For countless numbers of college students, surviving finals week is one the most challenging aspects of college life. After an already long semester of projects, labs, and chapter tests, this time period serves as an apex of high stress for students all over the world. Following a healthy balance of nutrition, studying, and relaxation will ensure every student a significant increase in test taking ability and outcomes.
Getting Enough Sleep
Unlike those in geometry and physics, this equation is a pretty simple one to remember: Not enough sleep = exam suicide. While not all students need, nor ever get, the recommended eight hours of sleep per night, it is crucial to make time for sleep during finals week. If you're only getting a few hours of sleep a night, it is critical that you find a comfortable couch, bunk bed, or futon, and get at least 20 min of good daytime sleep.
Study Techniques
From a realistic perspective, the studying process for many college students consists of cramming as much information in the least amount of time possible. So if shoveling chemistry facts is your study technique of choice, make sure you're doing it right. Use pictures, anagrams, and mnemonic devices to help you make the best use of your memory space. At the very least, buy, borrow. or steal your roommate's attention and explain to them, in context, what you've memorized.
Eating Healthy
While Top Ramen and Easy Mac are gentle on the wallet, they are nevertheless ruthless on the mind and body. Eating right, especially during this arduous week, will allot more energy to being successful during both your exams and their preparation. Can't afford the good stuff? Well this is an opportune time to plead for parental help! Get a lot of fruits, veggies, and ingredients that you can use to make hearty, brain enhancing meals.
Relaxing
Like everything in life, balance is the key to surviving finals week. With all the studying, sleeping, and eating that needs to be done, don't forget to make time to not use your brain. Video games, movies, and ultimate frisbee need to become an integral part of your finals schedule. Word to the wise however, try to make these relaxation sessions "substance free" until you're done with finals...or at least the ones that matter!
Moving Out
For those students whose experience in the dorm is also coming to an end during this week, don't forget that you still have to pack up all your junk! If you think moving out of the house was taxing, just wait until you realize how much stuff you've acquired since then. It would probably be in your best interest to at least start packing up a few weeks before finals. If you're a local student, making several trips to deposit stuff in your parents' basement will save you oodles of time for mindless unwinding.
So as the dreaded week approaches, rest assured that there are many ways of preparing yourself for the impending doom of finals. Even if you've spent most of the semester at the bottom of a tequila bottle, or glued to sitcom reruns on your garage sale TV, at least you know you have a few tricks left up your sleeve. If all else fails however, it might not hurt to look into the roommate suicide theory!
