As I wrap up another semester here at Tufts (which means final exams!), I put together these tips that have helped me deal with the stress. I thought I'd share them with you, in case you're going through your own end-of-the-semester push, whether that means finals exams, studying for the February ACT, or finishing up college applications.
Make a schedule
Studying for finals (or the ACT/SAT and college apps) takes a lot out of you, and sometimes it feels like you have a million and a half things to do. That’s why creating a schedule early and figuring out when you will accomplish everything will make the days leading up to those exams wayyy easier.
Take breaks
This goes along with creating a schedule, but it is important for you mind and body to have breaks every once in a while. Whether this means going to the gym every day, switching up your study spots, or just watching a funny YouTube video, this step can be crucial to surviving the week.
Meet with teachers/counselors/tutors early
Although it may be annoying to have to think way in advance about your final, it will help you in the long run to go to the review sessions a week before the exam or at least book an appointment with the ARC (Academic Resource Center) further in advance.
Find something good to eat
Maybe you like to go the unhealthy route during finals and eat ice cream topped with cereal and Nutella for every meal or maybe you just like stocking up on fresh fruits, but however you do it, make it something you enjoy. You don’t want to be distracted during your study session because you forgot to eat lunch.
Breathe and remember that your grades (or test scores, or college decisions) aren’t everything
Hopefully this one is self-explanatory, but sometimes we can get so caught up in every tiny detail of something, particularly with finals. But, they don’t define you, so I find it best to take a step back and remove all that extra stress because I guarantee that in ten years you will not care about those five extra points you got on your Calc final sophomore year.
Finally, remember to see other people!
Human contact is good and, for many, this is the last week they will see their friends for a month, so remember to do something fun. Finals week doesn’t have to be 24/7 studying—you’re only human after all.
Photo Credit: Steven S. (Flickr Creative Commons)