This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Arkansas chapter.
I wish I had been warned about that “I’m-Going-To-Jump-Off-A-Cliff” feeling before my first round of finals.
Truthfully, the rules of what I’ve recently dubbed as #strikeoutstudentstress apply to first, second, third, fourth and yes – even those forever-strong fifth-timers. Studies show that studying “smarter” and not “harder” have resulted in higher exam grades and lower freak-out levels among college students; and thank God there’s no formula to success. In fact, all it takes is a dash of dedication on the part of the studier and the willingness to unwind. So kick back, relax and take a deep breath. Your 2014 official “Finals Week Survival Guide” is here.
1.) How to Study Smarter.
- Put Your Phone Away. Off. Silenced. Out of sight. Having your phone even within reach is too tempting to mess with, and the sound of the Twitter bird is way too adorable to ignore. Text your friends, family and eye candy – let them know that you will be away from your phone for an hour and that you will talk to them after your study session is over. For our generation, this takes a lot of willpower. I like to put my phone away not only to focus, but just to feel pride in knowing that I could, and that I am not a prisoner to my phone screen!
- Take breaks. This is one of the most important things to remember! It isn’t healthy to sit in front of a computer screen or a sheet of paper for hours on end, and you can easily hit a mental roadblock by doing so. Whether you realize it or not, you begin to absorb less and less information when you cram all of your studying into multiple hours at a time without doing something you enjoy. For every hour that you study, take no more than a 30 minute break. Some things to do that won’t keep you away from stuying too long include cleaning, reading, taking a bubble bath and an episode of your favorite Netflix show (a cup of hot tea or cocoa is really soothing along with any of these activities!)
- Plan your study time. Never try and – what I call – “blindly study”. I have been a victim of pulling out my notebook and haphazardly studying every subject in a willy-nilly manner. No bueno. After your classes for the day, make sure you have an agenda book (or a handwritten to-do list) that keeps track of what hours of the evening are spent studying what. So, for example, you may study for your Economics final from 3-4. Then block out 4:00-4:30 for your break. Then get back to work from 4:30-5:30 to study for Chemistry.
2.) Learning to Unwind – The HC Way!
- Remember why you’re studying. This is your future that you are working towards – never let that scare you, only let it excite you! I love a good challenge, and finals are only one more wall to knock down on the way to getting what I really want, and that’s a degree. When you find yourself frantic and prepared to give up and “wing it”, just keep that little thought in mind.
- Take a bubble bath. This is possibly the greatest stress-reliever. Choose a hot bubble bath over nap, you will be glad you did! A handy purchase is stress-relief bath salts (eucalyptus and spearmint) for your indulgence. Bath & Body Works sells this among other stress-relieving items including body wash, pillow spray and lotion. Put on your favorite relaxation music (I would highly recommend Yiruma) and soak for the full extent of your relaxing 30 minutes.
- Curl up on the couch. Put on a new episode of a show that does not require much brain power. As an animal lover, I love to curl up with my fuzzy blanket and best pillow and veg out to “Big Cat Diary” (this is a judge-free zone!)
- Hot Chocolate or Tea. Whichever you prefer! I, myself, have never been much of a tea gal. Hot chocolate is the perfect, warm fix when I’m starting to feel anxious or nervous. Take deep breaths between warm, delicious sips and think about the Holidays. Try to stay away from coffee to avoid a crash later – you need to allow your body to naturally get tired during this time, never force yourself awake.
3.) Wellness and we.
- Take care of your skin. Breakouts love finals week. Never fall asleep with your makeup on; in fact (as horrific as it sounds) I avoid makeup altogether during finals week. I am simply not there to impress anyone other than my professor, who I know I am not marrying. Keep your skin moisturized to prevent dryness during this cold weather, and make nightly facials a definite thing!
- Take care of your body. Avoid junk food at all costs; while convienient, it makes you sleepy and leaves you feeling bloated and disgusting. Gum is a great alternative to those who love to snack while they study. Keeping your diet in check this week will make a huge difference on your energy level.
- Know your limits. That means no all-nighters. Cramming all night only has a negative impact, and you actually retain so much less. Set a “bedtime” for yourself every night this week, and plan your studying accordingly so that you aren’t feeling worthless the next morning! When you aren’t quite tired enough, pull out a good book and read until you can fall asleep.
- Go to the gym. Keep your time at the gym to about half an hour. The short period of time will not cut into your study hours, but it will leave you feeling refreshed. Do not take your study materials to the gym – it looks awesome in movies, it does not work nor is it healthy in real life!
4.) Boundaries for Socialites.
- The party ends in hell. Okay, not really, but I got your attention! Partying is at the top of your no-no list these final weeks. If it simply is not out of your system, party when you ace that Ecology final.
- The liquor is hard, but the F is harder. Drinking is not a habit you want to form as you end your semester. Drinking (yes, even a little!) can hinder your studying ability. While wine is nice to take the edge off, I encourage you to try some of the relaxation methods we discussed above.
- Finals and friendships. By no means should you shut your friends out as you study – but if you study better alone, do it. Never accept the invite to study in a group if this will be counterproductive for you.
Happy studying, collegiettes!