I don’t know about you guys, but finals week has come way too quickly for me. I’ve been studying for hours on end, and somehow the week before finals is busier for me than any other time of the year. When you add moving out of your dorm and tying up all your lose ends, these next two weeks are extremely stressful. Fortuantely, there’s a few things you can do to keep your stress to a minimum.
- Make a Schedule
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Finals week is going to hit you so much harder if you don’t have a schedule for what is going on. Assignments are being thrown at you, random test days are being thrown at you, and you still have classes and meetings to attend. Whether it’s a calendar app online or a physcial book that you write your dates down in, keeping a schedule will not only help you stay on track, but also be aware of due dates that are coming up on last minute assignments.
- Listen to Music While You Study
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If you’re like me, constantly multitasking, music can actually make studying feel like it’s going by a lot quicker than it really is. I tend to get distracted when it is just me and a textbook or PowerPoint. It’s actually been proven that listening to video game soundtracks will help you study better because they are designed to make you focus more! Put on your favorite songs and hit the books!
- Practice Healthy Habits
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Pulling all-nighters for a week straight won’t help you remember anything for your exams, I promise. It’s so much better to listen to your body when it’s telling you what it needs. If you’re tired, go to bed or take a nap. It will actually help improve how you study and how much information you are retaining. Eating balanced meals is also going to help your energy level stay up. I know that it’s so much easier to live off of cereal and caffiene for a week, but actually go to the dining hall or make yourself a meal! You will feel a lot better and it will help you stay focused on your homework rather than your homework.
- Study in Pieces
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Studying doesn’t have to be done in huge chunks one class at a time. It might be beneficial for you to take the information in smaller pieces, and do different classes so you aren’t studying one thing for two days straight.
- Don’t Just Study
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You shouldn’t just study for finals week. Making yourself stay in your room all day for a week straight is not good for your mental health at all. Even if it’s just going out to eat dinner with your friends one night, make plans to do other things besides cramming for exams. Nobody benefits from no social interaction. Even though it might be hard, step away from the laptop and go do something fun!
One important thing to note is that you aren’t going to remember everything from the entire year even if you spend all seven days studying. It’s okay to take a breather and relax for a little bit! I know it seems like everyone is studying nonstop, but just using a few tips like the ones I gave you can really improve both your physical health and your mental health.