How to manage stress, take care of yourself, and still ace your exams!
This post is all about finals study tips.
Finals week in college is probably one of the most stressful times of the year for any college student, no matter what you’re studying or what year you’re in. If you want to know how to survive finals week in college, these finals study tips are for you!!
You CAN and WILL get through finals week! These study tips will hopefully just make it a little bit easier.
This post is all about finals study tips.
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FINALS WEEK STUDY TIPS:
1. Get comfortable!
I’m a big believer that when it comes to studying for finals, you first and foremost need to be as comfortable as possible.
When I was in high school, somebody told me to always wear sweats or something comfy to exams.
Let me tell you, that was one of the best tips I ever received.
It makes all the difference to be comfortable when you’re taking an exam, and studying is no different.
Of course, you don’t want to be so comfortable that you fall asleep in the middle of studying. But throwing on a hoodie and at least being comfortable enough that you’re not getting antsy or distracted makes all the difference.
Honestly, this also works as one of the simplest stress relief tips for finals week – just be comfortable!
2. Now is the time to (moderately) give into guilty pleasures
Now obviously, I’m not telling you to binge your favorite Netflix show when you should be studying.
So what am I saying??
I’m thinking more about guilty pleasures when it comes to food. We all have that one snack food that we absolutely can’t resist. And honestly, sometimes having a food to snack on while you’re studying keeps you motivated and associates it with something positive in your mind.
I can tell you without a doubt that hot cheetos are what single handedly got me through finals last winter. This year, I’m going to try opting for something a little healthier… but honestly, if there’s one time you’re going to let yourself indulge in something unhealthy for the sake of getting through your exams, now is the time, IMO.
Consider this one of the easiest self care tips for finals week, too. Feeling your best is just as important as studying your hardest!
3. Prioritize the tests that are most important
This isn’t just about prioritizing whichever exam comes soonest.
You also need to take into account how good you are at each subject.
If you’re amazing at psychology but horrible at stats, but you have an exam in both courses, it doesn’t make sense to dedicate 4 hours to each course.
Instead, you might want to dedicate 2.5 to psychology and 5.5 to stats to make sure you’re properly prepared.
Get what I mean?
It all comes down to knowing how to study for finals week in a truly effective way. Prioritization is a huge part of that!
4. Keep all the tools you need within reach
This is one of the simplest tips to prepare for finals week:
Make sure all your stationery items and school supplies are fully stocked before finals week starts!
It’s not only about having all the right study supplies, though.
It’s also about where they are in proximity to you.
If you’re studying at your desk in your dorm, make sure you have everything you need at your fingertips before your study session starts.
Even if you have to get up halfway through your study session to find an eraser, that can totally throw off your focus and productivity. Having everything all in one place before you start really makes all the difference!
RELATED – 10 Stationery Supplies Successful College Students Use
5. Plan every study session
Don’t just wing it and think that you’ll get to studying at some point.
It’s really important to plan out when you’re going to study and for how long.
I love doing this with calendar blocking at the beginning of every week. It really helps with managing your time efficiently and will give you the assurance that you’re carving out enough time to study for each class!
RELATED – Time Management For College Students: Proven Tips For Your Productivity
6. Never multitask!
I know, this is one of those college finals tips that might make you want to roll your eyes and keep scrolling.
But no, you cannot scroll social media while listening to a lecture and still absorb all the information you need.
Honestly, the only multitasking you should be doing is taking notes while you listen to a lecture! Other than that, skip multitasking altogether. It’s not effective.
As hard as it is, it really is true what they say… You need to put the phone away and totally unplug!
7. Read out loud
Reading out loud helps you focus on the material you’re reading.
You don’t necessarily need to read all the material out loud, but focus on chapters or concepts that you’re especially struggling with.
You can also stop as you read to re-read, memorize facts, write important information down, or use any other strategy that will help you remember the facts that you’re struggling most with.
8. Every hour, spend 5 minutes reviewing what you just learned.
If you’re working through a bunch of material for hours on end, chances are you’ll forget what you learned at the beginning of the study session.
A great way to improve your memorization of material is to stop every hour, review what you just learned for 5-10 minutes, and then take a 5 minute break before you keep studying.
9. Give your mind a warm-up on the day of your exam
Don’t just roll out of bed and head off to your exam.
Why?
You’ll be so much more mentally prepared for your exam if you do something to wake up your mind before it starts.
Some ideas?
- Go for a walk
- Do a workout
- Read for 20 minutes
- Review course material
- Do a crossword puzzle
Mainly, take it beyond just drinking a coffee and hoping for the best. Do something really intentional that’s going to wake you up and make you feel super confident going into the exam!
10. Sleep!
Don’t underestimate how much your brain needs sleep!
Sleep is so important to properly learn, retain information and stay focused.
You will feel so much better if you sleep a decent amount rather than pull an all-nighter — especially the night before your exam.
RELATED – Sleep Tips for College That Will Skyrocket Your Productivity
Which exam tips will you be following to prepare for finals week?
This post was all about finals study tips.
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