boyfriend, it's best to avoid them. This is true for any object: know yourself and "clean up your act" before you start working.

• Don't neglect your comfort: an office chair that's comfortable enough to support you for long periods, a work table that's large enough to handle your documents, a little "resting" area for a little break (at these times, turn your back on your books, forget about them), a little pillow for that aching neck... in short, anything that can help you get through these periods better, and therefore deliver more efficient work.

• Keep yourwater bottle handy, you know how important hydration is.

• Working outside when the weather's nice? Why not, if it's in a quiet environment and if you know you're capable of not letting yourself be distracted by the little sounds of nature! Just make sure you have the material conditions you need for active work (in particular, a seat and a table for writing).