That bi-annual torture ritual is upon us once again: Final Week. And I don’t know about you, but after Thanksgiving Break the only thing on my mind is getting home for Winter Break in time to finish my leftovers. But alas, you have just three weeks more to tough it out. Here are some tips to get you through it and back on your way home.
FIRST of all, remember it’s only one week. You are officially in the home stretch now. Yes, this is the time when you are bombarded with projects and tests, but keep in mind that if you put everything you have into the next few days, you’ll be rewarded with rest and NO MORE HOMEWORK. That’s not an offer you’ll get during most of the semester. Overall, keep the endgame in mind. Sometimes white-knuckling your way through tough assignments is easier when you know you are just days away from freedom.
SLEEP is usually the most crucial part of finals. Be prepared for some all-nighters. If you are going to stay awake all night to study or get a project done, make sure you are strict about napping. The ole, “I’ll just take a quick 20 minute nap and get back to work,” is ALWAYS a bad idea. You will not get back to work because sleep is awesome and seductive and you will give in to it. Now that you’ve allowed yourself no naps all night, keep it up during the day. If you fall asleep right after your final, your sleep schedule will be screwed up for another night. Wait until the next appropriate time to go back to sleep, then go for it.
CAFFEINE is man’s best friend. Screw dogs. It’s safer than illegal drugs (and those horrifying energy drinks that dissolve your liver), and the perfect way to get an extra boost during grueling finals deadlines. You have to be careful, though. If you down double-shot mochas all day after staying up late studying, you are just putting off a more intense crash later and making it harder for you to go to sleep when you find the time. If you go to caffeine for help during this finals week, only drink it when you feel yourself fading. Don’t drink it within two hours of going to bed so you can get restful sleep. And be sure to actually eat something so the Red Bull doesn’t eat at your brain.
FOOD gives you energy. It’s the kind of science even Emerson kids can figure out. With finals being so demanding, you have to be sure you are eating enough to keep your energy up. And Munchkins don’t count. It’s really tempting when you’re under so much stress to eat unhealthy food and pig out on snacks while you study. But just be aware that most of that unhealthy food is going to slow you way down in your studying efforts and can even affect the way you take tests. I’m not saying you have to go completely organic this semester, but trying to focus when all you’ve eaten is sugar is going to be a problem. Mix in some protein classics like peanut butter sandwiches, string cheese and yogurt. It doesn’t taste as good as a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, but it’ll keep your brain sharp.
FASHION is a staple at Emerson. But you’ll notice that the farther we descend into Finals Week, the less the busy fashionistas bother to wear stilettos to class. I once spotted someone wearing – gasp! – sweat pants! But who can blame them? After getting three hours of sleep for the past week and dealing with tests and meetings all day, who has the time to style their hair to perfection or pick a creative outfit? Try not to fall into this mindset too much. You’d be surprised how keeping up a normal routine – especially hygiene and beauty – will make you feel less stressed and more confident during the Finals season. You don’t have to go all out, but making sure you wear something comfortable that’s also flattering and putting on just a little bit of lip gloss will go a long way to making you feel more in control during the crazy weeks ahead.
PROCRASTINATION is a universal human flaw. I have not met a single person who doesn’t do it. You might think you’re the worst one and you can’t change. Get out of that unhealthy mindset – there’s always someone worse at something than you. And you can change. I’ve seen chronic procrastinators tackle something and surprise themselves. Make this the year when you get things done sooner. Try to keep in mind a few things: that wonderful, blissful, orgasmic feeling of relief when you finish that assignment and you are DONE with it FOREVER, also how hard the assignment really is and if you’re building it up too much in your mind. Make a concrete plan to work on it for just 30 minutes. You’d be surprised how often you find your momentum and work past the window you set. And, if after 30 minutes you still hate it, you’ve made a start.
TAKING BREAKS is not only helpful but usually the best part of studying. As long as you don’t abuse the power of the break, it can be a really effective way to stay productive and keep your sanity during the long week. After you’ve made progress take a walk, clean your room, call your mom (she worries, you know), do something creative like a quick sketch or a photograph. Do NOT watch an episode of a TV show. We all know where the “just one more” syndrome leads us. Just don’t do it. Do NOT go on a site like Tumblr, Netflix, Hulu or anything like them. Delete the bookmarks to get them out of your mind. Make a no-contact policy. The Internet was designed to nurture and destroy us. Look away.
Lastly, do not panic. It’s just finals. Put it in perspective and remember that your physical and mental health come before any test. Stay calm, stay focused, and stay away from 4 Loco.