Finals week is right around the corner for most of us, and even though we are still recovering from the many due dates that colored our last week of classes, it’s time to start preparing. This is the week that everyone dreads, even those who have been through it many, many times before. It’s the week that you realize that you may not be as prepared for those finals as you thought you were (or maybe you are! If so, go you!). But for those of us who feel like we are scrambling and overwhelmed, here are a few tips to help you survive the week:
Get as much sleep as possible.
Now I know that you’re thinking, “How am I supposed to get enough sleep when I have all of this review material to go over?” Well, the answer is simpler than you think. Try to plan your study schedule around a sleeping schedule. Whether you plan to wake up early in order to get a full eight hours of sleep, or you plan to pull an all-nighter and take mini naps to keep yourself refreshed. Just make sure you are getting some Z’s in there, because you’re brain depends on sleep to retain information. If you have a final the next day, try to fit in a full six to eight hours of sleep so you feel refreshed the next day and ready to take on that test! Trust me, sleep can make all the difference!
Try to avoid junk food.
I know, the temptation to stress eat is REAL, especially with most colleges advertising free food because we’re all running out of funds. But junk food can make you lethargic and lazy, and can put a halt to your studying. Instead of reaching for a bag of chips try to reach for fresh fruit, especially things that have natural caffeine in them, such as apples. Also, try not to overwhelm your body by eating everything in one sitting as this can cause you to feel lethargic. Try to space out your portions which helps to not overwhelm your body and helps to give you a little energy boost. But it doesn’t hurt to eat some junk food (you deserve it after this week!).
Take breaks and hang out with friends.
It may seem like you have no time to just take breaks and hang out with friends, especially if your friends are also preparing for their finals. But it’s really important to get away from work and allow yourself to recuperate, trust me, you will feel really refreshed after this. Grab a few friends and watch a movie, take a blanket and relax outside, or even just stay in and talk about your week, but make sure to take this time with your friends. I know that I definitely feel less stressed when I take a few breaks to just hang out with my friends and have fun.
Remember that YOU come first.
This may seem kind of obvious for most people, but I remember struggling with this concept my first semester. I completely forgot to take care of myself physically and mentally during finals week and it left me feeling more stressed than anything. Make sure to evaluate how you feel throughout the day and to take care of it in the best way you know how (working out, talking to someone, taking breaks, etc.). If you find yourself thinking more negatively throughout the day, step back from what you’re doing and center yourself. The importance of taking care of yourself does not diminish during finals week, in fact it’s actually a lot more important during this time of stress.
RELAX. It’s hard to just step back and relax, I get it. You may have multiple finals or just one, they might be incredibly hard or a piece of cake, or a mixture of the two. But it doesn’t help to worry about them all the time and build constant stress as that can hinder your focus when you try to study. Trust me, it will all be okay! As long as you continue to focus on what you’re studying, take breaks, and get as much sleep as possible, everything will be fine. Next thing you know finals week will be over and you’ll be back home wondering why you were stressing and worrying as much as you did.
Good luck with finals everyone!
