It’s that time of year! Finals week is upon us and now that classes have been transitioned to online, we may need some extra motivation to maintain a balanced study schedule. Here are some study tips that I have adapted post COVID-19 to help me stay on task with all my classes:
- Take Study Breaks
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During this time, you may feel as if you should spend the entire day studying so you can ace your final because let’s face it, where else do you have to be? Although this may sound like a great way to get your studying out of the way, it is important to take breaks in between so you don’t overwhelm yourself. I like to take a 15-minute break after every hour of studying! I try to either facetime a friend, get a snack, watch some TV or take a walk. This may be different for you but I think it’s important to give your brain a break so you’re more focused when studying.
- Study With Friends
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I know that it’s hard to do group work without the library, but I still try to call my friends over zoom to study. I think it’s a great way to collaborate and share ideas especially since we don’t have access to TA sessions or tutoring anymore. Schedule a time with your friends or even classmates to zoom call after the lecture, and try to discuss the material you learned by asking each other questions and teaching each other the concepts you didn’t understand from the lecture.
- Create Your Own Study Guide
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I found that a lot of the time it helps me when I create my own study guide for the exam, especially when I write down the information instead of typing it. According to a study published by Forbes, handwriting increases neural activity in parts of the brain and allows for enhanced memory. I like to compress each chapter into a page of notes with mnemonic devices or catchphrases that will help me remember.
- A Healthy Body is Equal to a Healthy Mind
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This is probably my most important tip, but when it comes to finals week it is crucial that you’re getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night. One of the most common reasons students do not perform well on finals is because they are exhausted and their brain is just overwhelmed from all that studying. Give your mind a break and take a nap in between or try to wake up early so you can finish reviewing and go to bed.
I’m sure that COVID-19 has made finals season even more daunting because we lost access to TA sessions, office hours, tutoring and coffee shops, but look on the bright side—we’re almost done! A couple more weeks and summer break. I hope that the tips I mentioned above can be helpful to you especially with online classes. With that being said, just remember to always do your best and forget the rest! Good luck!