It is around this time of year that college students begin to feel increasingly insane levels of anxiety in anticipation of the semester’s end. I would be lying if I said that I am not among them, but as a junior in college now, I think I’ve acquired some useful tips for surviving the last few weeks of the semester with my sanity intact. From self-care advice to practical tips for studying, here’s what I’ve learned in my two and a half years in college so far:
Where to Study: In my experience, the location of your study session is one of the most important things to think about when it comes down to the final weeks of the semester. While your study location may seem inconsequential, it can drastically affect your mindset for better or for worse. Avoid studying in your room, especially in your bed. Your brain associates your bedroom with sleep and relaxation. This can make it much harder to concentrate for extended periods of time, because your brain wants to go into rest and relaxation mode. Furthermore, if you consistently use your bedroom as your primary study spot, your brain may begin to associate that space with schoolwork instead of rest. This can make it harder for you to get a good night’s sleep, which is one thing that is extremely important to have in order to do well on your finals! I like to take this advice a step further and avoid doing extensive studying and schoolwork in my apartment altogether. I want my apartment to be the place I come to relax, unwind, and reset, and if I’m only ever studying and completing assignments in my apartment, it’s harder for me to switch gears and use my space for any sort of selfcare. Of course, I recognize that leaving your own space every time you need to study isn’t always realistic. However, at the very least I strongly recommend making sure that your dorm, apartment, or house isn’t your only place to do schoolwork. When I am especially tired, or when it’s too cold out, I don’t always have it in me to walk all the way to the campus library. Sometimes, I can only manage to find a common room in my on-campus apartment building, and occasionally I end up working in my suite’s living room. But I do my best to keep the campus library as my primary studying spot. I recommend having at least one other location besides your living space that you designate as a study spot. This could be a cafe, a library, an academic building, or any other place that helps you feel in the zone.
When to Study: College is notorious for the all-nighters that students have to pull, as well as the copious amounts of energy drinks they have to drink. On many campuses, overworking yourself and having a horrible sleep schedule is practically a rite of passage. However, I strongly recommend doing everything in your power to reject this as your norm and establish a regular sleep/study schedule. Aim for at least eight hours of sleep every night. You will never be able to put your best foot forward in classes if you are constantly struggling to stay awake! Furthermore, your mental health suffers significantly when you’re not consistently well-rested. With the workload of many classes, on top of extracurriculars and jobs, it can seem impossible to complete all your tasks on time and still get enough rest. With careful time management, though, you can develop a consistent routine that allows you plenty of time to be productive and sets a limit for when it’s time to call it a day. I usually find it’s easiest to study in the gaps between my classes, around mealtimes, and after a short break following my last class of the day. These time windows of studying time help me to break my day up into more manageable chunks, and by the time evening rolls around I don’t feel so overwhelmed I also have a rule for myself to avoid studying and working past 9:30 p.m. whenever possible. I know this is very early for many students and may not be possible for everyone, but this is what works best for me since I work so early in the mornings. Take a look at your schedule from the perspective of sectioning your day around classes, meals, and study times, and maybe this tip can help you feel less overwhelmed, too.
Communication with Professors: The best tip I could possibly give anyone worried about getting through finals season is to always be proactive about communicating with your professors. This may sound like a basic or obvious tip, but I know many students, including myself, who have often hesitated to reach out to their professors when they were in need of extra help. It can be extremely nerve wracking to tell a professor that you’re struggling, ask for accommodations of some kind, or request an extension. However, most professors are more than willing to help you out and are often more understanding than you may expect. Even the most cutthroat, stickler professors are often compassionate and receptive to a student being honest with them about their struggles. In my experience, as long as a professor see that you truly care about the class and are willing to work with them, they will be willing to work with you. If you are someone who experiences intense anxiety around situations like this, it is helpful to remind yourself that the worst they can tell you is no. Regardless, it’s always best to look back and know that you did everything in your power to help yourself to succeed, rather than looking back and wishing you had done more. Utilize your professor’s office hours, email them as soon as you feel like you may need extra help of some kind, and be sure to show your gratitude for their time and effort. The results will speak for themselves!
These are the three most significant things I have learned about finals season as a college student so far. I hope my tips will help you feel less stressed, and that you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. To sum it all up, be sure to manage your time wisely, utilize the campus resources at your disposal, and above all else, take care of yourself. Good luck out there! You got this.