We’re approaching finals season, and I’m spooked. At this point, I’m basically the hysterical screaming goat meme. This has definitely been the fastest semester of my academic life.
Anyway, the semester is almost over, and the holiday season is quickly approaching. To take it easy and actually earn good grades while still managing back-to-back exams, presentations, and papers, I’ve been using a few study habits that’ve been working really well for me.
Rewards for Lowering my Screentime
I need to spend less time on my phone, which is a struggle. I talk in TikTok dialect, walk around with trending sounds stuck on a loop in my brain, and use movie character edits as a flashlight to grab a midnight snack. All jokes aside, something that’s helped my productivity is giving myself weekly rewards for reducing screen time and spending more of that energy being productive and writing my two final papers.
This method has worked very well! I reduced my screen time by six hours last week, and as a reward, I went out to Olive Garden. This trick helped me get an ‘A’ on one of my papers and finish all my assignments before Thanksgiving break. What helped most was using SMART goals: I was specific, measured my progress by the number of pages I wrote per day, ensured my goal was achievable and relevant, and set a clear time limit.
Listening to my Personalized Finals Podcast
Sometimes I like to go for a run in the afternoons, and I work most mornings, so my time really needs to be well-managed. With all my exams these past two weeks, I started feeling guilty for “wasting time” instead of studying. Then, it hit me: I always listen to music during runs and work breaks, so why not change what I listen to so I can balance things out?
My favorite way to study for presentations or theory-heavy classes is to talk through the material casually, like I’m just chatting with someone. It gives me a fake-it-till-you-make-it type of confidence. So, I started recording myself going through my notes — basically, little “brainstorm convos” — and listening to them while doing daily tasks.
The content sticks so much better, and it’s easier to learn because I don’t feel the pressure of sitting down to study for a grade. Plus, it’s fun, and since I’m a content creator, I get aesthetic studying time-lapse videos to post on my feed.
Sleeping Better
Doesn’t this sound ironic? Trust me, actually caring about my sleep changed everything. As a college student, going to bed early and having a consistent sleep schedule is hard. There’s just so much to juggle: classes, work, meal prep, and just having fun. 24 hours doesn’t feel as long as it did when I was a kid.
Still, we have to adapt! I read a Harvard Summer School article about prioritizing good sleep, tried a few of the tips, and reconstructed my schedule so I go to sleep at 9 p.m. and wake up at 5 a.m., a full eight hours. The benefits show up more over time, but I’ve already been waking up less tired, getting through the day less frustrated, and dealing with way less brain fog. That’s a huge win for me.
As a big sister, I hope I’ve inspired you to set your own goals and figure out what works best for you to learn more and manage your time more effectively. Good luck with your exams, girl!
Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Pinterest!