With finals coming up sooner than any of us would like, many of us are facing the “Oh, no…” moment. AKA the moment when you realize you’re on the verge of tears in the middle of class. The moment where you realize the final exam is over a third percent of your final grade. Or the moment where you realize your final is cumulative and you’ve already forgotten what you learned in January.
Before these feelings might lead you into a full-blown panic and you considering selling your life to your college’s library, remember one thing: you are JUST as important as your major. However, we all know that finals week is extremely stressful, so I’ve compiled a list of ways to keep that stress to a minimum.
1. Start Now
Ugh, I know. This one probably sounds the grossest to all of us, the idea of starting to study 2-3 weeks before your final exam, when some of us still have another round of smaller tests before the big one. But fear not, starting now means getting yourself organized. First, write out all your exam times and locations. Know where you have to be and when. This not only keeps you from accidentally missing an exam but it gives you a mental image of how long you can study for each exam the weekend before finals week.
2. Know What’s On Each Exam
Look at the content for each exam you will be taking. This doesn’t mean to start analyzing each chapter that will be covered in depth right this very moment but rather, know if your exam is cumulative or not. Try to make a basic outline and highlight the most important information from each chapter, so that when it does come time to go in depth, you already have a general idea. With that, prioritize your study schedule. Which exam is going to be the hardest? Which one do you really need the A in? Ask yourself these questions before you start intensely studying so you can disperse your study time evenly.
3. Know When Your Taking Your Each Exam and Where
The last thing you want to do is miss an exam because you signed up for a different time than you wrote down. Know when and where each exam is. Give yourself EXTRA time if you are taking your exam at the testing center and bring notes to study if you have a feeling the line will be awhile (this is typical during prime exam time, late morning-early afternoon).
Courtesy of the Odyssy Online
4. Start doing ~Healthy Things~ ASAP
There is no secret that sleep and food are the most important thing when it comes to college students. While it’s okay to enjoy these last few free weeks, your sleep and eating habits now can affect you during finals week. If you make it a point to try to start going to bed a little earlier now, your body will thank you later. If you start making healthier choices now, you will be fueling yourself with the proper foods to kill those exams. Remember, a healthy body renders a healthy mind! Your mind and body are your most important tools during finals week, so prepare them properly.
Courtesy of Fitness Clubs
5. Allow Study Breaks
Studying for 24 hours straight is neither enjoyable nor healthy. If you find yourself needing a study break, take a walk or go workout. It will take your mind off of your work for a little bit, so when you come back you will be even more focused. If you need to study for a prolonged period of time at the library, take a 10 minute break each hour or 2 hour point, stand up, stretch and walk around.
Yes grades are important, but so is your mental health. If you follow these guidelines for finals week, your body will be thanking you! And remember, YOU CAN DO THIS!