Some of these are obvious, and some are easier said than done. As a senior at Emmanuel, I’ve had some of both my lowest lows and highest highs during finals week. Here are some of the tips I’ve utilized to get through them the past four years!
1. Find a great study space!
Providing yourself with a comforting and motivating atmosphere is one of the best things you can do to start off studying, or working on a paper or presentation. Everyone needs something different, so make sure you pick the best place for you. If your friends prefer the library for the peace and quiet, but you prefer the study rooms in Wilkens for the large white boards, then go for the study room! Or even better, alternate! Which brings me into my next point—
2. Alternate studying alone and with friends
You should spice up your study location every once in a while for fresh scenery, and the same goes for the company! If you work better with people motivating you, start off with your friends or classmates, but break away if you need to work on something different for a while, or vice versa. This will allow you to stay motivated and spend time with friends while working on finals as well as keep you focused when you need to step away. On that note—
3. Go outside!
If it isn’t raining go for a short walk (or long, if you want!). It will refresh both your mind and body. There’s so much to see in Boston now that it’s not covered in snow! Walk over to the public gardens and see some hybrid tulips! Or check out the new Pavement Coffeehouse location on Boylston! Don’t be afraid to step away from what you’re doing and take a break.
4. Put motivational notes on your wall!
One of the nicest things my roommates over the past four years have done for me is put motivational quotes on my wall when they know I’m feeling down. It’s a great surprise to see handwritten notes all over your wall, and it really boosts your mood. Do it for yourself, your roommates, the 3rd floor bathroom, whomever you want! Check out goodreads.com’s quotes section for some great ones.
5. EAT.
Believe me, I know how tempting it is to forgo food in favor of getting assignments done. But your mind and body need food to keep on trucking through finals, so please, please, please remember to eat! Bring snacks to your study space with you—I suggest fruit or crackers. But don’t forget to allot time for a full meal! You will thank yourself later.
6. SLEEP.
Again, I know how tempting, and at times, seemingly necessary it is to forgo sleep. I am no stranger to all-nighters—most of us probably aren’t. If you find it absolutely necessary to pull one, revisit tip #5 and bring lots of snacks, and make sure you drink lots of water or whatever type of hydration you prefer throughout the night. Still, do what you can to sleep and/or take frequent naps, even if it’s on the JYC couches! It’s not worth it to stay up if you’re reading the same paragraph five times and not processing it.
7. Find pump-up music!
Do I really have to say this one? Spotify has playlists for literally everything— from “Straight Up Funk-Soul Drivetime” to “Summer Lovin’ Tracks” to the oddly specific “After-Ski Classics.” Peruse their endless lists or make your own. Sometimes your pump-up music will actually be the scene where Simba takes back Pride Rock, like for one of my friends here at EC, and that works too! Find what motivates you and blast it—through headphones, of course.
8. Call someone important to you.
Put down your homework, pick up your phone, and call someone you care about. Call your mom, your dad, your best friend, whoever you know will give you a boost and remind you that you’ve got this. Take a few minutes to catch up and see what they’ve been up to! My grandparents and parents have gotten me through many finals breakdowns, so I highly suggest giving someone a ring. It will brighten both your day and theirs!
9. Breathe.
I mean it. Stop typing for a second, take a deep breath, and exhale. Try your hardest to relax for just a moment. You’ve got this. You’ve spent this entire semester studying human anatomy, researching gender, memorizing scenes, and more. Whatever you are working on, you can do this. Just remember to breathe.
10. Remember that it will be okay.
No matter what, no matter how stressed you are right now, please remember that it will be okay. Like I said in number 9, you’ve been working hard all semester, and now is the time to show off that knowledge. Still, I need to stress that your grades are not a reflection of you as a person or student. Things happen. Sometimes you have an off semester. Sometimes you do better on tests but hate public speaking, and your professor grades mainly on presentations. So yes, study and work hard and do the best you can for graduate school, your scholarship, or to just make it to the next semester, but, for your sanity, remember that you are more than your grades and you should be proud of everything you have done!
With all of that said, go forth and kick butt, everyone. You can all do this!