Finals week is quickly approaching. For freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors alike, finals week can be incredibly stressful, as students hope to finish strong and make a solid grade in their classes. If you’re beginning to panic about finals, you’re not alone. However, there are definitely some things you can do to offset finals fever.
- Everyone loves small animals. They make us feel good, and most of the time animals love the attention and physical comfort that humans bring them. Every year for finals week, the library hosts several animals – usually dogs and/or cats – that students can come by and play with and pet. Keep an eye out for posters or fliers in the near future promoting the activity.
- One activity that students can take part in, that also directly addresses their fears of finals, is to attend study sessions for their classes. Many professors hold study sessions in preparation of the finals that students can attend, acting as a review session of the material that will be on the exam. Ask your professor if this is something they plan on doing, or check your email and Canvas to see if there has been an announcement about a session. Tutoring is also something that all students can take advantage of. The tutoring schedule is available in the library and on Milligan Today.
- Exercise is another great way to relieve stress. All students are free to use the Gilliam Wellness Center to do so. The Gilliam Wellness Center is open Monday to Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Just be sure not to spend all your time exercising. Studying is the key to doing well on final exams.
- Eat healthy! Many students probably jump straight for fast-food snacks for a break when they are studying. Cook Out is great, but eating nutritious foods will allow you to stay focused and will also provide a great source of energy. Also, be sure to stay hydrated.
- Make sure you get enough sleep. Eight hours is ideal, so be sure to plan when you are going to study ahead of time, and not at the last minute, so you aren’t up all night. As many college students can tell you, staying up all night and then taking an exam is a tried and tried again failure – it just doesn’t work. You’ll be falling asleep during your exam or you’ll be way too tired to be able to concentrate – and the grade you get back after such a stint can be devastating. Instead, be sure to get enough sleep, wake up early enough to eat breakfast, and feel ready to conquer the world when it’s time to take your exam.
- When it comes time to study, make sure you are doing so in an environment that is ideal. Silence is key. If your friends are nearby, and they aren’t studying, having a conversation with them can be distracting – try to distance yourself and get your head in the zone. Go to your textbook, takes notes, and study what your professors have given you, especially if they have provided something specifically for the final exam. Even if your professor hasn’t prepared some type of study material for the exam, it doesn’t hurt to ask them directly about what you should expect. Listening to music can be distracting, even if it is a good way to convince yourself to study. Music helps some people, but some of those people just want to listen to music instead of work. If it helps, good, but be careful. Distractions are what causes us to procrastinate.
- Make sure you know just exactly when and where your exams are. This can help you prioritize which exams to study for first, but can also ensure that you show up to begin with. That being said, if you are able to find out what you made on your exam before taking your other ones, and if it isn’t a particularly good grade, don’t get your hopes down. Stay positive. Negativity can be a killer during finals week. Just breathe and do the best you can.