How To Survive The Finals Stress

By Megan Nutt on March 31, 2015

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As midterm season comes to a close, we are thrown almost directly into finals time. The weeks seem to fly by ten times faster than the first half of the semester. Many of us get a break between the craziness of tests and essays during spring break, but a week does little to help a college student recover.

Therefore, it is important to do your best to try to manage the stress that comes in the last stretch of the semester.  Everyone manages stress differently, but these tips will help you find the perfect way to be productive and feel less stressed out.

Make a game plan

First things first, you have to figure out what is most important for you to get done. What classes are you struggling in and need to study harder for? What is your grade in the class compared to the grade you want to receive? What classes have a test approaching first? Is the teacher/TA a hard grader?

While these questions might seem almost as overwhelming as the assignments themselves, once you get these answers, you’ll have an idea of where to start and the list won’t seem quite as daunting.

Find the best time for you

Some people prefer to pull all nighters, while others need to study during the day. Personally, I’ve always found it more relaxing to wake up a little earlier and use the daytime to get all of my studying done. It allows for a better chance at your body receiving a full night’s sleep, which is so important for your brain to function.

Plus, the earlier you go to the library, the more likely you are to actually get a table in the hectic mess that is called finals week.

Find your spot

If you feel comfortable, you are more likely to hate studying even just a little less. However, you have to ask yourself just how much you will get done if you are studying in your bed while your Netflix is playing. It is necessary to find that place where you feel like you can settle in for a few hours of work, but not get too distracted at the same time.

While the Undergrad Library may feel right for some people, others don’t always get that feeling by being in a library. Whatever place you chose, you should be prepared to stay in your area for a few hours at a time.

Be prepared (AKA bring snacks)

Even though many of the libraries do not allow you to have food in them, many of the other possible study spots are completely open to you having food. You don’t want to get stuck spending all of your money in the vending machines, so pack a few snacks in your bag to hold you over until your next meal break.

Another item you don’t want to forget is headache medicine. Focusing for too long is going to be causing some headaches, and you’ll be glad you brought this along.

Everyone works differently. You may need different environments and conditions than someone else might need in order to stay focused.  Staying organized, no matter how you go about it, will help anyone make it through the rest of the semester and onto the bright hope of summer.

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