With finals beginning, it can be difficult to stay on task and get everything done in time. Often, it becomes overwhelming and homework begins to pile up. Tis the season for endless stress and a lack of motivation.
When approaching dead week and finals week, the first response is usually one of fear and panic. No matter how prepared you are for finals, there will still be a certain amount of stress. In order to better prepare for this upcoming finals week, there are a few things to keep in mind. First off, never forget to take care of yourself before anything else. Plan to get six to nine hours of sleep each night and give yourself plenty of time to rest. Without enough rest, your study session will be less beneficial to you.
Second, while studying be sure to take a break every once in a while to stand, walk around, stretch, get a snack or whatever else you need to do to refresh your mind.
Another tip for studying, try chewing a specific flavor of gum while you study and then save a piece of that same flavor for when taking your exam. The familiar flavors will help you remember what you studied. Don’t be afraid to ask others for help while studying. Your professors are paid to teach you, so if you need help ask them. Your classmates may be available as well. If you do not feel comfortable going straight to your professor, try going to library to the Study Help Desks. If you have trouble focusing, try finding a classmate to study with you and keep you on track. If you wanted to go further, you could even create your own game or quiz to help keep you from getting distracted. One of the most important things to keep in mind when approaching a final is the amount of time that you have. Try to begin doing a small amount of work as early as possible and break up the work over your time. Leaving things until the last minute will always lead to increased stress and even lower scores. Being well prepared is essential for having a successful finals season. If you spend 20 minutes a day studying for a week or more before, it will be more beneficial than studying for 12 hours straight through the night before the exam.
Breaking up study sessions over time will allow you to learn more and stress less. Lastly, it is important to remember that final exams are not the end of the world. As long as you do your best, you will survive finals. Be sure to take time for yourself to calm down. Spend some time with friends or animals doing something you enjoy. There is an entire world outside of the university. While it is easy to forget, a perfect grade on a final is not necessary for survival. Take care of yourself and do the best that you can without sacrificing your sanity.
