The end of the year will be here soon, which means you’re probably pretty far along in your INBDE prep. That also means you may be feeling stressed…overwhelmed…tired. So here’s a friendly reminder to take care of yourself!

Studying is obviously the most important part of your INBDE prep, but it’s also really important to not just prepare yourself mentally, but physically, too. After all, your brain works best when your mind and body are well cared for. Here are 5 tips for getting yourself mentally and physically ready for the INBDE.

Move Your Body

Getting exercise has many obvious benefits for our mental and physical health, but did you know it also has a direct impact on brain function? Here’s how it works:

Moving your body increases blood-oxygen levels, which in turn increases activity in the hippocampus — the part of the brain that controls memory. More physical activity equals better memory and retention. That’s pretty helpful for the INBDE, right?

When you exercise, focus on your breathing. Whether it’s walking, running, yoga, or another favorite activity, concentrate on taking in deep breaths to get more oxygen.

Nourish Your Body

In addition to making sure you get exercise, you also need to make sure you’re properly fueling and hydrating your body.

Let’s talk about hydration. Your body and brain are composed largely of water, so hydration really couldn’t be more important. If you’re even a little dehydrated, you could experience headaches and other disruptions to your brain’s functions. Make sure you’re getting plenty of water, and avoid things like caffeine and alcohol. They’ll just leave you more dehydrated!

It’s also important that you eat enough healthy foods to fuel your body. Try to eat brain-boosting foods high in proteins and healthy fats to stay full longer.

Get Some Sleep

You’ve heard it before, but it’s worth repeating. Your brain works better when it’s rested. When you’re tired, you may lose your train of thought more easily, have trouble remembering things you already know, or you may not be able to retain new information.

The reality is, pulling an all-nighter for the INBDE is just a waste of time. There’s no way you can learn everything in one sitting (or two, or three), so you might as well study what you can and then get adequate rest. That way, you won’t be tired, and your study sessions will be more productive.

Don’t Neglect Your Relationships

Your intuition may be to lock yourself away to study all the time and avoid social activities. But it’s actually really important to surround yourself with a support system of friends and family.

There has to be a balance, for sure, but sometimes spending some time with friends or talking to your family can be a big stress reliever. This may come in the form of encouragement, or just being able to talk about something other than INBDE prep.

So go get a coffee or phone a friend for a little stress relief and support every now and then.

Take a Break

Yes, you have a lot of material to master, but have you ever heard of, or experienced burnout?

Here’s the scoop: If you spend all of your time studying or going to class, you will max out on the amount of information your brain can retain. If you keep going and going nonstop, you’ll hit a breaking point and have to take a day or two off to recover. During INBDE prep, you simply can’t afford multiple days off.

Instead, take periodic, shorter breaks to give your mind a rest. You can take a walk, take a nap, eat a meal, clean…whatever will allow you to relax for about 30 minutes, and then get back to studying! Your mind will feel fresher, and you’ll retain more information.

Don’t Forget to Use a Study Aid

Those are some really important tips to take care of yourself during your INBDE prep, but the reality is, you still have to study.

Why not use the most comprehensive, recommended INBDE study aid to make your prep sessions more effective? Dental Decks gives you everything you need to make the most of your time and be 100% ready for your INBDE.