Christmas takes on a new meaning once you go to college. December 1st doesn’t signal Christmas trees and present, rather finals week. The one week that you are supposed to cram four months of material into your head for one test. Luckily for me, most of my finals are papers that I get a chance to write beforehand. However, if you’re not as lucky as me, here’s some tips to help you relax!
- SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP
I know you’ve heard it a million times, but sleep does improve how you perform! Studies show that staying up late cramming won’t help you retain as much information. Sure, coffee is a God-send but you shouldn’t be running only on Starbucks! Get some sleep in so you’ll wake up feeling refreshed, especially with the 8 a.m.’s and if you really need to catch up on some more studying, wake up a little earlier!
- Treat Yo' Self
Finals can be stressful, but remembering to have down time is super important. I know you’re probably thinking that watching Netflix or painting your nails sounds crazy during finals week, but it pays off in the long run! Everyone deserves a break sometimes, and if you’re not taking care of yourself you won’t be able to do your best.
- It's all in the music
Music can have a major impact on how you feel! I usually listen to classical music because it’s soothing and I get easily distracted by words, but you can go on Pinterest and find TONS of final exam playlists to find which one fits you best.
- You are what you eat
Okay, not really but certain foods can improve your brain function. Like I said earlier, running solely on coffee is not a good idea. Snacks such as apples and nuts can be quick to eat and make you more productive! I’m not saying you can’t stock up on pizza rolls and ramen, just add in some healthy snacks too.
- Chill out
Try meditating or yoga in between cramming for the exams. These exercises prevent anxiety, and anxiety hinders your ability to think correctly. Stressing about the exam makes things worse, believe it or not.
- Plan ahead
This is very important. I’m one of those girls who lives by their planner, but if you’re not, you at least need to be for finals week! At my college, the exam times are different than the normal meeting times. You don’t want to be the one who shows up late because most of the time professors won’t even let you in. Plus, it helps with studying, so you don’t end up surprised when you find out there is an exam tomorrow.
- Call your mom
Or basically anyone that supports you. I find myself constantly calling my mom because I know that no matter how nervous I am, she always believes in me. It’s nice to know that someone else is out there rooting for you! It also helps knowing that there is life outside of finals week.
- Get outside!
Take a walk, go hiking, or just go to a park. Anything that helps you calm down and gets you out of the library. Nature is great because it’s freeing. There are no deadlines or exams to study for, and this would be a great way to “treat yo self” like mentioned earlier.
- Keeping it clean
This goes along with planning and staying organized. Clutter can cause you to become even more confused than you already are. You can’t exactly focus on studying when your entire dorm is a mess. It also helps with deadlines. I can almost guarantee that the professor won’t care if you misplaced your research paper in the heap that is your dorm, you’ll just get a zero.
