For some, it is here, and for others, it is quickly approaching. The week where nights in the library turn into mornings in the library, one cup of coffee turns into five, and laughter turns into tears. Can you guess what week it is?
Finals week.
You think these long nights and tears are unavoidable? I believe they are only unavoidable if you continuously feed the characteristics in which these upsetting circumstances breed. By being unorganized, sleep deprived, and constantly procrastinating, you are the one damaging your mental health… not the exam.
These few tips, if taken seriously into consideration, could help you tremendously on your trek through finals week and into summer:
1. ORGANIZE YOURSELF!
Take this step seriously. It is the most important by far. You don’t need a super elaborate agenda to get this done; it can be done simply on a loose leaf piece of paper. Just sit down and see all that you need to get done, and designate a specific time to do them. Whether it is studying, finishing an assignment, or even going to the gym. Having a preplanned time for all of your activities and tasks will leave you more on top of things and less stressed.
A study done by author and motivational speaker Brian Tracy stated, “10-12 minutes invested in planning out your week can save at least 2 hours per day of wasted time procrastinating and doing useless tasks.” This being said, I think we can all take around 10 minutes at the beginning of each week to figure out everything you need to get done and write it down. So do it already!
2. Find your study time.
Not everyone operates the same, resulting in everyone having different “prime times.” Your prime time is where you personally work most effectively and are capable of getting the most done. You may be someone who works better in the morning – and you may not even know it, so try it out! Others can flourish at night and others mid-day. It all depends on how you personally function so do some experimenting and find your time that works best for you.
3. Find your "place."
You might already have a special study spot! If you do, that’s great, but make sure it truly is an effective spot. You want your study environment to be comfortable, but not too comfortable, quiet, and clean. Like stated earlier, everyone is different. So, if you are fine with having people around you maybe look into a spot in the student center or a café downtown. If you prefer complete silence and want as minimal distraction as possible, get on the hunt for a quiet nook in the library!
4. Give yourself breaks!
This aspect of studying and remaining sane is overlooked all too often. When you truly work hard and study, breaks are good! This does not apply to those who “study” for “hours” by kind of looking at your material in between Snapchats and texts. No.
Tying back to Tip #1, by organizing specific times to do tasks and study, you can and should also work in specific times for breaks, as long as you remain disciplined during your designated study times. Go to the gym, take a walk, or go get some food. Just something to take your mind away from your studies for a while. But then, of course, get back to work afterward!
5. Make sure you are sleeping!
Oh, the aspect of life that gets constantly pushed aside during finals week, when in reality it should be the main priority now more than ever. Sleep! Well rested brains are better functioning brains! How do you expect to reteach yourself a whole semester of Calculus on 1-2 hours of sleep per night? Impossible! Not only will you be more inclined to nap during the day, but you will be dozing off during the times your scheduled to study! Consistency is key here. Make it consistent that you go to bed at a certain time every night, and hold yourself to it! It will do you wonders in the long run.
6. Minimize your distractions.
Yes, it is hard, but put away your phone or at least tell bae you will text them back later because you are busy studying. They will understand, and if they don't, then maybe they are not meant to be bae! All jokes aside, you need to concentrate in order to succeed and this can not happen with you constantly checking Facebook or Twitter. Other than social media, music, and food can also be distractions that can be harmful. Use one of your breaks to get food, and maybe opt out your rap for white noise. White noise is truthfully the best when trying to concentrate. This tip can be hard, but I believe in you!
All six of these tips drawback to the thought of time management. By managing your time better and scheduling out your school work and life, you will feel more in control of things and be less stressed.
Picture yourself feeling more in control of your life and being less stressed, especially going into finals week – doesn’t that seem great?
YOU have control of your time. YOU have control of how you manage your time. And as a result, by having control of these two aspects, YOU can have control over how stressed you are this finals week. Good luck!
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