It is that week of school for those of us here at the University of Indianapolis. Finals Week. Those two words are dreaded all semester long, kept back in the far recesses of our minds to try and forget. However, we can never forget about it because it does come upon us every semester. Finals time can be difficult for everyone, so here are some tips to make it through the hardest week of the semester.
First of all, do not panic. I repeat, do not panic. Panicking won't help you at all in the slightest. You have to attack this week with a clear and calm head. You're going to need all of your wits and senses to make it through the week. Panicking just clouds up your thoughts, leaving no room to think about what you actually need to do. The week will go by much easier if you are able to keep the panic at bay and focus on the tests and projects ahead of you.
Second, make a detailed schedule of your week. I would suggest even scheduling everything down to the hour. This will help you keep on track with everything happening this last week of school. By doing this, you'll make time for studying, going to finals and even sleeping. It's a very useful trick to keep your time well-managed during the week.
Third -- probably the most obvious of all my tips -- is to study, study, study. You probably should have started this earlier, but there is no time like the present. Studying will help you pass that test no matter what subject it is. I mean how else are you suppose to remember everything that has been lectured at you this semester? You're going to need to study for these finals. Otherwise, come test time, you may find yourself wondering when we talked about that question on the test in class.
Fourth, make sure that you take care of yourself both physically and mentally. If you aren't well, it's going to be almost impossible to be OK during finals week. Physically, make sure you get enough sleep so you are rejuvenated and ready for every day. Remember to eat and stay comfortable. Don't worry, nobody cares what you look like during finals week. Everyone else is much too worried about their finals to even look, much less care. Mentally, just check in with yourself often to make sure you are alright. Take breaks from studying and finals so you don't overwhelm yourself. Having a mental breakdown during finals week is never a good thing. Take care of yourself.
These are just a few of my recommendations for having a good finals week. These work for me, but yours may be different. Good luck on your finals, Hounds!
