It’s here: one of those weeks when it seems like something major is happening in every class. Exams, essays, projects, it’s all happening right now. The stress is mounting and you want nothing more than to curl under the covers and cry until it all just disappears.
I’ve been there. In fact, I’m there right now. Two exams, two essays, and a project, on top of it being my sorority’s philanthropy week (why did I sign up to be a coach again? Masochism? Probably). I’m currently a senior, so I’ve had many weeks like this during my college career, and while they never stop being so stressful that I want to just nap straight through it, I have learned a few things to help me along.
1. Get Organized
I am a big believer in to-do lists. Planners. Any kind of written organization, I’m down for it. Sometimes when I try and think about everything I have to do in the next five days it feels like a tornado inside my brain. When is this due? How many pages for that? What day is that test? The most relieving thing in the world when I feel like that: a to-do list. It’s so simple, but so effective. On weeks like this, I like to break it up by day and class. Make sure to write down important information like due dates and specifications. Include time to study in your to-do list as well! You’ll feel more prepared and you get the satisfaction of crossing things off as you go.
2. Find Your Study Space
When I first got to UNT, I tried to study on the first floor of the library. I learned very quickly how impossible that was for me. I’m the kind of person that needs silence to study. I can’t focus on what I’m reading if I can hear talking or music or a television. Because of this, a lot of the normal study spots are off limits to me. No library, no Starbucks, no sorority house. Instead, I have what I call my study nook in my bedroom. A comfy fuzzy rug in the corner of my room with tons of pillows and a lamp is the perfect place for me to study. It’s quiet and comfortable and all mine. Find whatever space works for you; wherever you can focus on your work and get things done. Otherwise, you’ll spend three hours in the library talking to your friends before you realize you haven’t even touched your homework assignment.
3. Pick a Study Buddy
As an introvert, the phrase “study buddy” kind of makes me cringe. I tend to work alone and I’m not really the type who goes to classes to make friends. However, the usefulness of a study buddy cannot be overstated. Sometimes you can spend hours studying for a test only to realize you missed a crucial detail. You know who didn’t miss that detail? The girl who sits behind you. When you think your essay is great and then your grade doesn’t reflect that, a study buddy could’ve proofread and kept that from happening. So many situations in college require a little bit of help. Someone who is going through the same things as you, taking the same courses, can be a great asset to you when it comes to an overwhelming week. Plus, it never hurts to make a new friend.
4. Chill
The most important thing to remember during your week from hell is to relax. Grades are very important – it’s what we’re all here for after all – but don’t run yourself into the ground trying to make sure everything is perfect. After you finish a paragraph of your essay, reward yourself with some chocolate. After you read twenty pages, take ten minutes to browse social media. Take breaks and don’t overwhelm yourself, and when the week is over, take a long, relaxing hot bath or go out with your girlfriends. Reward yourself for getting through a tough week. You deserve it.
Hopefully these tips work for you as well as they work for me, and if you’re currently experiencing a week like mine, I wish you the best of luck. See you on the other side.