By Ashley Reynolds, Staff Writer
With final exams coming up in the next few weeks, students need to start studying for all of their classes. Finals place a huge amount of pressure on students, and if you wait until the last minute, you will not be nearly as successful as if you had started early.
Here are some general study tips:
- Space out study sessions. Studies show you can only focus for a maximum of four hours at a time. Study a few times a week in blocks, not all at once right before the test.
- Turn off the internet. This includes your other electronics too. Completely turn off your wifi and unplug your ethernet so you cannot absentmindedly go check Facebook or other websites. Once you get on the internet, you start wasting more time checking other things. Unplug your xbox, turn off your TV, and put your phone far away from you.
- Take breaks. Every hour and a half, take a five minute break to get coffee, check your phone, or stretch.
- Prioritize. Study more for classes that you are doing poorly in or have the most information. If there is a subject you already understand well and have good grades in, do not waste your time focusing only on that class. Do the hardest work first.
- Sleep. Without sleep, your body cannot function properly. You might try to pull an all-nighter, but that will just make matters worse for you. Your body will not let you focus on the work at hand.
- Go somewhere quiet. Everyone says this, and it is true. Noise will distract you and make it harder for you to study.
It might also be good for you to study with friends. If your friends have the same classes that you do, you can help each other review. Quiz each other, and make sure you both understand the material. If your teacher gave you a study guide, divide the work so you finish faster. On the other hand, some people study better alone. Be aware of what works for you. If your friends start to distract you or you start getting off-topic, it might be better for you to work solo.
Most importantly, keep your stress low. This might seem like an impossible task considering all the work you have before you, but you retain less information when you are stressed. If you are stressed during the exams, you will perform worse. Some people even get panic or anxiety attacks, something you definitely want to avoid. Do yoga during breaks, listen to music, or take a short walk. Even taking some time aside after studying to play games, be with your friends, and enjoy yourself can vastly ease anxiety. This is why you want to start studying as soon as possible- you need time to relax.
Finals week is a stressful time for everyone on campus. You might feel like you are drowning in work, but there are others in the same situation you are. Help each other, get notes online, and use outside resources. We cannot stress the importance of starting earlier rather than later. As tempting as it is to put off studying and pull all-nighters the day before exams, it will definitely hurt you. You need to take care of your body, and that includes getting full meals and enough rest. Procrastinate at your own risk.
