Fact: “Santa Claus is comin’ to town!”
Myth: We will probably never even get to open those presents under the tree because of the potentially dangerous effects of final exam week.
“I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams …”
Collegiettes™, here’s the cold, hard truth: even though it’s horrible timing, finals week comes at the beginning of a season when the magic and joy of the holidays contagiously overwhelms every soul on campus. While visions of sugarplums dance in our heads, we are forced to spend our twelve days of Christmas in the ZSR. If only all we had to worry about was how many cookies to leave out for Santa and what color tinsel to put on the tree …
We all know that there is no such thing as a holly, jolly, stress-free college student. Stress is something that we all have to deal with throughout our lives. But we don’t have to let the stress get the best of us! Remember: anything done to the extreme will probably just add to the amount of stress you endure in the long run. (In which case someone should probably tell Santa to eat a few less cookies.)
Avoid the following bad habits, and you’ll successfully handle the stress of studying and taking finals (and ace them!) so that you can celebrate with a delicious splash of eggnog!
Saying Yes
Saying “yes” to every single social invitation (even if it’s just to get a head start on your holiday shopping or to “deck the halls with boughs of holly”) only increases your procrastination. Instead, just learn when to say ‘no!’ You’ll be so happy you did when you get those grades back, you’ll be singing “Fa la la la la” all break long!
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Pulling all-nighters
According to a study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, sleep helps your mind absorb new information and form long-term memories. Getting a full night’s sleep the night before an exam is far more effective than sacrificing those Z’s for more study time. Sleep deprivation also leads to colds, coughs, sneezing and blowing noses. Besides, no one wants a nose as red as Rudolph’s! If you do have a workload that tempts you to pull all-nighters, try taking naps every few hours – have a friend wake you up if you sleep past your 2-hour limit!
Powering down caffeine
Caffeine can give your energy level a temporary jolt of merriment, but it can be followed by a crash that leaves you feeling completely drained. Studies show that students who consumed energy drinks may also experience headaches or even heart palpitations, says Dr. Timothy O’Donnell of St. Francis Medical Group. Consuming lots of caffeine also interferes with sleep because it stays in your system for many hours longer than expected. Most likely you will awake feeling like Mr. Grinch, exhausted and grouchy in the morning rather than rejuvenated and refreshed. Find natural ways to get extra energy instead, such as a healthy diet and exercise, as well as getting quality sleep on a regular basis (see above).
Having study parties with your best friends
Where and who you study with is a huge part of how much work you actually get done. Study parties with your closest friends and “going-out” buddies usually turn into gossip sessions or even venting sessions of your latest boy troubles (who do you really want to catch you under the mistletoe?). Also, it is not a good idea to study with a romantic interest – talk about distracting! Besides, you can fully celebrate with your friends and crush when finals are over, and trust me, it will be so much more enjoyable!
Waiting until the last minute and going on adrenaline
Avoid hasty cramming at all costs! This method tends to encode information into your short-term memory, but the knowledge isn’t always retained completely; you ultimately cheat yourself out of a true education. Murray Glanzer and Anita R. Cunitz of the New York University for The Institute of Behavioral Research found that after cramming “chances are good that come test time, the things you studied at the beginning of your “cram” session will be recalled, and some of the things at the end of the “cram” session will be recalled. The majority though, will be lost among many other Post-It notes in your brain. Instead, give yourself a deadline a week ahead of your “real” deadline, providing yourself with some extra motivation and wiggle room.
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Studying the wrong way (Or at least inefficiently)
If only we could be as efficient as Santa—he travels the whole world in just one night! Dedicate 100% of your attention to the material. Many students hurt themselves by half-studying and half-doing something else (i.e. watching television, listening to music, surfing the web and Facebook-stalking, to name a few). Schedule study time for the part of the day that you are most alert. Re-reading passively has little to no benefit. Instead, read actively by highlighting, taking notes, outlining, etc. Never study for more than one hour at a time, and be sure to take 10 to 15 minute study breaks in between sessions. The Augustine Club at Columbia University describes the ideal place to study: well-lit (Christmas lights and holiday candles don’t count), quiet and distraction-free, spacious (enough room for books, etc.) and comfortable, but not too comfortable – you don’t want to fall asleep by accident!
Constantly reminding yourself of what’s at stake
According to Elizabeth Scott, M.S., “remembering the importance of a test’s outcome can be a good motivator for studying, too much focus on the outcome can backfire … causing significant test anxiety.” Being overly anxious about a test only causes you to score lower than you normally would. So remember to think positively and visualize everything going great! If you have studied all you can, let your confidence soar, and you will do better than if you freak yourself out.
Finals can sometimes seem like the long tunnel separating you from the light, but if you approach studying positively and avoid these 7 bad habits, then you’ll be on your way to a restful and cheerful Christmas break in no time. So buy your Post-Its and prep your Christmas Pandora station, collegiettes™–you’re about to take finals by (snow)storm!
*Photography by Madeline Baker