It’s that time of semester again! Your favorite seat in the library is always taken, your bloodstream is 75% caffeine, oh and you have two tests and a paper due tomorrow. Before you down another energy drink, take a deep breath and use these tips to avoid a hell week meltdown.
1. Make a Plan
Giving yourself a to do list will help with time management and make all of the work you think is ahead seem much more doable. It can also be a good idea to put your to do list on a schedule so you don’t spend too much time on one thing. Plus you’ll feel a little weight off of your shoulders each time you cross one of the items off of your list!
2. Disconnect
Everyone does it; just “checking” Facebook ends up being 45 minutes on every social media website, almost ordering a new purse, and searching for restuarants that will deliver to the library (are the last two just me? Oops…). It becomes even easier to get distracted when writing papers that require internet research, but you can get yourself focused again by using apps such as FocalFilter and SelfControl to block any distracting websites for a period of time, which lets you use the internet without wasting any time!
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3. Exercise
While you may be cutting down on your workouts to devote more time to your studies, this is one distraction that can benefit you! A run to the Battery or a bike ride over the Ravenel Bridge will pump up your endorphins, leaving you happy and refreshed to sit back down to work, and energized without the need of another coffee.
4. Sleep
I may be one of the only college students who has never pulled an all-nighter. I was always told that if I don’t know something at a certain point, I certainly won’t learn it at 3:00 in the morning. New research has even shown that students who sacrifice sleep to study more have lower grades than students who went to bed! Listen to your body and get some rest when you need it, staring at the same line in your textbook again isn’t doing you any help.
5. Be Positive
Telling yourself that you will get through it, and that you have worked hard is extremely helpful in dealing with your nerves and being able to focus on the material. Worrying about the work you have left and possible outcomes of the exams will just distract you from your studies and pile on unnecessary stress. Being positive about each step of your work will encourage you to keep working and be confident!