Now that it’s December, there is really only two things going on in the minds’ of college students: Christmas Break and the nightmare we call “Finals Week”. Maybe that’s an exaggeration, but it’s no surprise that Finals Week can cause our levels of stress and anxiety to skyrocket (not to mention the death of our social life.) However, as a Sophmore, there are a few tips I have managed to pick up from my upperclass buddies that I wish I would have practiced last year. 

HOW TO SURVIVE FINALS:

1. Make sure you know what company you want.

This might not be the first thing to come to mind when you’re busy studying and time managing your day, but the people you surround yourself with can have a great effect on your attitude and work. If you were to think of yourself as a business, and your finals as the end goal of your business, wouldn’t it make more sense to have a community that also wants your business to reach its end goal? Though it may sound silly to compare yourself to something like a business, it holds true. As a freshman, I didn’t take my first semester’s round of finals all that seriously, I figured that it would feel like any other test I’ve taken and I would probably pass. Thankfully, I was right! I did pass but in between those moments of having to wait for my exam to be graded, I found myself worrying about whether I did well enough more than the time I spent actually studying. Though I am very grateful I passed all my exams, I realized that education is more than just a goal-oriented system. For me, education is a process that helps me move along the road I want to take in life, and in order to be successful in my career, I need to surround myself around what I want to become. Of course, this isn’t to say having friends you like to relax with is a bad thing, as a matter of fact, you need those kinds of relationships too! Yet, in times of high stress, I realized that being around people with good work ethics and similar interests has supported my goal of staying on track and motivating myself to do better. Overall, it’s really helpful to have people you can fall back on who want to see you succeed too.

2. Managing Time

It’s no surprise that during the week of Finals, time seems to be shorthanded. I can’t even count the number of times I thought I had more time than I did while studying for a final. I mean let’s face it, time flies when your grade is on the line! Jokes aside, time management is probably going to be the best strategy in passing your finals without too much panicking. After committing to my own research, I found that waking up earlier increases the likability of completing more tasks and retaining information. I know it isn’t fun to hear, but having an early start to your day can provide you with an extra slot of time to recenter yourself before starting your day. I tend to use my morning to plan out the times I want to take a break or eat so that when I begin studying I will always have some type of break coming up that can motivate me to keep working. In addition, I promise that time management really helps those who suffer from unnecessary amounts of anxiety during this time. By planning out your day, you can save yourself from those random bouts of feeling out of control or overwhelmed. This tip can be really beneficial for both your success rates, as well as your mental health. 

3. Be nice to yourself

Last but not least, let’s remember to give credit where it’s due. It is no easy thing being a college student in today’s world, and it’s easy to forget how much work has been put in by yourself just to be where you are now. Whether you’re a freshman taking their first finals ever, or a senior ready to take on the world, this journey of seeking higher education is something that deserves a pat-on-the-back every once in a while. With this final suggestion, I hope students are taking care of their bodies and minds. When practicing time managment, don’t forget to give yourself time to sleep, eat, and socialize. Finals week does not have to be so awful if we prepare for it correctly. There is no grade that is worth sacrificing your health.

I hope that out of these three tips you have found something to take away from. Just remember that Winter Break is right around the corner, where we can all embrace the joy of passing our exams, seeing loved ones, and getting some rightfully earned rest. 

Good Luck Everyone!