Finals. I know no one is ready to hear that word. But, as we come closer to the end of the semester, it’s important to remember a few things that help us all stay sane during finals.
Space out your studying
By now, most of us are aware of our exam schedules. It’s proven that cramming, especially pulling an all nighter, is not the most beneficial way to study. If you plan your studying in intervals, you’ll be able to store information better.
Take breaks
Take a 10 or 15 minute break during studying. Play some music, watch some Netflix (don’t go on a Netflix binge though). Or even just relax for the time being to let your mind process what you are studying.
Make sure you get enough sleep
This is one of the most important rules of all. Get enough sleep. When you sleep, your brain processes what you studied by moving it into your long term memory so it can be retrieved at a later time. In order for this to work, you’ll need the normal amount of time for sleep, which means two hours won’t cut it.
Eat healthy
It can become very easy to order late night food or snack on junk food when trying to study. Our bodies need real fuel, especially our brains that help process all of our studying. Unfortunately all those late night cookies and wings won’t fuel our brain the same. But after finals, by all means order all the good stuff that you can.
Form a study group
There will always come a time when someone else understands something more than you. There will also come times when you understand certain things more than someone else. In this case, creating study groups can become a great tool for studying for classes.
Drink lots of water
Although some people do this already, some of us don’t (I’m guilty of this). Not only does water keep you full, it helps our brains process information easier.
Create a to-do list
Instead of trying to look through multiple papers or power points from different subjects, make yourself a to-do list or schedule of what has to get done. Not only will it keep you more organized, but for myself it motivates me to get things done in a timely manner.
Don't stress (too much)
Obviously some amount of stress is inevitable during finals. But too much stress can take a toll on yourself. If you stress yourself out, you’ll be unable to focus on the important topics of your classes, which can lessen your study time.
Email your teachers
If you have questions, don’t be afraid to email your teachers. Most teachers are more than willing to help even though it’s finals week. Even though classes are over, they understand students will still have questions during their studying.
