FINALS WEEK
Monday, May 9 – Friday, May 13
It’s that time of year again for University of Iowa Students. The end of the spring semester is less than two weeks away and once again, it will be time to hit the books to prepare for those dreaded final exams. Students will congregate in many of their favorite study spots, from the popular Main Library, to the River Room at the IMU or even Java House. Whichever you prefer, make sure to have plenty of sustenance, surround yourself with people also studying and never, ever procrastinate! It’s no surprise but finals are a big deal and many students have a hard time focusing and dealing with the pressure. In order to be most successful, it’s important to deal with the stress and there are many ways to do so.
Firstly, don’t procrastinate. It leaves you feeling less confident when going into the test and will add to stress levels more than anything. Nothing is worse than feeling unprepared before a big test and getting a head start will eliminate this feeling completely.
Plan your study schedule. It is incredibly helpful to lie out a plan for which class you will study for that day, how long, etc. Planning and organizing your studying will make the entire process much less intimidating and overwhelming.
Another important tip is to avoid stressful people and take breaks. By separating yourself from distracting people, you will easily be able to focus and feel successful in the studying you need to get done. Taking breaks is also very important as it gives you time to re-focus, re-nourish and prepare for your next study session.
Finally, allow yourself to feel confident if you have done everything you can and visualize the exam going the way you want it. Don’t undermine the power of defining your own prophecy and visualizing it going the way you want is a lot more influential than you think. When you picture everything going right, you may just find yourself making the right decisions that lead to success without even realizing it.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by college finals but there are many ways to overcome these feelings and be successful on every exam. By preparing early and following the right tips for studying, it is not as daunting as you may think. Remember, finals are only two weeks away – start planning your study schedule!