Alright ladies, you’ve most likely (hopefully) studied INCREDIBLY hard this year and are so close to seeing that bright shiny light at the end of the semester––better known as ~summer~. Staying motivated to ace exams is hard, I agree. So, here’s some advice I’ve learned from friends and personal trial-and-error over the years to help you get through.
1. You’ve worked too hard to give up now
Don’t let all the hard work of this semester go to waste. A bad final can bump that A to a B, or, even worse. Not a good look. To prevent this, try to recall all that studying and brain power you built up in the winter months. I don’t believe in “running out of motivation” or “lack of energy” now that it’s spring. Don’t tell me you suddenly lost the motivation to kick-ass on a final paper or test. You’re better than that. Woman-up, grab some Starbucks, and bump that GPA up to where it deserves to be!
2. Treat yo’self
This is my favorite motivational tactic. Say to yourself, “If I get these last 5 problems right then I’m going to treat myself to Chick-fil-A or a caramel macchiato from Starbucks.” Nine out of 10 times, this puts the pressure on yourself to double, triple check your work and make sure it’s done right. Sad as it is, Chick-fil-A might be the only thing to look forward during finals season.
4. Positivity is KEY
There’s no time during finals season to tell yourself you “can’t do it.” Even if your grades aren’t panning out, you might as well go down with a fight. So, tell yourself you will get an A on that final. If you get a problem wrong, tell yourself that you will get it right the next time or the time after that. Please keep in mind that everything is a process and a lot of things take time. If you don’t understand a concept or have writer’s block, it isn’t because you’re dumb, it’s because college was made to challenge you. Fight challenges with positive thoughts.
5. Tidy Desk, Tidy Mind
Clean up your work area, backpack, and schedule to create clarity in your daily life. This will make the already overwhelming weeks feel a lot less stressful. When moving from studying from topic to topic I find it therapeutic to clean my desk of materials from one subject and replace them with the next. It’s also encouraging to make a list of what needs to get done each day until the last day of school so you can feel accomplished.
6. Inhale…Exhale…
It’ll all be okay. A couple of stapled-together pieces of paper don’t determine your worth, girl boss-ness, or smarts. Don’t over-exert yourself these final weeks. Everyone on campus is on the same page and we’re all in this together. You’re not going to be the only one cramming for a test till the A.M. Rely on and support others through getting lunch, hitting up a study sesh, or working out to relieve the stress. Making time to breathe is something everyone needs, so don’t do it alone.
Cheers to a lovely spring semester and an amazing summer, ladies! Be fearless these last few weeks.
––Olivia Falcone