Finals are coming. Rather, for some, they’re already here (in which case, why are you reading this? Shouldn’t you be studying?). As the spring semester comes to a close, thousands of students begin to fluster and fret as they prepare to take the last assignment of the season. On average, final exams make up around a quarter of your final grade – and as I’m sure you’re aware, that quarter can make you or break you.
But hey, take it easy. Take a deep breath. Make some tea. It’ll all be okay, just follow these five tips for getting prepped for finals…
- Manage your time – If you have five finals to study for, don’t just cram for one. Sure some classes might be harder than others, but shoving all your focus onto one class can detract from studying for other classes and that will inevitably harm your grade overall. Time management means knowing when you have to work, when you have to study, and when you have time to take a break. Space things out evenly, and break studying into chunks.
- Find a study place – The library might be it for you. A nice spot under the sun might be another option, or Starbucks might also be another choice. Or maybe you need a definite hush to study, and resort to – of all places – the bathtub. Wherever you choose, make sure it’s somewhere where you won’t get distracted by things going on around you. This is a study session, not a hangout.
- Sleep – Studying is inevitably and infinitely boring. Your eyes will begin to weigh and you’ll start to shift your position to get comfortable. After studying for hours on end, you’re going to need a break, and that’s fine. Take power-naps while studying…a reward system, perhaps – study for two hours and power-nap for thirty minutes. Whatever you do, make sure you get a solid night of sleep before the final.
- Healthy eating – If you’re anything like me, studying makes you hungry. I generally reach for anything around me that’s available to munch on, but I recommend you grab some brain food. Fruits are a nice substitute to chocolate, and a cold, crisp apple might give you energy AND wake you up. Find something nutritious to reward yourself with when you’re studying.
- Exercise – Go for a run. Go for a walk. Go do something to re-energize yourself between study sessions. Sitting or lying in one position for extended periods of time will lead to sleepy limbs (and thus the extremely uncomfortable needle-y feeling that follows), and makes your muscles weak. That’s the last thing you need when you’re supposed to be studying.
Or follow none of these tips. Maybe you study in a completely off-the-wall manner, and that’s okay. The best tip we can offer is to do whatever you feel will help you in the long run. Maybe you don’t even need to study. Maybe fresh air is your sworn enemy. That’s fine – we just want you to do your best.