A Survival Guide to Finals Week

Finals week often ends up feeling like dead week - Social lives, sleep habits, and healthy eating habits get tossed out the window in exchange for all nighters, stress, and study guides. In the midst of all this chaos, it can be difficult to focus on the task at hand, so here are some tips to help you through finals week.

1. Do Not Disturb - One look at your phone and you’re immediately sucked into the endless world of texting, Facebook, and Twitter. Every time your phone lights up or vibrates, it distracts you and takes even more time to get your mind back into concentration mode. Turn it completely off or put it in “Do Not Disturb” mode to minimize distractions. 

2. Set Goals & Rewards - Challenge yourself by setting a goal. Once you reach that goal, set aside a reward for yourself. For example, tell yourself that if you finish reading the entire chapter, you can take a ten-minute Facebook break. 


3. Allocate Your Time - You don’t have to spend an equal amount on every subject. If you know some topics better than others, focus on those that need the most preparation first. Also, if you can finish your final papers before Dead Week, you will have that much more free time to really focus on studying. 


4. Hydrate - Water, agua, H2O, whatever you call it, DRINK IT! When forced to choose between an energy drink and water, always choose water. Energy drinks are packed with caffeine, sugar and sodium, which can lead to dehydration, which can then impair memory and focus. 


5. Go Bananas - Pick a fruit, any fruit, and put it in your backpack. Fruit is easy to take on the go, and also a super-filling snack. 


6. Study With a Group, But Only If It Makes Sense - Many students believe (mistakenly) that a study group always affords an advantage: more brain power plus peer pressure to crack the books. This works well when your study buddies are at least as smart as you. Exam time isn't charity time.


7. 4-Star Tip - Don't waste too much time outlining your answers, writing down formulas you've memorized, or (when given a choice) starting a question and then stopping and starting another question. You're being graded on the quality of your answer, not on notes to yourself or false starts.

8. Be Sure To Develop Your Answers Fully -  Many students don't realize that, on essay exams, part of what's being graded is how well you develop and explain your answer, not just how correct it is. Consider explaining your points in more detail so that someone unfamiliar with the answer would know, just from what you say, what the answer is.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding finals, or if you just need someone to talk to, stop in to the Ruddock office Monday from 3-5pm, Tuesday from 12:30-2:30pm, or Friday from 10am-12pm!


- ASM Katie :)