Nobody actually enjoys the week-ten prep for finals week, or finals week for that matter. Whether this is your first finals week or your fourth, the stress can be a little overwhelming. If thinking about finals makes your head spin, then listen up! We have composed a list of five tips to keeping your head on straight for finals week!
1. Stay Organized
As obvious as it sounds, staying organized is most important. Not sure where to start? Look at all your due dates coming up and create a study plan! Use task app or a planner to divide up your work. That simple victory of being able to cross something off your list is also great for motivation! Need more personalized structure? A simple Pinterest search will show you organization tips for every type of student. Take a look at our Pintrest Study Board for a little inspiration!
2. Speak Up
You may have not bothered to go to your prof’s office hours all term, but this may be the time. If you’re unsure of a certain section or just nervous in general, it may be beneficial to schedule a meeting or drop in during their scheduled hours. It’s always good for a professor to link your name to a face, especially right before your grades are entered. If questions come up while you’re studying, save them and shoot your professor an email. Sending an email can be a quick and beneficial step in studying since most professors are on top of their emails and willing to help out. Whether you’re unsure about specific information or the class in general your first step should be asking the man or woman in charge.
3. Unplug
That word scares most of us, especially because I’m not just talking about exiting out of Facebook. Texting, Buzzfeed, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or whatever your guilty pleasure is—turn it off. There is a big difference between studying and completely-unplugged studying. Besides necessary Internet searches, try to keep your laptop usage limited and your phone away. You will be amazed how productive you can be when you are 100% focused. You may even find yourself needing less time to study!
4. Stick together
Total isolation for an entire week may not be your studying solution. Some people don’t like to be bothered with questions while studying, but that doesn’t mean total isolation. Grab a group of friends studying for their own classes and sit together. Sometimes just having people you know around you staying focused helps your concentrations and motivation. If you are all focused on your own thing and agree to take breaks together, studying may be a little more bearable.
5. Reward Yourself
No, I am not talking about the post-finals binge. Along the way reward yourself for small accomplishments. If you’re miserable all week you probably won’t be very productive. Whether it’s a quick trip to Kiwi or a movie night with friends, do something to decompress and relax. Set daily goals to give yourself a sense of accomplishment and feel free to celebrate your efforts. But don’t go overboard with the rewards. They are meant to boost motivation, not impair your ability to study and ace that final.
So there ya have it, best of luck with finals this season. Happy Studying!