The end of the semester is finally upon us! While that is very exciting for most of us, it is also extremely stressful. As much as we all just want the semester to be done so we can focus on the holidays, we still have to power through finals week, aka hell week. The nonstop studying, last-minute cramming, sleepless nights — it’s rough.
Here are a few tips to help you survive finals week, and hopefully make it a little easier to get through.
1. Experiment with different study methods.
Studying the same way for hours on end for several days gets extremely tedious. If you usually just read through your notes from the whole semester, try rewriting them and highlighting the important details. If you have to remember a lot of definitions, try making flashcards. Or, if you’re happy with the way you currently study, try studying in shorter intervals and/or with longer breaks. Studying for hours at a time with little-to-no breaks is extremely tiring and not very effective because your brain gets tired after a while. So whatever your current study habit is, try changing it up — even if it is just by taking longer breaks.
2. Eat well.
It is very important to eat well while studying. If you eat junk food, you’re not going to feel that great and it is going to impair your studying. Try eating healthy snacks, such as blueberries, almonds or dark chocolate. All of those snacks have been proven good for your brain and memory, which is extremely important during finals week.
3. Stay active.
Sitting in one place for an extended period of time can make you tired and make it more difficult to focus. Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain, so take a study break and hit the gym, do a little workout at home or even just take a walk around the block. Get your body moving on your study break so that you come back focused and ready for another round of studying.
4. Get some sleep.
This is also very important. College students are known for staying up all night studying, especially around finals week, but that is actually one of the worst things you can do. Fatigued brains do not retain information, nor do they recall information, which will severely impact your performance on your finals, so make sure you get the recommended amount of sleep each night.
I hope you found these tips helpful and will take advantage of them during finals week. Good luck and happy studying!
