10 Tips to Help You Get Through Finals
Finals is always a very stressful time of the semester for students, especially when balancing a heavy class load. By following these handy tips, you can ease some of that stress and perform your best.
10 Tips to Get Through Finals
Managing the stress that comes along with final exams can be difficult for many students. As the semester reaches its end and deadlines for final projects and exams draw closer, some students may find themselves overwhelmed when trying to juggle their many responsibilities. By following these helpful tips you can ease some of your anxiety and be on your way to a successful finals season.
1) Plan ahead and keep a schedule
It can be intimidating as the end of the semester approaches and professors start assigning final projects. Seeing the work pile up can sometimes cause you to worry about whether or not you’ll have the time to accomplish everything you need to.
However, if you take the time to make a plan for how you’re going to tackle the work that needs to get done then things will seem much more manageable. Try creating a schedule for yourself by mapping out specific time frames during which you’ll work on certain tasks. Be sure to check final exam schedules and mark down the location and time of all of your exams on your personal calendar. Once you have a plan put together, the work sitting in front of you will feel much less daunting.
2) Balance subjects
Being a full time student means having a lot on your plate. When taking five or six classes, work can pile up quickly, especially during finals. It may seem impossible to get everything done when you’re trying to balance multiple projects and exams that all have deadlines occurring within a few days of each other.
A common strategy for managing your time is to split your work up into smaller chunks. It’s important not to spend too much of your time working on just one project or subject. Try tackling one aspect of a project for a set amount of time, and then move on to work on the next assignment for that same stretch of time. You’ll likely find that rotating between assignments in this manner will help to increase your focus and keep you from feeling stuck on one particular project.
3) Take regular breaks
Preparing for finals takes a lot of concentration, diligence, and motivation. Properly preparing for finals can be a very time consuming task. Because of this, it may seem a little irresponsible to spend your time doing anything other than studying or working on projects. However, this is not always the case. Your brain is working overtime during finals, and much like any other part of your body, it needs to rest in order to recover from long periods of strenuous work.
Make sure to build breaks into your schedule to avoid burnout and increase concentration and even information retainment. Go outside, hang with friends, grab a snack. Some universities may even have de-stressing events during finals for you to participate in. Taking breaks to do things that you enjoy can put you in a good mood and give your brain the time that it needs to recharge — you’ll be more productive and well rested for those late night study sessions.
4) Don’t forget to eat
You’ve probably heard it plenty of times — breakfast is the most important meal of the day. When dealing with the stress of finals and working on tight deadlines, it can be easy to lose track of time and accidentally skip a meal. It’s crucial that you build time into your schedule to eat well and take care of your body.
When deciding what to eat during finals, do your best to stick to natural foods that provide your body with energy. Avoiding highly processed foods can help you avoid the sluggishness they can cause. Do your best to prioritize fruits, grains, and proteins, as these will help keep you energized, focused, and feeling good.
5) Meditate
It’s easy for anxiety to cloud your brain and make it hard to focus during stressful times like final exams. A great way of clearing your mind and easing that anxiety is to spend some time meditating. By following a guided meditation you can refocus your mind in just a few minutes, and keep yourself grounded and ready to tackle the work ahead of you.
If your self esteem is feeling a little low you can also repeat affirmations to yourself as you meditate. These will help boost your confidence and give you some extra motivation. Meditation is an excellent way to make sure that your mental health is getting the attention it needs.
6) Get enough sleep
We’ve all heard horror stories of students over-caffeinating and pulling all-nighters during finals season. Sometimes this may feel like a necessity given how tight time constraints can be for students during the end of the semester, however, it’s best to avoid sleepless nights. No matter how much caffeine you consume, there’s no substitute for actual sleep.
Getting a good night’s sleep will ensure that you’re mentally prepared for all of the work you need to get done. Poor sleep is detrimental to both your mental and physical health, and makes it much harder for your brain to concentrate and retain important information. You should do your best to aim for at least six to eight hours of sleep every night to make sure your brain is ready to handle everything thrown your way during finals.
7) Don’t compare yourself to others
For some students finals may seem like a breeze, while others may tell stories about cramming study sessions in from sunset to sunrise. While it may be natural for you to compare your stress levels or performance levels to other students, remember that everyone manages their stresses differently, and what works for others may not work for you. Do your best to focus on yourself and identify your own stresses so you can work on what your specific needs are.
8) Look for help if you need it
It can get lonely spending countless hours studying by yourself, but luckily you don't have to. There are many resources available to help students who may be struggling with taking on finals solo. You may want to reach out to a friend or classmate to set up a study session — working together with a friend can help make studying a less stressful experience.
If you’re having trouble understanding certain concepts you may find it helpful to reach out to your professor. More often than not they’ll be happy to help you work through whatever issue you may be having. There are many other resources available to help students who may be having a hard time, such as The Learning Center which offers tutoring services for students, or the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (C-CAPS) which provides counseling for students that may be struggling with their mental health.
9) Do your best to limit distractions
It's important to ensure that you’re keeping distractions at a minimum while studying. It’s a good idea to identify what does and doesn’t work for you when it comes to picking a study space.
Music is something that helps many people focus, but it can also easily become a distraction for some, so you’ll need to pay attention to whether factors like sounds are helping you focus or distracting you further. It’s generally a good idea to keep your phone on do not disturb while working and only allow yourself to check messages or social media while taking a break.
10) Remind yourself that the stress won’t last forever
As final projects are assigned and the work begins to pile up it may seem like the stress will never end. Know that It absolutely will and you’re closer to the finish line now than ever before. Do your best to keep your head up, work as diligently as you can, and think about how good it’s going to feel to relax once you’ve finished your last exam. You can do it!
