So, you’ve army-crawled your way through the fall semester, and now, Christmas break sparkles before you with presents and trees and shiny ornaments.
And you want nothing more than to roll around in the lazy happiness that is the Christmas holiday.
However, before you can enjoy your break, you have to hurdle the dreaded exam week.
And exam week just might kill you.
But by heeding these simple tips, you very well may survive exam week and arrive safely in the arms of Christmas break.
Reserve Stress for School-related Topics
Let’s face it: exam week equals stress. However, you can alleviate that stress by reserving you panic for school-related issues only. Don’t worry about your roots showing or your week-long, no-shave streak; God invented beanies and jeans for a reason. Just worry about passing your classes and nothing else!
Forget Calories Even Exist
As a corollary to the above, forgetting calories exist will be a great help to your overall happiness during exam week, especially if you’re a stress eater. Simply don’t worry about what you eat for a week. I promise it won’t kill you. If you’re going to study and be stressed all the time, you might as well order that pizza and at least be happy for a few minutes. And don’t feel bad about ditching your suddenly too-tight jeans for some sweatpants.
Don’t Talk to People (About Exams)
Why? Because when you ask your classmate how much he’s studied for the economics exam, one of you will walk away more anxious than before: either because he’s studied more than you or because you’ve studied more than him. So don’t invite that kind of stress into either of your lives.
Don’t Forget to Sleep
All-nighters are rarely a good idea, and with a little planning, they’re rarely a necessity. So as best you can, get a reasonable amount of sleep during exam week, and your body will thank you for it. Plus, if you go to bed at a reasonable hour, you’re less likely to oversleep an exam (which would be a waking nightmare).
Party a Little
While you shouldn’t stay out until 4 a.m. every night, you should still have a little fun during exam week. If you stay cooped up in your room surrounded by a wall of textbooks, you’re probably going to short-circuit from academic overload. So take at least an hour off every day just for a little fun, a little laziness, and a little ice cream.
Stay Extra Prepared (Not Just for Yourself)
If you have the funds, grab a few extra scantrons before your exam. Remember to bring a couple extra pencils and erasers. Make a Quizlet for you history final and share the link with your classmates. Basically, just remember everyone is as stressed as you are and channel the spirit of Christmas giving as you prepare for exams.
Forget About the Numbers
Yeah, exams are measured in grades and GPAs, but as you take your exams, remember that your personal worth is never tied to those grades. Try your best, and even if your GPA drops a few decimals, you’re still a worthwhile person, who will be just fine.
