From the desk

Thoughts on exam stress, the science of studying, and what it's like to build something you actually needed yourself.

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What the breathing exercise data is showing — results from the stress survey

When I added the before-and-after stress rating to the breathing exercise, I didn't know what to expect. Here's what the early data is showing — and why it's more interesting than I thought.

How your brain reacts to different music

Should you study with music? Why some people focus better with it and others don't. The neuroscience of music and studying, explained honestly.

What I actually do the night before an exam — and what I stopped doing

I used to cram until midnight. Then I'd lie awake stressed, wake up exhausted, and walk into the exam running on empty. Here's what changed when I actually listened to the science.

The study method most students use is also the least effective — here's what actually works

Re-reading your notes feels productive. It isn't. Cognitive science has been saying this for decades — and most students still don't know. Here's what the research actually says.

Why your mind goes blank before an exam — and what's actually happening in your brain

It's not a lack of preparation. It's cortisol. Here's the science behind exam blanking, explained simply — and what you can do about it in the moment.