Couldn't agree more about the advice to have a good idea of profiles etc. before going into the sim. Suggest you read up ALL the profiles and the associated tech stuff before even going in for the FIRST trip. This means that you are ahead of the game and when you read up the night/morning before you are revising not learning.
Once you get into the routine of the deatils you will want to spend the time in between relaxing not cramming.