The week before finals week, there are stages that we all go through that all of us can relate to.
Stage One: Should I really study?
Well, the answer is, probably. Except there are a million other things that you could be doing right now. I mean, the study guide will finish itself, right? The problem with studying early can be that maybe the teacher doesn't give you the study guide until less than a week before the finals. If you try to study before they give you the study guide, you may be studying all the wrong things. *facepalm*
Stage two: Oh no, finals are less than a week away.
During this stage, we all try to get as much information from our professors as possible. Ask them about the format of the test, how many questions and what will be on it. Well, this is unless your professor is like many that will give you the study guide that they say has all the information that you will need on it, but when you look at the test after all of this studying you realize that the test is nothing like the study guide. Yes, you can commence crying now. It's OK, we all do it.
Stage three: No time for breathing, eating or sleeping. Just have the time to read.
This is when we all take the time to plan out our studying. We study between classes, at lunch and dinner (because really, who gets up early enough to eat breakfast?) and in our beds while trying not to fall asleep. The struggle is definitely real now.
Stage four: The weekend before finals
We have read everything ... so we think. We have studied so hard that we can barely see in front of us. This gives us the ultimate dilemma, do we hang out with our friends for just a “few hours”? Or do we stay in our dorm room in confinement? It is so tempting to hang out with friends for just a little while to relieve some stress of finals week. The issue with that can be although, will you really go back to your room by 3 p.m. to study or will you lose track of time and then have a mental breakdown later when you realize what has happened.
Stage five: The day of your first final
If you are going to cry, now is the time. I’m only kidding of course. Many times we feel like crying right before that test. When the professor hands you the final exam and you go blank automatically and feel as though you are going to melt into the floor of doom. After the final exam is over, you and all of your classmates meet outside of the room to discuss what you answered for what question. This meeting can cause more potential doom that will happen after your professor posts your grades or give you a little relief. At least you aren't the only one who knew nothing on that test, right?
Stressing about finals is hard on not only your mind but also on your body, too. Make sure to study efficiently, but try to give yourself some time to recover between study sessions. Try studying outside in the fresh air, it may help you study easier. Make sure to eat and drink enough or else your mind will be paying for it later! Laugh a little with your friends, it's almost over ... right?
