Finals week is an overwhelming time in the life of any college student – exams, papers, projects, moving back home, finding or getting prepared for a summer job, etc. The weeks leading up the finals week can be just as stressful. I promise there is a way to survive without losing your mind! Check out my tips for surviving finals week:
1) Pack a box each day. On Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, everyone will be vying for those front row parking spots to load up their cars and head out. You don’t want to deal with that commotion, so take twenty minutes out of your day to pack one box, and carry it out to your car. That way, when it’s your turn to leave, you can grab your toiletries and sheets, head to your car that is parked fairly close (see tip number two), jump in and drive off. No stress needed.
2) Move your car. Then stop driving it. A week or two before finals, find yourself a good parking spot near your room, and plant your car there. Now, don’t move. Stranding yourself on campus is a good way to stay focused on finals. Also, this keeps your car conveniently close by for those daily packing trips.
3) Drink some Emergen-C. You can’t get sick now. You don’t have the time, but guess what? Everyone is sneezing and coughing and it seems like germs are everywhere. Keep your immune system up.
4) Get some sleep. All-nighters do not work. There is a point you will reach when you have been studying for far too long, and your brain will not be able to retain any more information. I challenge you to be in bed by 10:30 each night, and to take naps whenever possible. I’m sure you nap anyways, but it is crucial to your mental health during finals week.
5) Examine your schedule. Sometimes you get a little unlucky, and find yourself with three finals on one day. If you’re anything like me, this is an issue. That is simply too much stress for one day. Many schools will let you take one of the finals at a different time if you simply ask. If this is an issue for you, email your advisor and see if your school has a similar policy.
6) Finish all of your food. You probably have a few ramen blocks left, some coffee creamer in your fridge, and some leftovers that need to go. If it’s still edible, eat it now before you have to pack it up to carry home. If it needs to go, throw it out now so you don’t have to deal with the smell when you do that final deep clean of your room.
7) Reread the syllabus. This goes for all of your classes. Reread the syllabus, because it will tell you exactly what you need to know about the final. If it’s a final project, chances are your guidelines are in the syllabus as well.
8) Review. Spend a few hours a week in the library, just flipping through notecards or re-writing notes. Pay attention to the things you remember being big on previous exams – it’s a near guarantee that these will show up on the final.
9) Deep clean. Throw away anything you don’t need anymore. Scrub down your fridge and your microwave. Don’t leave hair in the sink. Vacuum. Dust. Don’t leave gross things for the next person to deal with.
10) Lastly, take a deep breath. You survived a year of college – that’s exciting! Now wipe those tears away from your last final, climb in that car, and head home to three months without homework!
