How to Survive Hell Week

One week, two all-nighters, three exams, a paper and a group assignment. Not every student has had to experience this, but it is very common at a university like ours. We all like to refer to this as “hell week”. We all know it is coming at some point and should prepare ourselves for is, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. Hell week is not for the average person, but with a little perseverance and these helpful tips, even the newest students on campus can “own” every hell week Virginia Tech tries to throw their way.
 
1. Study, Study, Study
            It’s really important for you to find somewhere where you feel that you study best. Whether it be at a local coffee shop, silent floor of the library, your dorm, the math emporium, etc., make sure you feel comfortable and can truly focus on the material you are studying.
 
2. Don’t Do Bulk
            The worst thing a student could possibly do is study for hours upon hours at a time without breaks. Take a break after every chapter or section or set a time limit for yourself and take a 5-minute break once you reach a certain point. Breaking up the material allows you to grasp the concepts better without jumbling everything you’ve learned all together.
 
3. Give Yourself Time
            All-nights are the common go-to solutions for a hell week cram session but these have proved to be more harmful than beneficial. All nighters leave you feeling drained and can often lead to a study “overload”. Space out your study times and don’t wait until the day before your exam to study all 5 chapters.
 
4. Sleep, Eat and Be Merry
            We all know school can get stressful so remove yourself from the stress of it at least once a day. Go play volleyball, watch a TV show with a friend or get dinner with a group of people. Just going for a walk downtown or around campus allows you to take yourself away from the hassle and stress the week is giving you.
 
If all else fails, coffee is a great solution to keep you going all week. (: