It’s that dreadful time of the year again: finals season. Being a junior now, I have a slight advantage over others. I have had the past 2 years to figure out what works for me and what doesn’t work for me when it comes to studying for finals and taking care of myself properly. This is a very important factor that needs to be taken into consideration when preparing for finals season. Flashback to freshman year – an image of me cramming 5 months-worth of 5 classes into a week comes to mind. I remember leaving EVERYTHING to the last minute, not understanding the consequences that this would leave on my grades and on my well-being. During this time, it isn’t uncommon for students to put acing a test over taking proper care of themselves. Ladies, we need to make sure that we are always taking care of ourselves above all, even during finals season.
I know from experience that when you do not give yourself enough time to study, this can lead you to have to stay up all night studying for something. Please try not to do this. Sleep is VERY important and lack thereof is something that can be very detrimental to the human body. Lack of sleep can also affect how well you are retaining the information that you are studying.
It is also important to make sure that you are staying active and eating healthy during finals season. Getting the proper nutrients can stimulate the body and the mind and lead to a much better study session for you. Eating food that is not good for you, or eating food that you do not normally eat should not be blamed on finals. Plus, a quick trip to the gym could be just the break your brain needs. If you are eating healthy and exercising like you normally would be, these both will benefit you in the long run.
Being kind to yourself is the most important thing to focus on when finals come around. I know it’s hard to think of anything other than classes, grades, and exams during the last few weeks of the semester but your well-being is more important than a grade; always remember that.