Imagine this. Finals week is approaching. It’s 3 AM in the morning. You’re studying with your friends at a study room. Your friend brings in coffee. You drink your coffee then you go back to reading your study notes. Your first final is in 6 hours, but you barely retained any information. You go into the final feeling tired and unaccomplished. All you want to do is go home and sleep. You sit down, you look around you and realize you bought the wrong scantron! Good thing your classmate got an extra one to give to you. Whew!
Finals week can get the best of us. Trust me; I’ve had nightmares about finals week. I may or may not had the same experience I just wrote above. With this said, although I’m still not the best at studying, I’ve learned a few tips during my four years of college.
Tip #1: Sleep is essential. Most students try to do all-nighters, but I found it not to be helpful. If you’re cramming for a final and considering pulling an all-nighter, don’t do it. Instead, get at least 7 hours of sleep before the big day. According to KQED News, sleep is vital for learning as during Rapid Eye Movement sleep the brain makes room for new information.
Tip #2: Study in a no-distraction place. With electronic devices everywhere, it’s easy to get distracted. If your room is full of distractions, you might want to move to a quieter place. If it’s possible, you may also want to leave your phone somewhere else to study. In addition, there are some apps that help you to stay focused while studying. I’ve used an app called Stayfocusd to control distractions from social media, websites, and other time-wasting apps.
Tip #3: Make sure you’ve got everything ready. You don’t want to be that person that brings in the wrong bubble sheet, or even worse, forgot about bringing one. Besides studying, it’s vital to double check what you need for an exam. Also, make sure that if there’s assigned seating, you know where to sit. These small things can help you lower your stress levels on your exam day.
Finals Week might be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Always keep in mind that your health and wellness is a number one priority. Remember to stay on top of your tasks, sleep well, and eat healthily. It’s one week of intense studying and next thing you know it’s summer already. Hope you enjoyed my important tips for finals week.
Good luck with finals!
Lea from GradeHub
Lea Ibalio is a senior majoring in business at the University of California, Irvine and this year’s marketing intern at GradeHub.