Congratulations! If you are a student at Virginia Tech, you just finished your classes for the fall semester. Now all that is left are finals. Maybe this is the first time you’re thinking about finals, maybe you’ve been studying since Halloween, either way, this is a stressful time. Finals may seem scary, but there are ways to make this time easier for you. Here are a few ways you can use your reading day productively.
First and foremost, make a plan if you haven’t done so already. Write down what finals you have and when they are. From there, write out the work you need to do for each and create a detailed schedule for the days leading up to your final. Implement what you know works best for you. I, for example, am most productive in the morning, so I’m planning on waking up early and trying to get as much work as I can get done. Creating a schedule that matches your needs will help you balance your time well and give you some structure to follow as you go into finals week. Along with that, please make sure you’ve built in time to take care of yourself. If you are overly tired or if you are hungry, your brain will not work as it should. Schedule in some time to take breaks, go on walks, really anything that will ensure you’re taken care of yourself during this time.
Now that you’ve made your plan, let’s get into the studying part. This whole day is meant to be dedicated to studying and working on your finals. Find a comfortable place where you will be productive and start working! The place you are in is so important. When I am not in a place that promotes productivity, nothing gets done. If you can’t seem to make yourself work, try finding a different place to study.
Stay off your phone as much as possible and truly allow this day to be for finals. Make sure you take breaks, like walking around for a minute or just allow your brain a minute to rest. If you feel like you can’t get into what you’re working on at the moment, switch and go back to it later. It’s important not to fight yourself on things like that, or you’ll just end up drained before the day is even over. I often use Pomodoro cycles while doing assignments, meaning I work on assignments for at least 25 minutes, then for 5 I take a break, then back to 25 and so on. It’s a super helpful technique for me personally and helps make sure I don’t burn out too quickly. Try some different things out and find one that works for you!
Try to get a good night’s sleep so you feel as refreshed as you can for finals week to officially start. Good luck!