May is finally here, which also means finals are coming up at an alarming rate. Instead of ignoring your final projects until the night before, here are a few ways to find motivation at this daunting time.
1. Do your work in a clean, tidy, area.
There are many benefits of working in a tidy area. First off, it reduces stress! Plus, less stress makes it easier to clear your mind and to give all of your attention to your work.
2. Reward yourself!
One thing that always motivates me is a reward, because sometimes even the thought of a good grade isn’t motivating enough. After about an hour of work, try rewarding yourself with an episode of your favorite show. Just make sure you don’t watch more than one at a time and become less productive as a result.
3. Plan accordingly.
If you know that you are going to be insanely busy some days, do not plan to do school work on those days too. Your quality of work will possibly suffer and you will feel extremely overwhelmed as a result.
4. Know your priorities.
This is similar to the last point, if you know that you have a ten page final paper due on Monday, you probably shouldn’t be partying all weekend.
5. Don’t spend too much time with friends during finals week.
Sometimes studying with friends can be helpful when you don’t understand a concept in a class, but trying to study with certain people can actually do more harm than good, if all they do is act as a distraction.
6. Have ‘Me Time’ everyday.
This is extremely important! Self-care is especially important during this stressful time. Spend at least an hour doing something to help you relax, whether it’s by doing a face mask, indulging in a sweet treat, or enjoying a much needed nap. The only way for you to be successful is to be relaxed and stress free, so treat yourself.
7. Eat healthy.
This is one of the most important points. Diet can affect your appearance, mood, sleep habits, and more. Try making salads with protien in the dining hall. If anything, try to stay away from greasy, fatty foods. Still allow yourself small treats, but if you have an overall healthy diet, you will probably have more energy to study for your finals.
8. Sleep!
This is probably the most important thing to do during finals. Lack of sleep effects the way you retain information, as well as your skin and overall health. Instead of pulling all nighters, try to plan accordingly, your work will be better and you will be in a better overall mindset.
Good luck during this stressful time, just remember that grades don’t define you and to try your best.