Tips to avoid the stress of Finals Week

By Megan Bodiford, Epsilon Zeta

Can you believe there is about a month left until finals week? Don’t panic! Here are a few tips to help you to deal with stress during finals week.

  1. Plan ahead. If your university sends out the final exam week in advance, print it off and highlight what days and times your finals are. This will give you an idea of what your priorities need to be when studying.
  2. Start studying as soon as possible. According to psychology theories, our brains are not wired to retain information from simply cramming the night before. The brain needs repeated exposure far enough in advance so it can access information quicker and easier. This means you should start preparing now! Any studying you do in advance will be extremely helpful during finals week.
  3. Make a schedule for the week. The easiest way to do this is in Microsoft Excel, Apple’s Numbers app or Google Sheets. Create color-coded time blocks for your exams and other commitments, and then prioritize your study time accordingly. Make sure you schedule time for sleep and eating, too! Here’s an example: picture1
  4. Take breaks and study for short time periods. Don’t overwhelm yourself with all-nighters and six-hour library trips.  Study for 45 minutes to an hour, then reward yourself with a 10-minute break. This is much more effective than studying for a long period of time with a wandering mind. During your break eat a light snack, get up, stretch and get your blood flowing. This will wake up your mind and get you prepared for your next study period.
  5. Take time to relax and de-stress. Take a bath, read a book, listen to some music, do something to take your mind off of studying and school for a few minutes each day. Doing so will allow your mind to refresh and be ready for the next exam and help you maintain your sanity!