It’s about that time when we have to put away all denial and accept that finals week is fast approaching. Every semester we dread those five days when all the overwhelming piles of work that have accumulated hit us all at once, but just like taxes and death, it’s inevitable. Finals week can drive even the most laid back student into a frenzy, so staying healthy tends to sit on the back burner. With these tips, you’ll be able to take on your exams and finish the semester without ignoring your mental or physical health.
1. Try to avoid over and undereating
We’ve all been there. Trying to balance all these papers, projects and exams can lead to forgetting to eat altogether. We end up starving until we’re bored of studying and our munchies take over. Keep healthy snacks in your bag like granola bars or fruit to keep your high fat snacking to a minimum. Starting your day with a well-balanced breakfast is the best way to stay in check the rest of the day. It might sound like silly advice from your mom, but it’s been proven to make a difference. You might also consider meal prepping or buying easy-to-make food for the week so you don’t have to worry about cooking or washing dishes. It’s easy to order out every day, but believe it or not, heavy amounts of junk food have a negative effect on your energy and can stop you from studying to the best of your ability. Your wallet and test scores will thank you for this one.
2. Make a playlist
Even if studying with music isn’t your thing, making a playlist full of positive favorites is a great way to keep yourself leveled throughout the week. Whether it’s walking from the library to your car or during a much-needed break, music can help keep your anxiety levels down. I like making playlists with upbeat songs to help me derail some of the stress and maintain the positivity even when I’m on the verge of a mid-finals mental breakdown. If you do like studying with music, choose something with minimal lyrics and subtle beats to help you concentrate. Spotify has some great premade playlists under the focus section that might just do the trick.
3. Take a breather
This is always top advice when finding the best ways to study, but giving yourself a break is really important. It’s amazing what a breath of fresh air can do in relieving your head of the endless to do lists that don’t seem to be getting any shorter. Get up from your cubicle and take your lunch outside or go for a run, even if that means listening to your quizlet while you do so.
4. Minimize Caffeine Intake
I know you’re probably shaking your head at the screen right now and it might seem crazy, but stick with me. I get that you think you won’t survive a single day without a venti cup of coffee (with that extra shot), but you will. Cutting it out entirely isn’t necessary; coffee can be a nice break when you’ve been sitting at Stroz for 10 hours straight, but it doesn’t help to overload on it. Our sleeping schedules are already a mess during finals because 24 hours in a day never feels enough, but pulling all-nighters is more damaging than you may realize. You aren’t going to do the best you can if you’re running on a mix of two hours, coffee and adrenaline.
The best tip is to remember that no matter how hard the week gets, your mental and physical health are just as important. You’ll survive and it’ll be summer before you know it.