Finals is the most stressful time of the year for any college student. It’s a period in which many cram study sessions in the library and overload on coffee and red bull. The idea of it and the events during and leading up to the final are tiring and terrifying. However, there’s a always a way to work smarter than harder. Not saying that a student shouldn’t work hard to get the best results they can on their finals, it’s just that most of the time, students find themselves trying to do too much, leading to further stress and anxiety. Here are three huge things you can do to ensure that you do fantastic on your finals without losing your sanity.
1. Don’t Study Everything at Once
A lot of people will try to cram all their course loads into one session multiple times a day. This will only lead to further stress and cause you to obtain too much information at once. Instead, figure out when the dates for your finals actually are so you can plan which subjects you can study for first. For example, if you have a math final and a writing final due on a tuesday and the other on a thursday, work on your math study first followed by your writing. This will allow you to focus on one thing at a time and it will be seamless and less stressful for you in the process.
2: If it’s a much more difficult course, do group study sessions
When it comes to courses that may be tougher, try to find people in your class who are just as ambitious as you are to get the best grade they can on the final. This is college, so it should be anyone. When you find those people, form a study group. Set a date and time and bring the materials you need to study with each other. Index cards and highlighters are always great tools to make little flash cards, creating little mini quizzes for one another. This group work will allow you to remember conversations and niches that’ll further help you be ready for your big final.
#3: Get plenty of rest
College students will always complain about lack of sleep. It’s in the nature of things. But procrastinating and deciding to work on that final project when you had time to start it weeks prior isn’t such a smart idea. In fact, try to get a jump start on your studying and course loads. This way, you’ll have enough time to study and get a good night’s rest. If you decide to study all night right before that 9-10 a.m. final, the chances of passing a final while trying to keep one eye open with full attentiveness slims down. With a good night’s rest, you’ll be more functional and alert.
With these three important tips in mind, if you follow them, they will no doubt help you become more prepared for your final and your chance of success will without a doubt increase. Good Luck, Study Up, and Rest well.