Finals week is a stress-inducing time. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of work, studying, and impending deadlines. Don’t let this discourage you! Here are 10 (hopefully) helpful tips to combat the woes of finals week.
Prioritize Assignments
Plan out when your essays and projects are due, as well as when your exams will take place. One class’s assignment or exam might be worth more to your grade than another, so make sure to check this. From there, figure out which classes you need to focus on first and which require the most work. Writing out this information and creating a plan can help you visualize your workload and keep yourself accountable.
Get enough sleep
It may seem simple, but getting an adequate amount of sleep is crucial. Sacrificing sleep to study more isn’t necessarily the best choice. The American Psychological Association states that “even slight sleep deprivation or poor sleep can affect memory, judgment and mood.”
Get Exercise
Students often skip exercising during finals week, believing they don’t have time for it. However, exercise allows you to focus your attention on something outside of studying, while still being beneficial to you mentally and physically. According to Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Publishing,
“Indirectly, exercise improves mood and sleep, and reduces stress and anxiety. Problems in these areas frequently cause or contribute to cognitive impairment.”
Take Breaks
Make time for things you enjoy and find relaxing. This will help you to refocus when it comes time to study again. Studying intensely for hours at a time is straining for your mind and body. But what is the optimal time for a break? The productivity app, DeskTime, found in a study that one should do job/ school related work for 52 minutes followed by a 17 minute break. Our minds require rest in order to be productive and attentive. Take breaks to stretch, chat with friends, and check your phone.
Use the Hours and Snacks at Burke
Until May 19 at 10 PM., The Burke Library will be open continuously. Also, on May 13–15th, snacks will be served on the first floor from 9–11 PM. There will also be Late Night Breakfast served by President Wippman, Dean Martinez, and Vice President of LITS Joe Shelley on Thursday, May 16 from 9–10 PM. on the first floor. Campus Safety will be present during the overnight hours, for anyone who can pull an all nighter.
Eat Well
Studying hard can lead to stress eating and cravings for unhealthy foods. Make sure to have a good balance. Those salty and sweet unhealthy snacks might taste great in the moment, but they can leave you feeling sluggish and less energized.
Change Your Scenery/Location
Sitting in the same spot looking at the same fake brown wood in a library cubicle would drive anyone insane. Try switching locations when you change topics. Also, varying between being indoors and outdoors or sitting and standing can also make a difference.
Use Different Studying Methods
Change up your studying tactics to make the process less boring and more enjoyable. Whether this means quizzing yourself, memorizing flashcards, studying with peers, reading things out loud, creating visual representations of concepts, or anything in between, varying your study methods will keep things fresh and engaging.
Distance Yourself From Your Phone
While we all think we can quickly check our phones and then get right back to work, for most of us, this doesn’t actually happen. Responding to one text can turn into checking social media, and this leads to wasted time. Give your phone to a friend, turn it off, or put it on the other side of the room to avoid the temptation.
Hydrate
Hydration is key! Being hydrated has many benefits, including mental ones. According to a study reported by the Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Learning Network, “dehydration led to impairment in tasks requiring attention, motor coordination, and executive function, which includes things like map recognition, grammatical reasoning, mental math, and proofreading, for example.” “Hydrate or die” shouldn’t just be for the outdoors!
