With a week left until finals, here are a few tips to keep you sane.
We can all agree finals are very stressful, from the long hours of studying to the many hours we spend crying — and trust me, we are all crying. But it is important to remember to take care of yourself, while still getting that test score that will hopefully save your GPA. So, here are a few tips and tricks to prepare for finals.
Go to class
With class coming to an end, you probably just want to take the last couple of classes to study for the coming exam. This is probably one of the biggest mistakes you can make so don’t do it. Instead, go to classes during the last week before finals. Not only could this help your attendance or participation grades, but it will also give you the chance to get some last minute tips from professors who want to show some appreciation to the students who cared to show up. This is also a great chance to ask your professors some questions about the exam, project or presentation that is due soon.
You Need to Study
Studying is important, but it’s sometimes hard to find the right place on campus when everyone is trying to do the same thing. There are many places on campus to study including the library, where you can get a great-tasting latte in the cafe before cracking open that textbook for the first time in weeks. The library has two large and quiet student study rooms, plus multiple floors filled with tables and chairs if you would rather prefer to with some light background noise.
Now, if you hate the idea of being in a room while it’s sunny out, then take the textbooks outside and enjoy the nice weather in one of the many green spaces we have on campus. The Old U sits beautifully in front of McFarlin Library, and, although it is a more central location on the campus, you can still find enough quiet space to study while working on a nice summer tan. If sitting in an occasionally busy part of campus doesn’t seem like the best spot for you then head over to The New U located in front of Chapman Hall. This field is just as beautiful but it sits on the edge of campus making it less of a traffic area, but more students tend to take the opportunity to relax on this field for that very reason.
Take a break
Although studying is important, so is self-care. Trying to keep up with laundry, dishes, and cleaning cans sometimes feel hard when you are so focused on your presentation coming up. A good trick to stay on track with studying while still keeping your space clean is to use study breaks to clean. After studying for an hour, step away from your desk and take a 15-20 minute break to do a chore. Not only does this give your brain a simple task allowing for rest time but it also gives you a chance to wash those dishes that have been sitting in your sink for the past couple of days. This trick is very helpful as we tend to work better in calm or clean environments. With enough breaks between studying you could get a whole day’s worth of cleaning in between memorizing all of those formulas and equations to ace that exam.
You need to sleep
When finals come around, we tend to throw the idea of sleep out the window and use the night to study even more. But sleep is important as it gives your brain the time it needs to rest while still absorbing and processing all the information. It is good to plan a healthy sleep schedule which means don’t go to bed too late when you need to wake up early. Getting a good amount of sleep is a vital piece of finals week because no matter how hard you study, one bad night of sleep could make or break your focus one the day of the test.
Plan Everything
Planning out everything that needs to get done is a great way to stay on track. This could be as easy as a to do list or a very in depth and color coordinated spreadsheet. When writing down everything and placing tasks in certain time frames, it makes it a lot easier to see the amount of work you need to get done and how much time you have to do it. By planning everything out in advance it also gives you a physical picture of how much time you’ll need for that project or essay.
Finals will always seem like the end of the world, but with these tips and tricks finals might be a little less stressful this semester. Remember to eat well, sleep well and don’t sabotage your study environment by forgetting about chores. Classes might seem like they are over, but continue to go during the last week to get some insight about your final from your professor and make sure to plan everything and don’t just go with the flow. There’s only a few more weeks left before summer and the best way to enter the summer heat is knowing you crushed that test. Good luck on your finals!
