This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Eckerd chapter.
How to Survive Finals
By: Julia Tanquary
Finals can be extremely stressful, but don’t worry. Here are some tips to help you
survive and even thrive!
1) Plan out a realistic study schedule well in advance
Avoid cramming the night before a final by making an organized study schedule.
The schedule can be as vague as just listing what exams you plan on studying for on
which day; you don’t need to list specific times. Stick to your schedule as much as
possible to avoid extra, unnecessary stress.
2) Get some rest
Many studies show that students perform best on exams when they have had
around 8 hours of sleep. In an article, “Forget All-Night Studying, A Good Night’s
Sleep Is Key to Doing Well on Exams” published by Harris Health, Dr. Philip Alapat
says, “Memory recall and ability to maintain concentration are much improved
when an individual is well rested.” While 8 hours may seem unreasonable, try to get
as much rest as possible, at least the night before your exam.
3) Try using the Pomodoro Technique to study
Studying can be frustrating and exhausting but it doesn’t have to be with this time
management method. The Pomodoro Technique consists of five steps that were
developed by Francesco Cirillo. The five steps are: 1) Decide on the task to be
accomplished. (In this case pick which subject or material you want to study.) 2) Set
a timer for a certain amount of minutes. (The traditional amount of time used in the
Pomodoro Technique is 25 minutes but I prefer to double this time.) 3) Study only
the predetermined material for the entire amount of time. 4) Take a break (If you
only studied for 25 minutes consider a 5-minute break. If you studied for longer, try
a 10 to 15 minute break.) 5) Every four “pomodori” take a longer break, 30 minutes
to an hour.
4) Study in different areas
According to an article in the New York Times, “Forget What You Know About Good
Study Habits” by Benedict Carey, studying in different locations increases a person’s
retention of material. Dr. Robert A. Bjork, a psychologist at University of California,
Los Angeles, says, “… when the outside context is varied, the information is enriched,
and this slows down forgetting.” So next time you choose where to study, shake
things up, instead of always going to the library try the Palmetto Productions Café or South Beach on campus!
5) Take care of yourself
Unfortunately, staying healthy on a college campus in December with the added
stress of finals can be difficult but no one wants to take a 3-hour final when they
have the flu. Do everything you can to keep yourself healthy. Wash your hands often,
get plenty of rest, and most importantly, eat healthy, nourishing foods.
Good luck!