Welcome to hell! Here it is kids, Finals week! Your head is on a chopping block and the executioner is sharpening his axe! OR, or you’re the 1% that’s fine. You are filled with nothing but knowledge and swagger as you walk to each class.
But let’s face it, if you’re reading this, that’s probably not you. You are sweating, filled with panic and coffee and spouting more swears than a sailor on your way to class. Here’s how this will go down.
1) Realization. You have 7 days to save the semester. Panic becomes you. You become seized by almost an unreal, gut-wrenching feeling that your world will come to a crashing halt. The task before you seems insurmountable. And, it only gets worse. You begin to catalogue each and every assignment left for you to finish. The world has never looked bleaker.
2) Action! You've wiped the horror from your eyes, and ready your body with more caffeine and sugar than is possible for one human to consume. Essentially your body is the TARDIS. Because cramming an entire semester’s worth of reading materials is literally the only way out. Let’s face it if your caffeine riddled mind can retain anything pertaining to your physics exam, at this point in the semester, it’s either incredible luck or a miracle. Teachers and neurologists may tell you that you should study in moderation and get plenty of sleep, but you know better
3) Let the (hunger) games begin. The professors slap on a smile and wish all of you luck, but you know the outcome of this exam is no longer in your hands. And when all else fails, you turn to religion. Deathbed converts? HA! Try finals week converts, it is SCIENCE FACT that more people become religious during finals week than any other time of the year. Christmas and Easter have nothing on finals week.
4) One last pep talk! So you tell your brain, to not fail, to not forget, to have random spurts of memories, anything to help you get through this paper.
5) IT’S ALL OVER. There's nothing to do now, but forget it all happened. And most of all LEARN NOTHING FROM THIS TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
What if you were given a chance to do it differently? Would you fall back to old habits? Or will you learn from that terrible experience?
If you’ve made it so far, I’m hoping you’ve found the determination to work towards not having a terrible finals week. We’re all here because finals are the worst, but these tips and tricks will make them suck a little less.
1) Cut the music. Listening to music while studying hinders the brain from full concentration. If you absolutely need a constant soundtrack, listen to instrumental pieces like classical or jazz.
2) Chew gum. Chewing gum while studying helps boost mental performance. Just make sure it’s sugar-free so you don’t get cavities!
3) Turn on the lights. Bright lights increase learning and ward off depression (which we’re all prone to during finals). Study outside if you can and definitely avoid dim study spaces.
4) Take a caffeine nap. If you find yourself requiring a midday boost, drink a caffeinated beverage right before you take a nap. It takes caffeine about 15 minutes to kick in, so your body will wake you up naturally (but set an alarm just in case). This way you won’t oversleep and you’ll be twice as alert when you wake up.
5) But don’t over-caffeinate. Yes, caffeine keeps the brain alert and receptive to new information. But over-caffeinating increases your body’s stress response (which you certainly don’t need more of), so know thy limits.
6) Take frequent, short breaks. You’ll work more efficiently if you have something to look forward to. Use the Pomodoro method: for every 25 minutes of studying, take a five minute break.
7) Vary your study locations. Changing up where you study increases information retention. So don’t become a library-zombie. Hit up a coffee shop, a common area, a park, or a friend’s place to get your study on.
8) Write things out by hand, if you can. Long form writing, while slower than typing, has been proven to boost learning. So rewrite notes, draw up flash cards, or scribble out solutions and you’ll be more likely to grasp the material.
9) Keep your study space clean and organized. Keep your desk organized and your brain will follow suit. Eliminate unnecessary clutter, like knick-knacks or dirty dishes, and only have material you need on your desk to avoid crowding your work space.
10) Eat right. Don’t fall into the junk food trap that is finals week. Healthy eating keeps your mind sharp and your mood elevated, which is important when studying is crushing your soul.
11) Exercise regularly. Strong body, strong mind. Exercising improves brain functioning and is a great excuse to take a much needed study break.
12) Evoke your emotions. If you can relate a strong emotion to your subject matter, you are more likely to remember it. So get mad at calculus! Fall in love with literature! The stronger the emotion, the more likely you are to remember it.
13) Drink water during your test. Students who drink water during an exam are likely to score 5% better than students who do not, according to the BBC.
14) Meditate. Meditation increases mindfulness and eliminates off-topic thoughts. It can also lower stress, which is helpful during finals or anytime.
15) Get the right amount of sleep. Countless studies have proven that sleep deprivation ruins memory. All-nighters won’t help you if you can’t remember what you stayed up learning!
16) Avoid technology at all costs. The hardest hack to handle. If you have no self-control, rely on online apps that block your social media for a specified amount of time.
17) And finally, if you stay up all night and spend hours studying for a final exam, make sure it’s for the right one.
