Finals Tips

Photo by Kylee Weber

It’s that time of the year that students dread: Finals week. The week that we anxiously await all semester, as we frantically start studying everything we have learned over the last four months. Studying for finals is the most stressful part of this week, from staying up until 2 a.m. finishing a project or staring at notes until your brain finally remembers them.

However, finals week does not have to be as stressful as we make it out to be. Using some study hacks and finals tips, this week can fly by easily, perhaps keeping our mental breakdowns to a minimum.

Here are some tips to keep your finals week simple and easy:

1. Plan ahead. Procrastination is what causes stress to occur, and then the mental breakdowns begin. Planning ahead is the easiest way to limit stress. You can start looking at notes ahead of time, fill out study guides the day you receive them or create a study group to go over different notes. All of these ideas can create a stress-free week while studying.

2. Get creative. Find new ways to study, either in groups or by yourself. Besides staring at a screen for hours, these will help you remember the material. You could even make a game out of it, which could potentially make things easier.

3. Walk away. Studying for a long period of time can cause stress to take over your mind and body. Walking away from your screen can help release anger or pressure. Set a timer for an hour or so, and if you study constantly for that time, walk away and take a break. This will allow you to come back to your work with a new and rested mind.

4. Color code. Color coding your notes or documents will allow you to remember what you are writing. This can release tension by using bright colors, such as yellow or pink, to calm the body. When you are taking your final, you are more likely to remember something you wrote in a colored pen than black pen or pencil.

5. Reward yourself. Rewarding yourself with your favorite drink or snack will allow you to work better and not feel as stressed. Tell yourself to write a paragraph or read a few pages, then reward yourself with what you choose. You are more likely to continue your studying instead of pushing it aside.

6. Take a deep breath. This is the time we have been dreading and not really looking forward to all semester. It’s almost summer, we’re almost there. Remember, even though finals week is stressful, after you are done with it, you get to start your summer vacation.

Pushing yourself to do better on your finals can help you count down the days until you are home sweet home. When you start to study for finals, try thinking about these tips to keep your week stress-free.