As the fall semester wraps up and finals approach, many students may inevitably feel overwhelmed. However, there are ways to minimize stress and maximize time during this period. Here are a few of my tips!
Create a plan. Mapping out your assignments before starting can save you countless hours as finals draw closer. Though it may seem like a lot, planning ahead can allow you to mentally prepare and prioritize. Creating a plan will help you identify your due dates for each final, therefore helping you manage the amount of time you’re spending on them. Furthermore, planning specific days to review content will help you assess what you need to review. This will facilitate finding gaps in your knowledge and help you improve efficiently. Additionally, not all subjects have tests for their finals — some teachers may assign projects or essays. Organizing your time well may help you finish some of your non-test assignments before they’re due, allotting more time for any topic you want to improve on!
Communicate with your teachers. Talking or scheduling meetings with your teachers in the weeks leading up to finals can help immensely. Proper communication regarding assessed content and expectations will make studying clearer and more straightforward. All of your teachers want to see you succeed, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
Avoid procrastinating. Many of us have fallen prey to procrastination, but now more than ever, it’s crucial to study in advance. As time goes on, the task will seem bigger, increasing stress. It may help to split finals into specific pieces to focus on, rather than looking at them more broadly. ASC tutor Grace Park advises, “Finals can seem very scary, but breaking it down into smaller steps helps take the weight off and make it feel less burdensome.”
Use your resources. Whether it’s the ASC padlet or teacher-provided materials, make sure to leverage all of your resources. This can also mean studying with friends, creating study guides, or reaching out to a more experienced peer for advice. When stuck, remember numerous resources are at your disposal; it’s just up to you to utilize them.
Balance out your schedule. Between studying, make sure to reserve time for breaks. Go on a walk with friends, read a book, listen to music — just ensure you have time to relax. Additionally, don’t completely put aside your typical activities. If you normally go to the gym, continue going! Though finals are a priority, they shouldn’t consume your whole schedule.
The end of the semester will undoubtedly be stressful, but hopefully these tips can support students throughout the upcoming weeks. Best of luck with finals!