>ORGANIZING your study schedule: I felt VERY unorganized and overwhelmed with where to start after I bought UWorld so I headed straight to my local Staples store. I bought a 5 subject notebook, PostIt notes, page flaggers, highlighters, flashcards & a 2018 planner. I divided my notebook (with the page flaggers) into 5 main subjects - MedSurg, L&D/Peds, Psych, Geri, & Leadership. I did the same thing with my flashcards and used the page flaggers to divide my stack up into 3 sections - Pharm (major drug therapeutic levels, toxicity levels, toxicity signs and symptoms, antidotes, & vaccines per CDC info), Lab Values (very very very important info to memorize), & Pathophysiology of Disorders. I used my 2018 planner to schedule the number of questions and topics that I would study for that given day & this allowed me to hold myself accountable so that I wouldn't slack off while studying. >STUDYING: Every morning I would quiz myself on my pharm & lab value flashcards - I became an expert after 6 weeks of doing this. I gave myself only 1 day off a week & would study Monday-Saturday. Some days I had no motivation to study, so I'd switch up my study location and if that didn't work I'd give myself the day off, but made myself study that Sunday instead. I found that I had to go sit at Starbucks or Panera in order to get that day's material covered without any distractions that I faced at home. I did 75 questions minimum a day, selected all the subjects/systems for each quiz, & did it on test mode (not tutor mode). The thought behind this was that if I did 75 question quizzes while studying then I would feel prepared to pass the NCLEX with 75 questions (even though I passed with 141 - basically two 75 question quizzes), & if I did all subjects/systems to train my brain to jump from 1 subject to another with each following question just as the NCLEX does. Once I was done with my 75 question quiz I would take a walk outside or get a snack, then I would go back & review all my rationales. The key here is to write down every rationale - even if you got it right. This is where the notebook came in handy to write down the rationales in your own words. >THE DAY BEFORE my NCLEX: I was told not to study the day before and to just relax and destress. I went and got a manicure and pedicure to reward myself for all my studying and try to calm my mind. I didn't touch my computer or go on UWorld the day before, instead I had my mom quiz me on all my Pharm & Lab Value flashcards once through then I flipped through my rationale notebook and skimmed through the pictures/mnemonics I highlighted (only stopping to read a rationale topic that I completely forgot). I packed a lunch for myself (apple slices, string cheese, granola bar, & a water bottle) to bring to the test center to eat during my breaks as "brain food". I laid out my clothes the night before & ensured my gas tank was full so that my morning would go as smooth as possible. I ate a healthy dinner and drank an entire glass of water before bed to ensure I would wake up feeling great. Do NOT drink any alcohol the day before - this will only make you feel foggy the next morning and hinders your sleep cycle - save that for after your test to celebrate! I set 8 alarms the night before just to ensure I didn't sleep through any of them & made sure I was in bed by 9pm to give myself a full 8 hours of sleep. >THE DAY OF my NCLEX: I woke up on my 4th alarm & got ready with the clothes I set out the night before - leggings, sweatshirt, running shoes. I gave myself an entire hour to get to my test center, even though it was only 30 minutes away. I listened to 1 pump up song beforehand, left my phone in the car, grabbed my lunchbox full of snacks & my wallet with my ID, said one last prayer for Him to guide me through this test and allow me to remember all that I studied in the previous weeks, then I walked into the testing center.