The dreadful time has come to take your finals and you’re a little stressed out. I created a list that helps me survive the stressful week that is finals. If you do something different that you think should be on the list definitely shoot me an email or leave a comment, I would love to know how you survive finals week!

Time Management

We all seem to find things that help us procrastinate; hours go by and you still haven’t started studying. The best way to effectively study and retain the information is to start studying the week before, if you haven’t already been studying, and the days leading up to the day of the test. Manage your time wisely and stay organized, dedicate a whole day to study one topic if you have multiple tests that week.

Relax

The most important thing to do when you’re stressed out about finals and making a good grade is to draw a bath, put in a bath bomb, some bubbles, and your favorite Netflix show or music. There is no reason to stress out, YOU GOT THIS!! After studying all day you need to give your brain and body a break, what better way than to spoil yourself in the tub. You cannot remember everything you need if you burn out your precious brain.

Studying Habits

The best way to study and absorb information is to find a good way that is best for you. Some people are very organized (like me) and use colors to indicate importance, vocabulary, or not as important information. I use Google Docs for taking notes and it keeps me organized by different color-coordinated categories. I stopped using pen and paper because I feel like it didn’t work best for me, though some people feel like it works for them which is totally fine! Just find out what works best for you, even if you have to try a couple of different studying techniques.

Focus

Drink coffee, use essential oils, take a shower, or go workout; do something to wake you up and prepare you for the next few hours that you’ll be studying. Try to not get distracted no matter how hard it is; staying focused ensures that you will retain the information smoothly.

Sleep

Don’t under estimate the power of sleep. It is scientifically proven in a chronobiology study by the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston that studying before you go to sleep AND getting a full 8 hours of sleep helps memorize information easier. Memory and sleep go hand in hand when it comes to studying and it proves to be the most effective, fun fact! But don’t get confused, don’t study only the night before you go to sleep; study during the day and before you go to sleep just refresh your brain on what you studied that day.  

Study Breaks

Don’t study until your brain explodes, which obviously isn’t healthy. If you study for an hour make sure you take 5-minute study breaks to ensure your brain doesn’t get tired and you fully retain your information. If you’re at home and have been studying for hours it would help if you go on a 20-minute walk. During your study break try to refrain from getting on your phone because time can slip away when you start scrolling and your eyes strain from so much blue light from your computer and phone. I have blue light glasses from Amazon that really helps me not get headaches when I’m studying and scrolling on my phone.

Environment matters

When you’re studying at home distractions can be easy to come by. If you do choose to study at home make sure your phone isn’t near you and the tv is off to ensure complete focus. Your environment is key when studying that’s why most people like to go to the library because of how quiet it is. A lot of people like to go to Starbuck, which I don’t understand why due to how loud it is in there, but it truly matters about your personal preference and where you know you will get the most studying done. Just keep in mind the pros and cons of the place you choose.

Prioritize

This might be a given, but study mainly for the test that is coming up first before you worry about studying for your other tests. Write down all the things you need to study for in order of importance, then go down the list and finish each task accordingly. Seeing it in writing always helps me understand I have to finish one thing before I start another. Prioritizing and being organized also helps you not get so stressed about finishing each task, even though it might seem like you have A LOT to do.

Eat Right

Eating a healthy breakfast in the morning, before your test, is important and will get you a better grade on the test because you’re not as stressed. Some healthy breakfast options include; toast with jam, eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, nuts, fruit, etc. When you are focused and well-nourished you have nothing but success to look forward to. Wake up early, eat a solid breakfast, do some study refreshers, and get ready to make an A on that final!

Reward Yourself

After you finish a final you need to reward yourself no matter if you think you bombed it. If you have another exam later that day or later in the week still take time to reward yourself for the hard work you put in. Go get a smoothie, buy a pair of socks, take a bath, go out with friends, do anything that makes YOU happy! If you are all done with your finals and you passed all your classes go crazy and celebrate, you deserve it!!!!

XOXO, Maddie