Well, it’s almost that time of year: finals week. The week where coffee is a necessity and sleep just doesn’t happen. The library is packed, and you can’t find anywhere to sit. Winter break is so close, yet so far. So much stress and anxiety are paired with finals week, but it doesn’t need to be so bad. If you plan out your time, eat healthy, drink plenty of water, and ACTUALLY sleep, you can get through finals week in one piece. There is light at the end of the tunnel. I thought of some advice to share that has helped me cope with the craziness of finals week and keep my sanity. Check them out!
1. Relax, everyone is feeling the same way
You’re in the same boat as everyone else. Too much to study and not enough time. But we will all get through it. Talk to your roommates, even friends from different colleges. Relating to others can help you relieve stress and focus better.
2. If you’ve been doing good all semester and going to class, the final isn’t the end of the world
Yes, the final is a big portion of your grade and covers what you learned overall in the class. But everything else you’ve done throughout the semester counts too. Attendance and homework make up your grade and help boost your grade. So yes, study hard for the final. But know that you have other grades to back you up if you’ve done well all semester. You have been sitting through lectures and doing homework, so you know more than you might think.
3. Study, but take breaks
Sometimes it can be hard to force yourself to take a break when you don’t have much time to learn a lot of information. But you will retain the information better in the end if you do. Work for 30 minutes then take a 5-minute break. Working for 3 hours straight isn’t always good. Try breaking up your study time to get the most out of it.
4. SLEEP
All-nighters aren’t helping you. You may think staying up and reading through everything will help you pass the test, but you need rest in order to do well too. If you don’t know it by midnight, go to sleep. You need rest to focus on the test and put forth your best effort. A combination of rest and preparation will lead to successful grades.
5. Focus, and stay motivated that break is in sight!
Use the break to motivate you, not distract you from your work. Yes, I am guilty of listening to Christmas music or watching holiday videos instead of doing work. But use the excitement of going home for the holidays to motivate you to get your work done. Winter break is always better when you find out you ended with a good GPA! Set aside time for breaks to relax and listen to music but focus when it is time to get work done.
I hope these tips have helped you or at least calmed your stress leading up to finals week. So much pressure is associated with finals, but organization can help relieve some of the tension. Plan your time to study and give yourself enough time to really prepare for the test. Try studying a section each day so you’re not cramming the day before. We will all get through finals week. Good luck!
HCXO,
Emily