At the University of Texas at Arlington, there are four weeks left of school. You've almost made it. One month left. It's hard to see the other side, though, when you're drowning in school work up to your ears. Your professor's carefully planned calendars have probably fallen apart from unforeseen circumstances and random acts of God, which have sometimes extended your deadlines, but also put you behind on work. It's the final mad dash and you're as lost as a kid in Walmart.
Believe it or not, you won't crash and burn. There are a few tips you can use to help prevent yourself from burning out at the very end of the semester. It's all about taking care of yourself, prioritizing, and organizing yourself.
1. Create a to-do list and a schedule for the remaining days in the semester.
The key to survival is to not procrastinate. Calmly observe your next month. If you have a cumulative final, now would be a great time to start breaking down the chapters into manageable study times. You have the power to get ahead.
Emergency tip: Get a study group together for your classes. Study groups are great to help keep everyone accountable. (So long as these study sessions don't turn into Netflix sessions.)
2. Review your notes daily!
If you studied for 30 minutes every day on the topic you struggle with, your brain will retain better due to repetition. If you wait until the night before to cram, you're less likely to remember what you studied. It pays to do the prep work and create flash cards or speed notes to help keep up with the material.
Emergency tip: If you haven't taken good notes all semester, it may be hard to study. Your first line of action should be to ask a classmate and attend all remaining classes. If they're not willing to share, check online for notes from people who have already taken the class.
3. Stay healthy.
Now is not the time to let your health slip out from under you. Keeping up with your routine is crucial to prevent burning out. If you like to do yoga every Wednesday from 11:00 - 12:00 p.m. at the Maverick Activities Center, then do it. If you are normally asleep by 10:00 p.m. every night, then don't change your sleep habits. Making drastic changes can make finals week and this last stretch of the semester rough.
Emergency tip: If you happen to fall off the beaten path, don't panic. Everyone handles stress differently. Maybe you become an insomniac or stress eat. It's important to recognize these behaviors and use the resources you have on campus to address them in a healthy way.
4. Reward yourself!
Whether it's at the end of a study period or the end of finals week, find some way to reward yourself. Maybe it's 10 minutes on Facebook before you start studying again or maybe you buy something you really wanted. Finding ways to give yourself incentives will help you stay motivated.
Emergency tip: It's hard to keep yourself accountable. Rewarding yourself isn't fun if you didn't do the work! If you know you have troubles with this, check out apps that help you lock down social media for a bit while you study. Or have a friend or roommate keep your phone while you study.
No matter what, keep striving to do better and achieve more. You're going to make it through this semester! You're on the final stretch. Following these tips will help you keep focused and finish strong. Believe in yourself!
