5 Tips for Preparing for Finals – College Students
It’s almost that time of year again. With spring right around the corner, you may be daydreaming about warm weather, spring flowers, and outdoor activities. For college students though, the changing of the season often triggers one thought .. finals week. The dreaded week that can make or break your GPA. Although it might be one of the more stressful times of the year for students, there are some tips available to help you maximize your studying so that your mind can be at ease once finals come around. Here are 5 of our top tips to help you prepare for finals.
SLEEP!
We're not talking about sleeping through your actual exam (please don’t), but make sure you’re well-rested for finals week by establishing a healthy self-care plan. Sleep is crucial for several reasons. It improves memory, helps you focus and sustain attention, and also gives you the energy to be active. And if those benefits aren’t enough to convince you that an extra hour of sleeping is more important than an extra hour of studying, take into account that a lack of sleep will actually impair your ability to focus and learn efficiently. So get some rest!
Pay Attention to Your Body
Some college students will get in the bad habit of not only getting enough sleep but then piling on mounds of junk food and coffee to get them through their study periods. In sports, the night before a championship game, athletes certainly don’t stay up until the early morning reviewing plays, drinking coffee and eating junk. Then why should it be different when studying for the big test, instead of the big game? Your body needs brain food to stay alert and sharp. In fact, protein-heavy foods contribute to increased mental clarity and concentration. Give yourself proper nutrition before, during and after your finals.
Find Yourself the Proper Environment
By now you may already know your own preferences when it comes to where you study. If this is the case for you awesome! Studying for finals can be much more difficult than studying for a regular test.. In some cases, you might have 5 tests in one week with each one of them being the most important of the semester. So it’s especially important to find the proper environment where you can study for extended periods without losing focus. It should be a place with minimum distractions but still has access to the necessary resources to maximize your studying sessions.
Create a Schedule Ahead of Time
Staying organized is a difficult task in college. You not only have to attend and excel in your classes, but you also need to find time for extra-curricular activities, social gatherings, work and calling your Mom (seriously call her). Having a plan in place ahead of time as far as when and for how long you’ll study will maximize your efforts and keep you focused throughout the process. Block off certain days and times and dedicate them to studying. It will help you stay organized and even organize the information you’re cramming into your brain before the big week! For some tips on creating and following a schedule check out this resource.
Write by Hand
Did you know that it has actually been scientifically proven that students who take notes with a pen or pencil have a deeper understanding of the material than those who relied solely on typing? We have gotten so fast at typing that we quickly fly through information without digesting it first. Writing out notes forces us to slow down and think about what we are writing. When in doubt, write it out!
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