Finals week is here and tests, projects, and papers are looming.
So much procrastination. So little motivation.
Here are some tips to help you succeed this finals week!
Â
1. Set Yourself Up for Success
Before you even begin to study for your finals, make sure you aren’t setting yourself up for failure.Â
Put away your phone. Turn off your notifications, turn on airplane mode, or power it down. If you are like me, then you know the temptation to just turn it on again is overpowering (and I always give in). Try keeping your phone in another room while you study. Or better yet, have your study buddy or roommate hold on to it while you study. Just remember to get it back!
Limit your time on the Internet. If your studies don’t require going online, then turn that WiFi off! The less distractions you have, the better.Here is a free software called SelfControl that actually blocks the internet for a specified amount of time. This is a super handy way to effortlessly keep yourself on track! Click the image to check it out!
If you do need online access, try a site-blocker! There are easy add-ons for web browsers that work great for blocking distracting websites for a certain amount of time. These cool browser add-ons can help stop you from instinctively turning to a screen for what usually turns into a five-hour study break.
If you have Google Chrome, you can visit the app store and find a bunch of extensions that block specified sites. Here is one called StayFocused. Check it out by clicking on the image!
Â
2. Â Organize Your Material
Even if you aren’t an organized person, creating plans and to-do lists can make a huge difference. Being able to visually see what needs to get done can help you keep in-check how much time you have. Sometimes this means you have to plan out every minute of your day, but that’s okay. As long as you are getting done what you need to get done, your check-lists and planner can be as in-depth as you want. If you are making check-lists, make sure you include a few items that you have already done, or are easy to do. A list with stuff already crossed off is a lot less daunting than a list with nothing done.Â
Don’t have a planner to organize your week? Click the picture below for a link to print out this template for free!Â
For organizing your study material, pull out your syllabi and gather up all the past assignments, tests, and papers from the term. Use those as study guides. Look at what you got right and look at what you got wrong. If you know what areas of the course material you didn’t do so hot with, you know what you need to focus on the most while studying.
Â
Â
3. Buddy UpÂ
If you haven’t already made friends in your classes, now is the time. Having a study buddy is one of the most beneficial ways to study.
However, make sure you are being realistic with your friendships during finals week. We all have friends that we try to study with but end up talking to, instead of actually being productive.Â
Do yourself a favor and try not to hang out with them while you still have studying to do. Nothing is worse than realizing that you just spent the last five hours in the library giggling over cat videos, rather than finishing the paper that’s due at midnight. Whoops!
Surround yourself with people who will help you do the best you can on those exams. If that means being alone while you study, then so be it.Here is a link to really cool infographic about how to find the best possible study partner for you!
Â
4. Treat Yourself!
Most importantly, it is totally okay to take a break from the grind of finals time. Set aside a time for you to blow off some steam. Go on a hike with friends. Buy yourself your favorite junk food and turn on the Netflix for an hour or two. Do something that you like to do. Treat yourself! You have (almost) made it. If your term was anything like mine, you’re happy just to get out alive.