How to survive finals week

As the holidays approach, this joyous time of year comes hand in hand with one of the most dreaded points of any collegiate semester: finals week.

The season of finals is almost among us.

With this time of year comes the extremities we all know far too well: all-nighters, migraines, stress acne, procrastination, and the fears of failing.

This year, we can change that.

Follow along for tips on how to whip your study habits into shape and prepare in advance, making your finals week as easy as a cakewalk.

Studying for finals can be a daunting task and one that is typically approached incorrectly.

The trick with studying is all about technique and repetition.

Your first approach to finals week should begin with a plan. Ask yourself what study techniques have worked for you in the past and what hasn’t.

This may look different for everyone.

For example, are you someone who takes a hands-on approach? Or are you someone who needs to re-read the study guide several times until it’s memorized?

Maybe you work better thinking out loud.

In this case, it’s best to find a group of fellow classmates and work together in order to share your findings.

Maybe you work better with some artistic incentive… just go buy some cute pens and get started!

At the end of the day, preparing for studies in advance and becoming organized with a plan will allow you to study effectively and your ability to absorb the materials to be more successful.

The second tip for successful studying is contingent on your environment and health.

Your surroundings and headspace are major contributors to successful study outcomes.

It is crucial to prioritize a healthy amount of sleep.

According to The Sleep Foundation in a journal article by Cornell Health, “college-aged students need 7–9 hours of sleep.”

This amount of sleep allows us to avoid drowsiness and eliminate the inability to concentrate or remember as well as slowed reaction time. Not only do these things directly affect our studying but also our mood.

The Sleep Foundation also states that not enough sleep plays a role in anxiety, irritability, depression, and low energy.

Being aware of our environment during our study sessions is also a factor in proactive and successful study habits for finals.

The University of Buffalo states in a curriculum article titled “Learning Environments” that cultivating a positive and reinforcing learning environment improves your study experience as a whole.

This may look like a number of different environments that are completely unique to you. This could be studying outside, in a coffee shop, at the library, in your bedroom, at the mall…whatever works for your engagement with the material.

A unique tip that many students fail to utilize is the many different types of studying techniques that are available and specifically created for their goals.

This means the specific approach you are taking to learn your material.

Take time to try many different types of resources.

For example, practicing active recall has been known to be very effective. According to an article by Osmosis, active recall can look like creating questions around your topic and answering these questions solely on memory.

By forcing your brain to retrieve the information, it ensures that you actively learn it instead of passively reading it. This helps you to recall the information during your exam.

Another unique approach is called “spaced practice.”

An article by the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences writes that utilizing the spaced practice technique encourages students to study over time and allows for more successful recall. This is a technique that you need to be dedicated to but pays off in the end when you are stressed about procrastination.

The “schedule” or layout for this technique is:

Day 1: Learn the material in class.

Day 2: Revisit and review.

Day 3: Revisit and review.

After one week: Revisit and review.

After two weeks: Revisit and review.

As college students, our time is valuable.

We don’t want to waste it with ineffective study habits that lead us to fail.

Acquiring good study habits and techniques is the key to nailing your finals. Find what works best for you and become a master studier by nailing some of these tips and applying them to your academic routine.

References: