How to smash your studies like a Gladiator!

GLADIATORS READYYYYY… to return!!

Series three of Gladiators airs 17 January on BBC One and iPlayer, but you can still get ahead of the revision game by preparing Gladiators style!

With contenders ready for every event, you want to feel as prepared as possible for any challenge. We caught up with Gladiator Dynamite to talk about all things studying, revision and we tapped into her Gladiators mindset to create some tips for you ahead of exam season.

If you follow these as a guide, you'll be an absolute Legend at studying.

What are the biggest traits of a Gladiator, that could also help you in school?

Dynamite says that "confidence is key", especially through preparation and games. Having a strong mental mindset as well as physical agility helps a lot when you are preparing to battle. Throughout different games in Gladiators, and days in school life, your ability to face any upcoming challenge must be strong.

Balance is a key element in both Gladiators and school life. It is important to have separate time aside from work and play. Time management is a good way to handle this, as it allows you to plan and organise your time into different chunks. There’s a break down on how to maintain a study-life balance that gives you ideas of things you may want to put in.

How to face challenges

Dynamite says her top three games are Duel, Powerball and The Wall, they all focus on different skills. She says "As nerve wracking as it would be on a platform with a big inflatable pugil stick charging at you, it is a great way to show how unpredictable life events can be" - just like school days. If you'd like to find out more ways to build resilience developmental psychologist Dr Heather Branigan has loads of advice! Tackling your studies can be tricky, but by preparing and being resilient it can become a lot more enjoyable - like Duel!

Don’t forget there are many ways to tackle a challenge. If you find revision difficult or struggle to concentrate by yourself, you can find friends to study with too. This can positively impact your wellbeing as well as having an extra hand around to help. In Powerball, Dynamite told us that as a Gladiator you have to have teamwork, and it’s nice to feel the support and energy around you. Perhaps rather than thinking revision is a solo game, maybe try working as a team to achieve goals.

Set a clear goal and purpose for your studies. As a Gladiator you have to have strong intention to win any challenge and try the best you can, even if you don’t succeed. It is the same for your studies and exams, have a plan for every study session or plan a reward for every question you get right - recreate the same feeling as the Gladiators do after they defeat their opponent! Having a set time to focus and finding what works for you is important. If you need some tips, then check out our tips about how to plan a study timetable!

The new series launches on 17 January on BBC One and iPlayer, so be prepared for some new big exciting challenges, featuring Dynamite, which could help you with the upcoming exam and revision season! There are some more Gladiator-inspired revision tips to help you tackle your studies on our website here.

If you need support

You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.

If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are more links to helpful organisations on the BBC Bitesize Action Line page for young people.