As soon as Thanksgiving break ended, many of us at Vanderbilt entered into the last phase of the semester: finals season. (As a student, you can tell the level of stress by the amount of people in each library on campus!)
While even the word “finals,” feels nerve-wracking, I thought about four ways students can stay sane during this busy period.
- Plan out your day through a calendar
I’ve been adding all of my commitments to Google Calendar, so I have scheduled time for breakfast with friends, office hours, studying in the library, going to clubs, and zoom calls for initiatives in which I am involved.
- Exercise the stress off!
During my first semester of college, I brought my Calculus textbook so I could read on the treadmill. (Not kidding.) Exercise has been shown to reduce stress levels, and it can often put us in a different state of mind.
- Study with friends.
I *highly* recommend setting up study groups as well as study sessions for finals throughout the week. I’ve found it useful to sit with friends in the library because we hold each other accountable.
- Think about break!
After finals finish, the semester is officially over! Reach out to old friends from home, think about the home-cooked meals you’ll be able to have in just a few days, and remember that these are the last moments of the semester. You did it!