One of the biggest lessons I learned is that intentionality matters in everything we do.

If you want to eat well, you intentionally prepare your meal. If you want to go on a date, you prepare your mind, your appearance and your attitude because you're excited about it. You carefully choose your clothes, make sure you smell nice and hope the other person is just as excited to see you.

I decided to apply that same level of intentionality to my reading.

I started picking out the clothes I would wear to my study sessions ahead of time. I informed people about my study schedule so that if I became distracted or forgot the time, someone could remind me. I also perfumed my clothes, set my study time, packed my books, water bottle and snacks beforehand.

I made sure my schedule wasn't overloaded so I wouldn't constantly postpone or make excuses for missing my study sessions.

I also had someone I reported to after each study session. I would tell them what topics I covered, where I struggled and what I couldn't finish. This accountability kept me consistent and helped me improve.

After every study session, I rewarded myself by eating something I enjoyed and making sure I got enough rest.

Applying these habits made my exam preparation more organized, less stressful and far more productive. I realized that success in exams isn't just about studying hard. It is about being intentional with every step of the process.