November 18, 2016

Where has this semester gone???

This question crosses my mind almost every day, especially now that the stress of finals is just around the corner. The cafe is constantly swamped with both coffee addicts and even people who don't like coffee; the commons is crowded with study groups; "lights out" isn't even a thing anymore; and 20 minute power naps have become the new norm. Finals week.

As I am enduring my own finals stress, I have a few tips for you on how to survive this week:

1. Take it one day at a time.

This phrase might put your teeth on edge, especially if you are big on planning ahead; however, overwhelming yourself is something you want to avoid. There's enough pressure coming from the exams themselves, you don't want to add anymore. Whether or not you are an organized student, you should have some idea as to what you need to study for each subject before the actual exam: a review sheet, study guide, or exam binder are great ways to do this. As each day arrives to study for an exam, focus on that material--and ONLY that material. This will help narrow your mind to a particular subject, making the exam clearer when you go to take it. That way you're not writing a formula from Chemistry on your American Literature exam. It can happen.

2. Make time for sleep

I know. It's crazy--but possible. As you are creating a list, guide, or review for your studying, make sure to consider when you need to sleep. If you prefer to study in the mornings, make sure to go to bed earlier so that you can be awake enough to study well. If you're more of a night owl, set a curfew for yourself. And then FOLLOW IT. If you don't get a good amount of sleep, especially on exam days, you can end up short-cutting your brain power, leading to poor performance. From my own experience, if I consistently do not get enough sleep, my immune system has to work twice as hard to fight off any colds that might be floating around. Get your sleep!

3. Drink plenty of water

This is just as important as consistently sleeping well. Drinking the right amount of water cleanses out your system, and keeps your energy up throughout the day. What I have seen to be most helpful is drinking one or two glasses of water as soon as I wake up. This jump starts my system, and gets me ready for the day. Hydrate to be great!

4. Find your space

Sometimes being in your dorm room can be a distraction. I try avoiding my room as much as possible throughout the day in order to train my mind to understand that work is done out and around campus, and my dorm is like "coming home" for the day. This can end up being the case during finals week, especially if you have a hard time focusing. If you like to work in an environment with others working around you, try the student commons or the library. If that's not the case, find a place maybe in the theater, an empty classroom. Just find a place where you can work without anyone or anything distracting you.

5. Form a study group

This can be extremely helpful, whether or not you enjoy studying with other people. Discussing ideas and concepts is one of the best ways to study: it helps to make the subjects more concrete, and not get so jumbled in your tired mind. Start the group a week or two earlier than the actual finals, and help each other organize the important topics to study, especially if you are all in the same class.

I hope this list helps everyone who has the time to read it. Please, remember that final exams are only as hard as you make them. Study hard, appreciate the world you are studying, and be comforted by the fact that "this too shall pass."
Good luck.

Always,

Frances McKinley