This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SAU chapter.
That’s right, I know that we’re all feeling the pressure. Most people just started school again after having a week off for Thanksgiving break. If you’re like most people I know, including myself, you are finding it hard to finish the semester strong. Well lucky for you, I have some tips and tricks to help make this final stretch a little bit easier.
- Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I know that, personally, this is an issue I struggle with a lot. A lot of people use academic validation as a way to prove their self-worth, but that is not the case. If you have fallen behind in some of your classes or you aren’t where you feel like you should be, that’s okay. I can guarantee you that everyone is in the same boat. Just try to make sure that you aren’t putting too much pressure on yourself because it will only make it harder to find the motivation to study and finish those last few assignments.
- Make sure to take study breaks. Yeah sure, reading and taking notes on your textbook sounds like a great idea in your head as a way to help you catch up on work. The only problem with that is that it’s going to tire you out and then you’ll put off other work because you put all your energy into something else. It’s better to spread out your breaks than to just take one huge hour-long break on TikTok because you need a break from work. Try studying for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. It will help give you some time to reset your focus and also allow you to stand up and stretch so you aren’t hunched over your desk for hours at a time.
- Add a little bit of self-care to your routine. This one might seem like a waste of time to some people, but I can promise you that it will help. When you’re really stressed it takes a toll on you; not just mentally but physically too. Doing a face mask or taking an extra long shower on days when you’re really feeling the stress can do wonders for you. Or, set aside some time to meditate. Basically, just find some time to sit and relax so that it doesn’t feel like the stress is one big weight on your shoulders.
- Make sure that you are taking care of your body. The most important thing that you can do for yourself during a time like this is to make sure that you are eating properly and getting enough rest. Your brain won’t retain anything that you learn without getting proper sleep or proper fuel. Pulling an all-nighter to study for your exams could be doing more harm than help.
All of these things are really important and try to take some to mind when you’re studying this finals season. Just make sure that you’re also still making time to do the things that you like, like hanging out with friends and just having fun. Good luck to everyone on your finals, and I hope that your teachers will hand out A’s like Oprah hands out cars.