If you listen closely the next time you’re on campus, you’ll most likely feel a great disturbance in the student populace, much like a thousand GPA’s crying out in pain. That’s right everyone—finals week is back once again, and with a vengeance for those who slacked off in the fall semester. This week when campus becomes hell itself will certainly be a tough and frightening one, but it’s nothing one can’t accomplish without some great advice on how to fight off the sleep and keep those scholarships! Read on to find out The Tiger’s guide on how to make do in the worst week of every semester.
Take a break
Yup, that’s right! Sure, you’ll need all the time you can get for cramming in all the info you can before your next final, but what good are you going to be when you are tired out of your mind? After all, many studies have proven that sleep deprivation is a very big cause of memory retention issues, and no one wants that chemistry chapter they just memorized thrown away mere hours before a test! Schedule short five-minute breaks throughout your next study session to give you something positive to look forward to. Taking a quick trip to Fike certainly doesn’t hurt either, as most forms of exercise have been linked to improved brain functions. Plus, you’re going to need to burn off all those calories from stress eating all week.
Eat healthy and hydrate
On that note, don’t even think about touching that candy bar or hitting up Starbucks for yet another coffee refill! Not only is it good for your health in general, but eating healthier foods has been linked to improved concentration, memory retention and positive moods, all three of which couldn’t hurt at all during hell week. Don’t skip or skimp out on any meals either, as keeping the blood sugar in your blood flowing will keep you going strong too.
In terms of liquids, coffee can still be used, but make sure to regulate yourself, as caffeine is known to increase the body’s stress response. Hydration is also a must, as drinking a ton of coffee will dry your body out pretty quickly. Make sure to bring a bottle into your exam too, as there have been a few experiments that have reported that students that drink water during an exam do about five percent better than those who don’t. Sure it sounds like a pretty small number, but you should take whatever you can get in times like these!
Avoid technology
Yeah, this is going to be a hard one for just about everyone. Whether we like to admit it or not, we’re all addicted to our phones and computers in a way, constantly switching between the Wikipedia tab to check the latest updates on Facebook or someone’s latest Snapchat story. Considering how these devices already distract us enough in class, it makes sense that ditching them for a bit certainly would help you study more. If the urge to click on that Twitter bookmark is too powerful, there are also quite a few websites and browser add-ons that block all social media sites for whatever time you happen to set.
In terms of music, it honestly depends on what you listen to. Classical, jazz or other kinds of ambient music do best to keep you in a concentrated mindset. Most other genres, especially anything with lyrics or that is too frenetic has been proven to hinder concentration for most tasks, so while listening to “Hamilton” for the fifth time is great, you probably shouldn’t risk throwing away your shot at a better grade.
Study Smart
Now that you’re finally rested up, totally concentrated and have a full stomach, you are finally ready to get some actual studying in! First, make sure to pick the perfect place to study in, with the best option being outdoors. While that might sound really strange, bright surroundings has been proven to prevent depression and other negative feelings, which you’re going to have big time with as those papers and projects pile up. Plus, the library is going to be filled to the brim with other students anyway, so you’d be the smarter person here, and one with a head start on the tanning process too.
Once you find your perfect study space, make sure to keep your papers and books as organized as possible. With everything being much easier to get to, not only will it make your life much easier, your productivity will skyrocket when you can find that one passage instantly. Make sure to write down any notes if at all possible too, as studies have linked the process to an increase in cognitive abilities and memorization compared to typing.
