The holiday season is supposed to be the best time of year. So why has mine been filled so far with so much crying, yelling, and cursing? Oh, that's right -- it's finals time. Some old people, a long time ago, decided that it would be a great idea to test all their students at once over all the material from the year. Even though they've had exams and assignments and presentations throughout the entire semester already.
And these big tests were going to be worth more than a typical exam because -- why not. But I'm not bitter. So, rather than rave on pointlessly about how to change the system, let's instead focus on how to survive it. Studying for finals is the worst. But, hopefully, with these tips you'll be a little smarter about how to approach it.
1. Avoid the library.
The library is the place to go when you need a place to study, right? Wrong. The library might have been a great place to study during week seven, but those good times are gone, now. Everyone has finals, which means everyone is now at the library. Good luck trying to find a cubicle.
And one with a power outlet near it? In your dreams! No, it's too late to turn to the library, now. Try visiting a coffee shop near your campus; it's less likely to be crowded and you'll be right next to the coffee. Or make use of the quads and green spaces on campus. If you live in a place where the weather is still nice, then studying outside might just be the thing you need.
2. Take a shower.
Let's say you didn't take my advice, and you're at the library studying. And you just happen to get caught up in doing all those readings for that general education class that you forgot you're taking. Studying is becoming harder and harder, and you suddenly realize that it's been 12 hours since you've started. What should you do? Hit the shower.
It's a great way to take a little break and feel more refreshed so you can get back to the grind. And let's be honest. The library smells kind of weird because a lot of people who go there get so wrapped up in their work that their personal hygiene tends to go by the wayside. Don't end up like that and make sure to scrub-a-dub-dub.
3. Order in your food.
I estimate that the average person wastes 250 minutes a week going to, ordering, and waiting for food. And the validity of this statistic aside, that's a long time. Time that you could be spending with your nose in a book.
There's a reason why food delivery services exist: for students who are too busy studying. Make use of them so you can maximize the time you spend studying and minimize the time you spend interacting with people. And in case you don't know which ones to use I've listed some below:
4. Study with a friend.
OK, this might not be the best idea if you and your friends get distracted easily. But if you're able to stay motivated and focused, then studying with some friends might be a great idea. They'll be there to talk to so that you don't completely forget how to interact with other humans, and they can watch your stuff if you need to get up for something or take a nap. And, hey, you can take turns going on coffee runs. Speaking of which...
5. Be smart about the coffee.
I don't know what it is about the crippling fear that you won't graduate, get a job in your field, (or at all in this job market), pay back your student loans, or have anywhere near as decent a life as you had hoped that makes espresso taste better than normal. But, regardless, make sure you stay healthy when it comes to coffee.
If you know that it has a big effect on you, don't drink too much and stick to the sugarier stuff. Ultimately, it's no substitute for sleep. And, remember, stay hydrated with water because coffee is a diuretic and you don't want to get migraines because your body is as dry as the Sahara.
6. Snacks are your friends.
Finals week can do some damage to your normal sleep cycle. If you're anything like me, sleep might become something you do on an as-needed basis. But be careful, because a huge change or lack of sleep can really affect how your body processes food.
Trust me, you might want to avoid eating big meals all at once while you're studying. Channel your inner sloth and stick to snacking on brain foods, because you know you don't want to be in the middle of an exam and suddenly get a stomach ache.
7. Reward yourself for reaching small goals.
8. Don't forget to catch some Zs.
It might not be as much as you would get during the rest of the semester (which still isn't saying much), but it should at least hopefully keep you sane. Ultimately, your health should be your number one priority: don't compromise it too much over a test.
