After a wonderful week off of college filled with wonderful food, exciting football, shopping adventures and loving family time we return to college with one thing on our minds....FINALS!!
Finals week, the week that as underclassmen dread and upperclassmen have learned to loath. As the weeks have rolled on the countdown to the end of the semester is approaching fast and furious. Some have two weeks of prep other have more but for now, our countdown starts with your complete guide to tips and strategies to tackle finals week.
Make a game plan.
Good News! There are a couple of weeks until you start testing this means that you have an opportunity to create a plan of how you want to attack finals. For first year students this is the hardest part but pulling out your calendar is the first step.
If you can write your test days, assignments due over the next weeks along with any social events. This gives you a visual guide for people that tend to are forgetful, procrastinators or those of you that just like knowing what's going on.
Organize yourself
As obvious as this is it's easy to forget organization is key leading up to and during finals. Just like creating a plan of the next couple of weeks getting all your notes, homework, extra credit (holy grail), papers, project whatever it is that you have to turn into complete grades should all be in one spot.
If your like me then you forget that you can create folders on your computer (I still trying to get used to my Mac). The best thing you can do is create a finals folder that you leave on your desktop. Within that create folders for the term (Fall or Spring) then add folders for the classes that you are about to take a test for. Make these folders exclusively for finals material. In my folders, I put my final research papers, extra credit, final projects and final study guides either from professors or that I made. This way I can tell the difference between homework throughout the semester and work that only gets turned in at the end of the semester.
To-Do list are your friends
For this tip, we have to channel our inner mom. Creating a to-do list is not only a fun way to use index cards or that cute note pad your mom gave you on graduation day, but it is an important way to make you write down everything you have to do.
The next two weeks are packed with stuff that you have to do so I recommend sitting down looking at your calendar along with your room and figuring out everything you have to do for the next two weeks. On my to-do lists (I have about five) I write everything from homework to cleaning. This is one way that I can mark off things I have done along with telling me what I still need to do.
If you are an out-of-state student at your college then you understand how much you have to do when it comes to leaving. I go to school in Kansas but live in Colorado. For me making sure I pack the right clothes, get my car ready to drive over the mountains along with school work is overwhelming. Making five to-do list is my golden ticket for not forgetting something or being rushed.
Find your spot
After you have made your list and created your game plan, find your study/focus spot.
Whether it is the same place that you have gone all semester or its a new place that helps you dial in, go somewhere you can reach maximum productivity. My personal go to is the fourth floor in Hale (for all my k-staters out there). I find my place on this floor whether it's at a desk in the rows of books or the study alcoves, I found it's easier for me to sit here for hours and get all my work done. Not to mention the people watching that you can do BUT only on your study breaks ;) .
Dorm Room = Study Free Zone
As odd as this is make your room a study free zone. Because you have your designated study spot make your room study free.
By doing this you are creating a space that helps you not only relax but makes cramming for exams so easy. Cramming is not only the absolute worst way to study but it is also the precursor to pulling all-nighters, which we all know leads to health and sleep problems. In the weeks leading up to finals, it's important to train your body to sleep in the bed not write papers. So that come finals week you are coming back to your room to relax and have downtime. Making your room study free also serves as a nice reward for long hours in the library.
*With all of that said it would also be wise to find a study spot somewhere near or in your dorm just in case you are feeling extra lazy that day.
Start studying now and remember to take breaks.
There is no time like the present! Take these weeks and start looking over your notes. If you start early you can compile your questions so that you walk into your review sessions ready to go.
If you start early you are also giving yourself enough time to process information that you might have forgot and not feel the need to cram the night before.
Also take breaks! As simple as this is taking a break from studying is what helps you not feel like your brain is on fire. Do something simple like walk around the library, go get a coffee or take a much-neede dance break so that you can keep your mind fresh and sharp.
Everything will be OK!
After three years of finals, filled with tears, exhaustion, mental breakdowns and crazy ridiculousness if I have learned nothing it is that things are ok. As cliche as that sounds it is true. When I was in high school stressed out to the max about a very important very good scholarship, my mom told me that if you're nervous about something that means that whatever it means a lot to you.
Like most people, college is hugely important and finals are our friendly reminder about how much we value education but we have to remember that we get nowhere with a blocked mind and unhealthy ways.
So to all my brave comrades in arms, soldiers of books, keepers of sleepiness and defenders of procrastination good luck and good night.
