This is the week when you want to scream into your pillow and screw everything to become a stripper. Well, I already did the first and so let’s hope neither you or I ever come close to the second. In order to detract from this demise, I am going to enlighten you on how to stay sane during finals week… a rather insanely difficult task.
In order to keep your sanity you must be able to think and act rationally. Most importantly you must be able to withhold a sense of stability. Though, keeping that inner temple of yours from crashing down to the ground can be quite tough when you have exams (some cumulative if your teacher is Satan himself) that you haven’t even began preparing for. However, if you have prepared, congratulations, your parents taught you well.
My parents taught me well, but time-management is defiantly still a ongoing lesson for me at this early point in my college experience. So how do you and I stay sane during a week of cramming and procrastination? Don’t you fret, I’ve done the research and here are the steps that will take you from being that psycho screaming into your pillow to the girl or guy who’s got it all together.
It all begins with realizing there are two parts to preparing for finals week: the studying and the trying to focus on studying.
The studying occurs 30% of the time and the trying to focus on studying occurs 70% of the time. How do you fix these numbers so that the studying is increased? Well many students including my very own roommate would tell you, “Take a vyvanse” (an ADHD pill). In a survey conducted by Alan Desantis, a sociologist at the University of Kentucky, results showed 50 percent of University of Kentucky upperclassmen reported using unprescribed ADHD stimulants at one point, especially during midterms or finals. Though it does work as a cognitive boosting pill, there have been endless articles deeming the negative side effects if taken more frequently.
So let’s turn to the brain-boosting and focus on options that do not include the side effects of nausea, vomiting, constipation, stomach/abdominal pain, dry mouth, headache, trouble sleeping, sweating, irritability, racing heartbeat, etc (the list is too long). Here are the tools you need to alleviate all of your studying troubles:
Eat smart food:
Yes, there are foods that actually boost your brain power. You can find list here
Sleep:
Sleep deprivation leads to memory loss, increased stress levels, and inability to concentrate!
Tea time:
Did you know too much caffeine actually has a negative effect on your studying? Opt for caffeinated teas which have less caffeine but can still keep you going throughout the evening.
Breaks:
Breaks are very important. They give you time to clear your mind and start studying again with renewed energy. However, make sure you don’t splurge on breaks! We want to be studying 70% of the time, not 30%.
Exercise:
If you have the time, get moving! Exercise is a great way to alleviate stress, feel relaxed, and feel great about yourself!
De-cluttering:
Having an organized study space will not only de-clutter your area, but your mind too!
Stretching:
Many health issues can arise from hours of sitting in the same position, so get up and stretch! On the bright side, it’ll help wake you up.
Listen to music:
Listening to Mozart and other classical artists has been proven to help concentration!
Eat chocolate:
The flavonoids (plant pigment) in chocolate have been proven to improve blood flow to the brain so stock up and enjoy a concentration boosting snack… in moderation of course.
Smiles:
Summer is just around the corner. Remember that and you’ll be able to push through this last stretch of academic chaos.
Finals week just got that much easier.