It is that time of the year again, Dead Week. A time of many tears, constant insomnia, probably more than a little hysteria, and unfathomable amounts of caffeine. The only light at the end of the tunnel is that in just a week it will all be over, and we will be on our way to enjoying three stress-free months of summer vacation. But for now it is time to buckle down and crush these finals. Here are a few things to make the most dreaded week of the year a little less excruciating.
Finals season is overwhelming, and it is so easy for assignments and end of the year meetings to come hurtling out of nowhere like a freaking freight train. One of the best ways to combat this chaos is to organize this next week or two down to the last detail. If you only use a planner for one or two weeks out of the year, this is the absolute best time. Breaking down each hour of the day will seem like a lot but once you have everything you need to do, it will make it a lot more manageable, and there is something inherently satisfying about checking things off a list. So go grab a dope planner from Target, use some fun marker or pens, and plan like there is no tomorrow.
When you're studying it is really easy to procrastinate. I do it more than I should, I did it writing this article, and I will probably do it again in the near future (no one should ever doubt my honesty in these articles). I used to have a tendency of sitting down to do an assignment and then wanting to put it off a little longer, so I would want to watch a show but I knew that wasn't productive, so I told myself I could spend five minutes on my phone because it felt like I was wasting less time for some reason? But then I would just get distracted on my phone and end up spending the same amount of time it would have taken to watch a twenty-minute episode of New Girl, which defeated the whole purpose. So here is a solid compromise I worked out with myself. I set goals for each thing I am working on. I tell myself I can watch one episode of something, or be on my phone for ten minutes once I do two pages of the paper, or read a chapter of my textbook etc... This way you still get a break, you have a little something motivating you along the way, and the time you spend working is more productive because you aren't breaking it up with checking Snapchat or Instagram or text messages.
Study in the most conducive space for your learning style. If that is in the library, go to the library, if it is in a study group, set one up and bring snacks. Personally, if the space I am studying in is messy then it makes everything a little more stressful. I like to study in my apartment, so I make sure that my room/living room is tidy, I like to have candles out and fun twinkle lights, and some snacks. It gives me a sense of control and order and puts me in the best mindset to get some work done. So find the environment that suits you best and do that, because anything that minimizes stress during finals week is an absolute must.
Lastly, make time for fun. I know the horror, I'm sure that got many eye rolls and probably more than a few "but there's no time for that", but I promise it is so necessary and worth it. It doesn't have to take up half a day, but if you make time in your schedule for having a little fun during dead week, it will only be to your benefit. Everyone has to eat, so maybe grab some food with friends for an hour, encourage one another and laugh together, it will help the week not seem so dark and can help put things in perspective. Maybe go for a walk around campus or a park with some friends or a cute puppy, or both! Getting out and about will bring you out of a finals-induced funk. So when you're penciling in your planner, make sure to include some downtime, it will be your saving grace.
Finals suck. But hopefully this will make these upcoming weeks a little more bearable because it is almost over, we are so close, and we are capable! Crush those finals y'all!
