It is that time of the year once again! Everyone is tired of going to class, seeing the same people, and eating at the dining hall. Classes are winding down, and those who have friends in southern colleges are green with envy that they are at home and are starting their summer jobs already.
Although it is true that we are all desperate to be done with this semester, we have to remember to not breeze through finals and to actually care about doing decent, at the least. What is the point of even finishing a class or working so hard for so many weeks if you are just going to flunk the final and have your grade plummet?
So, I have complied a list of helpful tips that may help you to unwind or de-stress while gathering your finals notes and papers.
1. Find a comfortable chair in a room or study area where you will physically be comfortable. This will help you to mentally focus on whatever you are doing.
2. Put the phone away for a while; your friends or boyfriend/girlfriend can wait to talk for a couple of hours.
3. If you find study groups successful and you know that you won’t all get distracted, get together some people whom you know are succeeding in the class. The blind cannot lead the blind, if you know what I mean.
4. If it is warm outside and the sun is shining, open to windows to get some fresh air; if you can’t be outside at the moment, at least you can enjoy the breeze.
4. If listening to music helps you to concentrate, then create a playlist of some mellow and fun songs that you appreciate, and this will help you to move along with studying more easily.
5. Compile brief outlines of chapters that you read in class, if your professor required some sort of textbook. This way, you will know the most vital facts for the exam.
6. Have a delicious snack at the table with you; who says that you can’t indulge while mastering your content?
7. Remember to take a break each hour or so and stretch; if you are antsy and need to walk around, that is all you will be thinking about, instead of your studies.
8. If you didn’t do so for this semester, remember for the next one: KEEP UP ON YOUR READING AND ASSIGNMENTS, AND GO TO CLASS… this is really the only way that you will be successful; this will make your study load less at the end as well, and you can spend more time doing other things than having to sit hour after hour.
Good luck, and may all of your hardwork pay off!