The do’s and don’t’s of finals

The next week and a half of school is no picnic, but it can be done simpler with some of these helpful tips.
 
(BIGTIME) Do: If you have not already checked it out, go on Study Blue right now!
This has proven to be the most helpful online resource. First of all, it allows you to connect with other people taking your class either currently or in the past. Next, you can create online flashcards (much more eco-friendly, too), which Study Blue can translate into a quiz. Study Blue also records your progress and marks words or concepts that are continuously answered incorrectly.
 
Don’t: Pull all-nighters!
Manage your time and you can avoid this. If you are not well rested for exams, you will not perform as well and you raise your risk of getting sick. It is easily avoidable if you plan your day-to-day study schedule, which leads to the next “do.”
 
Do: Organize your study plan.
Grab a calendar and literally map out how much time you will spend on specific topics and when. I know I feel very accomplished when I can cross something off my to-do list — and feeling accomplished will make you more confident on test day. Managing your time efficiently will help you avoid my “don’t” above.

Don’t: Sit on Facebook, Stumble Upon or Twitter.
Just like the “do” above, prioritize your time. You can have a little social media therapy, but manage how much time you will spend a day. I recommend downloading the ever-so-helpful app Self Control. This app allows you to block any distracting websites for the amount of time you desire; I typically do one-hour increments in case I finish a job early. This site is great because there is literally no way around it or any way to stop it.

Do: Dress for success.
Sure, it seems easy to just throw on sweats, and voila! You are ready to study. But if you feel good on the outside, you will feel even better on the inside.
 
Don’t: Avoid the sunlight.
Staying indoors studying all day is not going to help. Get up, walk outside and move around because you’ll be happier and healthier than being locked in your room all day.
 
Do: Study alone or with people you are not friends with.
I just started studying today and could not stop cracking up with my roomie; this was a disaster waiting to happen. There goes 30 minutes of joking around, and now I am on Facebook with no hope to study. Find your place to study and have some “you time.” The only time I study with my friends is if I need someone to quiz me, otherwise avoid it.
 
One last “do:” Remind yourself what is at stake, but not to the point that it stresses you out.
Yes, UW-Madison is expensive, and whether it is your money or your parents, it is not worth “just getting by.” You will feel accomplished after the exam as long as you know you tried your hardest.