It’s December already, and if you’re a student, that means one thing: it’s almost time for finals.
Though they might seem daunting, final exams and final projects don’t have to be! Yes, it’s the end of the semester, and everyone’s just one late night away from total burnout. However, the end of the semester also means that it’s almost time for you to receive a well-deserved break.
Maybe your semester hasn’t gone the way that you planned it, and you’re frantically trying to catch up right now. It might seem impossible to complete every paper and project and study for every test, but it’s not! I always tell my students that even as finals approach, there’s still time to catch up on missing work. You still have time to turn your grades around! Here are four tips for surviving winter finals without totally losing your mind:
1. Make yourself a to-do list.
As simple as it sounds, having a physical list of every assignment, project, and paper that you need to complete will help you tremendously during finals week. Whether you keep your list in your notes app or on a bulletin board, make sure that your list contains everything that you need to do until finals are over — and when your deadlines are. When you can physically see each assignment that you need to complete, it’s far easier to get each task done by the correct deadline. As soon as you turn in an assignment, cross it off your list. Every time you cross off another exam or project, you’ll feel accomplished!
2. Create a schedule.
Once you create your to-do list, it’s time to schedule time to complete each task. If you find it difficult to find time to complete assignments and study for exams, set aside a specific time for each study session and homework assignment. This method guarantees that you have enough time to complete every task. Put your study schedule where you can see it, and set reminders for each work session. This way, you don’t have to cram a last-minute study session into your hectic schedule. Remember to set reminders to eat, sleep, and practice self-care too!
3. Make sure that you get enough sleep.
It’s hard to prioritize sleep when you have so much to accomplish when you’re awake, but getting adequate sleep matters. Sure, some nights you won’t get a full eight hours of sleep, but it’s still important to get as much sleep as you realistically can. The danger of constantly pulling all-nighters is that once you finally sleep, you’ll likely have difficulty waking up — even with an alarm. You don’t want to sleepily forget everything you studied or even worse, miss your final exam because you’re exhausted! When it comes to surviving finals week, good study habits and restful sleep go hand-in-hand.
4. Take time to decompress.
I know — making time to sleep and to decompress seems impossible. Though it isn’t easy to schedule in time to relax your mind, making time for self-care is vital for you to succeed. At the end of the day, if you’re too stressed to function, the hours you spent memorizing for your exams and perfecting your presentations won’t matter.
Grades are important, but your well-being is even more crucial. Close your books and take a walk, listen to music, or try an activity that calms you down. Your downtime will reinvigorate you, and after you rest, you may even feel less anxious about your finals.
This finals week, balance studying with caring for your body and mind. If you end up cramming a little bit less so that you can eat regularly and increase your sleeping hours, you will have made the right decision. Always choose yourself first.
Remember that one final exam won’t make or break the rest of your life. Grades aren’t the end-all-be-all. You’re going to survive finals week — just breathe.
Featured Photo by Kyle Gregory Devaras on Unsplash.
Thanks!