Finals week is looming in our minds, as there are only two weeks left in the semester. While finals week is going to be stressful no matter what, there are simple steps that you can take to make sure that you aren’t too overwhelmed when the dreaded week comes.
First, you should get all of your chores out of the way. Don’t wait until the last minute to do this! Start now! Do all of your laundry, even if it’s six loads! You won’t want to do laundry during finals week as you will be spending that time studying. If you study in your dorm, you also won’t want laundry all over your room. It gets distracting and will pull you away from studying. Plus, you will need to pack your clothes if you are going home for winter break, so this is the perfect opportunity to do that. In addition to this, do all of your dishes! After they are done, try to eat every meal at the dining hall if possible! Try to minimize how many dishes you are dirtying so you won’t have to do so many later. Straighten up the rest of your dorm. Put everything, especially study materials, where they belong. Don’t waste precious study time looking for the notebook you need or the pen you prefer. Overall, clean your dorm so you don’t get overwhelmed by it when you are trying to study!
Another thing you can do to ease the stress of finals is to do all of the school work that will be due the week before. I know it’s easier said than done, but do not procrastinate on those essays and projects that are always due the week before finals! If you do them now, you won’t have to do all of your assignments in addition to studying for finals. It will minimize the amount of things that you have to do in a very short window of time. It is also important to check all of your deadlines now, that way you have plenty of time to know when things are due and to complete them to the best of your ability.
If you’re like me, you tend to put studying off until the night before the exam. For some, this method works, but for most, studying in advance will yield better grades. Make a study schedule a few weeks before the exam. Plan when and where you are going to study. Make sure you set aside time in your day specifically for studying. To go along with this, choose a place to study that will have the fewest distractions. Personally, I like to lock myself in a study room in the library. I turn my phone off and sit it across the room where I cannot reach it. I make sure that I put everything I need to study on the desk in front of me or on the floor next to me, that way I am not searching for everything when I should be focusing. Sometimes, it’s nice to take a friend along to hold you accountable for studying. If you’re the type that likes to listen to music while studying, like I am, choose music without words. It will prevent you from wanting to sing along. Movie soundtracks are great to study with.
Make sure to take study breaks! After so much time, your brain will be tired. I tend to stick to the tried and true 25 minutes studying, 5 minute break method. Also be sure to take time to eat meals. An energy drink or an iced coffee now and then is great, but they don’t could as meals. Your brain needs food to focus and get the job done, so meals are important. Hydration is also key. Your brain doesn’t function the same when you get dehydrated. Make sure you drink at least eight cups of water per day. Sleep is probably the most important aspect to studying. Don’t pull all-nighters to study. It isn’t worth it because you will be exhausted, and you probably won’t remember much of the information anyway. Not to mention that you most likely won’t test well.
The last bit of advice I have is this: breathe, do your best, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Testing is stressful, but you will be okay. Failing an exam is one of the worst feelings ever, but it isn’t the end of the world. Take care of yourself. Your physical and mental health comes before grades, always.
Good luck in these last few weeks of the semester, and know that every other college student is just as stressed and tired as you are.