Ahhhhhh, Finals. The most dreaded and anticipated time of the year. The school year is coming to an end and the race for snatching good grades and saving GPAs is on. Most can agree that it’s a pretty stressful time for all students. Lack of sleep, anxiety, and poor nutrition are some of the common side effects during this time. It’s extremely easy to get overwhelmed.
Her Campus-Spelman is here to prevent that! It’s vital that we are triumphant! We deserve it!
Here are a couple tips to help you survive Finals.
1. Take a deep breath.
It may not seem like it, but everything is going to be alright. Taking the time to breathe during moments of stress is necessary. It costs $0 and takes less than 30 seconds. Breathe sis.
2. Organize your responsibilities.
Let’s be honest, most of the stress that arises during Finals time is due to improper preparation. Forgetting or being blindsided by assignments is all too common. To-Do lists are your best friend! They don’t have to be intricate and are pretty much self-explanatory. Grab a sheet of paper or open the notes section in your phone and jot down EVERYTHING you know you have to do. If you’re unsure, be sure to check Moodle and your Syllabus for assignments that may have crept by. Keep this list in your possession at all times and look over it whenever possible. The more it stays refreshed, the better.
3. Prioritize.
Your friends will still be there. That Netflix show can be paused. What’s essential during this time is doing the absolute best that you can. This can only be a result after prioritizing. This is challenging as the AUC can be extremely distracting, but it can occur. If you know an assignment’s due date is rapidly approaching, prioritize and set aside the necessary time to complete it. Yes, school work is excruciating but you don’t have to suffer through it……
4. Create a “Finals” playlist
Music is therapeutic. This is just fact. Work is a lot more fun when it has a soundtrack. So why not curate a playlist with your favorite artists? Some of my most favorite genres to listen to while studying or completing work are jazz and alternative. I simply compile a list of related albums, open Apple Music, and voila! This can be easily accomplished with any other music streaming platform. Get grooving and get some work done!
5. Find a comfortable study spot
The library does not work for everyone. So what does one do when they’re in dire need of a place to get work done? Fear not, there are an array of nearby places one can use! Cosby’s Reading Room, Upper and Lower Manley, Science Center’s Lounge are all places that are conducive to one’s learning. Upper and Lower Manley may be a bit distracting, but there’s nothing headphones can’t fix.
For those tired of campus, coffee shops are a great alternative! The Dream Cafe is a black owned coffee-shop that’s less than 10 minutes away from campus. In fact, with a couple friends in tow, it’s a short walk. They play r&b and make bomb smoothies. The ambiance is unmatched. Other popular spots are Bubble Cafe, Octane, and Georgia Tech’s Starbucks – Barnes and Noble. No matter the location, make sure that you have everything needed to get things done!
6. Be sure to end on a positive note with professors.
This is certainly easier said than done. However, it is necessary to end on a positive note with as we prepare to end one school year and transition into another. Maintaining a positive relationship with professors can be accomplished through a simple email of gratitude, a thank you note, any act of kindness.
7. Attend Office Hours While the time is rapidly minimizing, most professors are still holding office hours during the last week. Take advantage of this and attend them. Ask questions about any topics that have confused you, discuss your standing in the class, ask for tips. Anything! Checking in can make the difference in a grade!
8. Remember to sleep! Let’s admit it: college students glamorize all-nighters. It’s never an uncommon sight to see someone posting about being up all night or moaning about only getting two hours of sleep. Yes, work has to be done, but we only hurt ourselves when we neglect getting a proper night’s rest.
Pulling all-nighters is not healthy. Your brain removes toxins in your sleep, so imagine what happens when you don’t get any? To avoid all-nighters, make sure to prioritize your time as discussed above. In the event that you do have to pull one, be sure to stay hydrated and eat healthy brain foods. Sugar and caffeine don’t help as much as we think they do.
9. Keep the end in mind
We’re all in college for our own personal reasons. Whatever that reason may be, be sure to keep it in mind as you work through finals. If your end goal is to graduate, keep that in mind and do your best to make it there! If your goal is a certain gpa, do your absolute best to get there. If your goal is to be happy, regardless of any outcome, keep that in mind and protect your peace through finals.
Finals week is a doozy, but with these eight tips it doesn’t have to be. We at HerCampus Spelman wish everyone the absolute best! We got this sisters, let’s finish strong!
(photo provided by 123rf.com)