Finals. The one word that has the tendency to stress out college students to their breaking point. Yes, finals can be extremely stressful, but they don’t have to be. You might end up feeling very unprepared, or you might not even know where to begin when it comes to studying. Many students begin to study only a few days before their exams, which can end up causing them even more stress. These 7 helpful tips will properly prepare you for your finals without all the stress.
The 7 life saving tips to have a successful, stress free exam week:
1.    Begin to study right away. Generally, your professors will give you a heads up about when the finals are, this is good chance to begin looking over your notes and touch up on what you’ve learned throughout the semester.
2.    Create a study guide. Study guides are always helpful when it comes to getting ready for a test, write your own or use the one your professor gives you. With all the notes that you take over the course of the semester, it’s also a good idea to organize them in the correct order. Apps like Quizlet are study tools that you can use to test yourself, this app includes flashcards and tests to help better your knowledge.
3.    Don’t stick to the study guide. I know that for me, whatever I study never ends up on the tests even though I study the materials based off of the study guide. It’s a good idea to go through the textbook and re-read the chapters you’ve gone over in class, teachers usually tend to base their tests off the book. Also, if they’re offered for your class, take some online practice quizzes.
4. Â Â Â Go to review sessions. If your professor is offering a review session, go to them! Most times they will give you extra information that could end up being on the test. As well as review sessions, open labs and study groups are a good way to get a little extra help from other people in your class.
5.    Take breaks from studying. Believe it or not, its okay to take study breaks once in a while. The best way to retain the information that you’ve studied is to study for 40-90 minutes and then take a 10-minute break. During this break do something other than study. Do some sort of physical activity to get your blood flowing.
6.    Snack Smart. Who would’ve thought that eating the right foods can help fuel your study time? Drinking energy drinks and taking shots of 5 Hour Energy will only make you crash after a few hours. Refueling with lots of water -and of course, the occasional cup of coffee- will actually help you stay hydrated and you’ll maintain your energy a lot better. Eating blueberries, for example, get a lot of attention because they contain powerful antioxidants and other nutrients. Fruits have natural sugars that offer clean energy, so you don’t experience the crash the follows consumption of refined sugar.
7. Â Â Â Sleep. Being alert is important when taking a test, so getting enough sleep is essential when it comes to studying. A tired mind is a slow mind. Pulling that all nighter trying to cram the night before your exams would not be your best idea. Going to bed at reasonable hours, like 9 or 10, will benefit you when it comes to retaining the information you reviewed earlier during the day.
Finals. The one word that college students shouldn’t stress over. Hopefully, with these 7 tips you’re now able to conquer all of your studies and exams without the extra dose of stress. Now, go take that well deserved relaxation day, or in this case winter break, and binge watch your favorite Netlfix obsession.