Finals week. Like the dragon guarding a castle, finals week is the last obstacle before reaching our ultimate goal: winter break. Although no one actually enjoys finals week, it is a little exciting because it signifies the end of another semester. However, before you can relax and celebrate, there are 5 steps everyone has to go through in order to survive finals week.
1. Reflect and accept what you have done to get here
Whether you worked hard all semester and are going into finals with all A's or are barely squeaking by, it's important to accept that the rest of the semester is behind you. If you didn't put much effort into your classes, then finals week will probably be very rough. However, if you don't admit this to yourself first, you are only making it harder. Maybe you regret not doing that one assignment or not studying harder for that one test. But in the end, those things are simple in the past and like all mistakes, you have to learn from them. Figure out what you could have done better throughout your courses and make those changes your number one priorities during finals. And if you're flowing into finals content with your grades, then keep on doing what you've been doing all along. We've all heard the phrase "if it isn't broke, don't fix it". So if you're happy with your grades, don't try to be perfect and definitely don't slack off now.
2. Figure out your favorite study spot and time frame
Some people are more productive during the day, while others need to do their studying at night. Personally, I can't get any work done if I study in my room. I get drawn to my bed and before I know it I've either spend the last two hours napping or watching The Office. I know, it's the weirdest thing ever. But I swear it happens every time. The point is to find what works for you because that is how you will be most productive. If you're a night owl and you're trying to get your work done in the morning, it probably won't go as well as you'd hope. So find the right place and time for you and make sure you use it as efficiently as you can.
3. Don't forget to take breaks
While it is important to get all of your studying done, it is also important to make sure it doesn't take up your whole day. Your life shouldn't stop because it is finals week. And if you do drop everything and try to only study all the time, then you're going to overwhelm yourself. It's also a good idea to rotate between subjects instead of focusing on the same material for a long period of time. I like to spend about a half an hour or so on each subject and then rotate through the rest of them. If I look at the same pages for more than a few minutes, the material begins to get mixed up and I feel more confused. So keep your notes and your studying always changing so you exercise your brain a little more while also being entertained.
4. Get plenty of sleep
Not only will rotating your notes increase productivity, but so will getting enough sleep. Psychologically, your brain and your health system in general need rest in order to recharge. Psychologists have also found research that shows studying right before you go to sleep makes it less likely that you will remember the material in the morning. While it is important to make sure you are getting enough sleep, I would also encourage you to stay as close to your normal sleep pattern as possible. Too much sleep can sometimes make you feel even more lethargic. So unless you're severely exhausted, keep your sleep pattern the same and get all your studying done an hour or so before you decide to lay you head and your notes down for the night.
5. Find what really motivates you
Sometimes thinking about a good grade and ending the semester strong just isn't enough to motivate you. Yes, you want to do well, but you've been studying for hours and days and your energy is just running low. So I like to reward myself with guilty pleasures to help push myself through. For example, I promise myself that if I get through another two chapters of notes, then I can take a break to watch one of my favorite tv shows. And if its something like a final paper, then I turn to my favorite comfort, food. Typically, I make something like cupcakes or cookies and I let myself have three. One at the beginning so that I am in a good mood. The next when I reach the halfway point so I can keep my energy up and my spirits high. And finally, the last one when I finish and turn my paper in so that I can celebrate that it's finally over. Is this unhealthy? Heck yeah it is! But it's also really fun and so far it's worked for every final paper I've ever written. So find something that not only motivates you, but can also keep even finals week a good time.
