The week everyone prepares for but despises is coming up soon — finals week. Finals week is the most stressful and exhausting week of a college semester, but it also represents the end of another semester. As you study this finals week, take the time to study efficiently and study "smart." Understanding the importance in commonly known study tips is one of the first steps of being able to be a productive studier.
1. Take study breaks.
Have you ever been studying and thought, "I just need a break?" Well, that thought is extremely true. Studies have shown that one's mind can only focus for so long without a break. It is best to study for 40–90 minutes, and then take a 10-minute break. Just be sure that the 10-minute break doesn't last 30 minutes, or the routine is broken.
2. Schedule study time and a to-do list
Scheduling a specific time out of your day makes it easier to be strict to that time and to spend that time studying. It is also important to create a to-do list of things that need to be done in that day. However, you should also go by your to-do list and take it seriously.
3. Sleep!
Most people during finals week consider "all-nighters" as a good idea; however, your body needs sleep. Most people need about eight hours a night for their brain to function at top potential. Sleep is needed to recover your brain and help with learning information more efficiently.
4. Minimize distractions.
Distractions are everywhere in a dorm room. One way to eliminate these distractions is to go to the library to study, and turn your phone on do not disturb. However, if you do decide to study in your room, do not lay in your bed to study — sit at a desk. Also, turn off any background noise, such as the TV or even music. Background music is a huge distraction while studying that a lot of the time goes unnoticed.
5. Space out your time.
In order not to cram, space out your studying time. Leave yourself enough time to actually learn the material. Take studying one day at a time. Don't study all the material at one time; instead, space out your studying by days. If you don't space out your time and try to cram instead, before you know it, there isn't any time left.
6. Take a second to breathe.
Studies have shown that students who catch a whiff of aromatherapy (like eucalyptus or lavender) have less test anxiety. So, yes, those aromatherapy lotions, candles and body wash at Bath and Body Works do actually work. Next time, instead of last-minute reviewing before the big exam, take a second and smell something relaxing.
Finals week is a terrible week for college students everywhere, but the smarter college students are about studying, the more efficient finals week can be. Just remember, we can do this!
