In high school, the month of April is filled with prom, ease, and happiness. College in April, however, is usually the opposite. Professors start to assign the last three chapters that they haven't had time to teach you, requiring you to read them overnight. You may have three projects in three different classes along with five papers all due on the same deadline.
No matter how stressful this month seems, it's all worth it when you get to pack up your dorm or apartment and go back home for the summer. In the meantime, here are a couple of tips to help you combat the looming fear of exam week.
1. Treat yourself.
Reward yourself after studying for a while. This can be in the form of resting and listening to music, taking a walk around campus, going to eat with friends, or making a snack.
2. Have some coffee.
While not a go-to for everyone, caffeine can serve as a "pick-me-up" when the day is just dampening your mood.
3. Take a nap.
Honestly, college can be so overwhelming that it makes it hard to complete other work after a day of classes. Take time to just relax and rest your eyes.
4. Spend time with a friend.
Study together in the library. Make an impromptu trip off campus. Be sure to make time for friends even around homework; they will help keep you sane when you think you're going to go crazy.
5. Don't procrastinate.
When a project has been assigned, go ahead and start working on it a little bit each day as the due date gets closer. You know that other assignments will come up, and it's overwhelming when you have to bounce between different projects all at once. Try to give yourself time to focus on one thing at a time.
6. Meet with professors.
Try not to be the student that only meets with a professor the day before the final exam. Meet with professors in advance to discuss confusing material as you come across it, and meet with them near finals to review anything you may still have trouble with.
7. Exercise, if possible.
I know that this may be the hardest to accomplish, but just finding time to walk around campus with a clear head can be super important to keep you from being overwhelmed. Try going to the gym for a run if you're up for it. Put in those headphones and jam out! Look for something new to try such as yoga or Zumba.
8. Plan ahead for your final exams.
Final exam scheduling can be different from your regular class times. Plan in advance where you will go on each day of exam week. Before that, find maybe an hour of each day to prepare yourself for the exams and just study. Try to dedicate this time and have minimal distractions.
9. Clean your room.
Sometimes it's hard to study in a cluttered environment. If everything is organized, you can set out everything you need to accomplish and see it clearly in front of you.
10. Keep calm.
No matter how stressful this month will be, keep your head up. It is always worth it and you can do this!
