In a world full of classwork, mental breakdowns and gross dining hall lunches......
Kristin Heaney (that's me) and my tear stained diary will take on the impossible; attempt to create a guide that will help you survive finals.
*Results May Vary
Finals is approaching us at a rapid pace, bringing all sorts of emotions to the plate. As the school year winds down, it will be natural for you to feel like you can too. However, when it comes to tests you cannot do so. So buckle up, get your pens out, be ready to get down to business and ace your finals with these six tips:
1. Remember to eat and drink.
It is extremely easy for you to forget to eat and drink when you are so busy studying for finals. The time you spend eating can be used for anything else. You must not forget to eat though. How are you going to be able to focus with nothing fueling you? The answer is you are not.
2. Don't stay up all night.
Do yourself a favor and avoid the all nighter. If you are passing out during your test or while you are studying, you better believe you will not be as productive and focused as you would've been with reasonable hours of rest.
3. Make your notes pop.
Studies have proven that when notes are colorful, you are more likely to remember the content. Ditch the plain old blue or black ink pen and go for a striking pink or purple! You can even use multiple colors. The possibilities are endless, plus taking notes may even become fun!
4. Take breaks.
Each person works differently when it comes to studying. If you study for too long at one time, there comes a point where the words are gibberish and nothing is staying in your head. That means it is time to take a break. Go get something to eat or watch one Netflix episode (Yes only one, sorry fam). This will give you a reasonable amount of time to re-cooperate and be ready to start again at your best potential. It will also give you incentive to work hard during the hour you are studying because who doesn't like Netflix?!
5. Stop comparing yourself to other people.
This is crucial when it comes to studying and test taking. Some people are just crazy good at test taking and test prep. Stop beating yourself up about not doing perfectly on a test or trying to get a 100%. Realize you can only do your best. Finals are stressful enough, so putting extra pressure on yourself might motivate you in the short term but in the long term it will just cause more problems.
6. Put your phone on the other side of the room.
In the digital age we live in, phones are becoming a part of us. While you are studying, put your phone on the other side of the room or somewhere out of arms reach. It is tempting to look at you phone when it is right in front of you. You can be without your phone for the hour you are studying, I promise you nothing will change so drastically on social media in an hour or even two.
These are just some ideas to help you study and ace your finals. Be aware that you may have to put in more hours than your best friend Cindy. Try to start studying a week before your exam. If you know a test is going to be particularly hard try starting two weeks in advance. Study more in the beginning and then slowly decrease as you get closer to the test. Cramming will not help your long term memory.
Stay focused, stay positive and may the curve be ever in your favor.
