Final Exams

Finals and Stress: How to be successful during finals week!

Make a study schedule

Make a Study Schedule (and stick to it!). With any unstructured time, it’s easy to tell yourself “I got this, I can study for chem later today…” Don’t fool yourself! It’s easy to simply keep putting things off.

• Organize your class requirements for finals—when are your papers due? Is the chem final scheduled for a specific day and time? Or can you take it up to a certain date?
• Make a schedule around when things are due and schedule when you are going to study and prep for each one.
• Start now! Don’t wait until the day before to focus on each final. Begin work for each class now to avoid cramming or all-nighters.

Eliminate distractions

Eliminate Distractions. It can be difficult to study if family or roommates are around and you can’t escape to the library or coffee shop.

• As best you can, try to create a distraction free environment in which to study. It can be helpful to also identify the times and spaces that help you with focus and concentration.
• Negotiate with roommate and/or family for time and space to study.

Ensure your technology is working

Ensure that your technology is working appropriately BEFORE you sit down to take an exam. Check to see if your computer, internet, and programs are functioning well. If not, reach out to your professors sooner rather than later to come up with a solution.

Study with friends

Study with friends! Schedule virtual study sessions with friends to keep you motivated, practice explaining things to others, and to increase connection.

Practice self-care

Most importantly, take time to take care of yourself! Self-care is even more important to make time for during the stress of finals.

• Remember to schedule in breaks.
• Reward yourself after an hour or two of studying with a walk outside with friends or family or with one (ONE) episode on Netflix.
• Eat healthy foods—have a supply of healthy snacks on hand to keep you well-nourished and energized throughout the day.
• Get enough sleep—avoid the pull to stay up really late studying or to do an all-nighter. To remain productive and healthy it is important to get enough sleep.
• Continue with your exercise routine! You may feel like you don’t have enough time or that you “should” be studying. However, taking 30 minutes to an hour to exercise will leave you feeling less anxious and better able to focus on the next task at hand.