Another semester draws to a close. Everyone is looking forward to Winter Break and planning fun activities to do or a few weeks of nothing.
However, there's nothing worse than failing your final exams and having your subsequent weeks be a mire of disappointment, self-pity, and resentment. That's why you should take some steps right now to make sure you perform well on your final exams.
1. Study correctly
It's obvious that studying is important to do well on exams. However, to make the most of what time there is it is important to identify problem areas to work on and strengths to avoid. Go back to your syllabus and review the topics listed, visit your professor's office hours or find some tutoring, or congregate with friends and draw spiderwebs (personally not a fan of them but some like them). Online videos are a great way to review, I recommend PatrickJMT for any mathematics he covers. Otherwise, there are the more mainstream Khan Academy series. Actually do problems, not just scan text and watch video. This will help with problem-solving on the tests.
2. Adjust your sleeping schedule
In general, people tend to have better moods when the sun is out, even if they don’t enjoy being outside. The sun is setting earlier and earlier as the seasons progress, so it gets dark outside in Atlanta at around 6 PM. By moving your schedule up, you can study while it’s bright outside and most people will still be asleep, meaning you don’t even have to leave your dorm. You can even open the window without being blasted by sounds of angry drivers on the street if you live in the unfortunate Smith and Brown dorms.
3. Find a casual hobby to do and take breaks
People have shorter attention spans than they like to think. Try switching between subjects every hour, or simply take a break.
Pokemon Go: Walk around campus to stretch your legs.
Origami: Fold a paper crane, rabbit, penguin, tank, etc. and line them up on your desk
Drawing: Pick up your pencil during breaks and work on a sketch throughout the finals period.
4. A strong mind cannot do anything without a strong body
It is important to eat normally. Ramen provides nutrition that rounds to 0, minimal calories, and has negative health effects in general. Chips, soda, and other snacks cannot substitute meals. If you require constant access to food consider studying in the dining halls, but only during non-peak hours since noise levels spike to skull rattling heights at lunch and dinnertime. Otherwise, try Brittain’s “To Go” which offers yogurt and other healthful foods or cook simple things such as fried eggs and rice, sliced potatoes, and other vegetables in the kitchen that can be fully prepared in less than 20 minutes in portions that can last the entire day.
5. Limit but don’t eliminate your other activities
Try to maintain a balance between studying and your normal routine. Don’t give up everything for the sake of studying, that can lead to depression which has the undesirable effect of lowering test performance and life satisfaction in general. Section off your day into blocks of several hours at a time and coordinate with your roommate if they don’t feel like going to sleep early so they don’t wake you up at midnight if you do decide to adjust your routine. Everyday activities are a good way to relax the mind and let it be more focused for when you are studying.
Good luck everyone.
