Hey, Buffs! Finals week is just around the corner, but no need to press the panic button.
Take it from someone who’s been through this several times—you’ve got this! Finals are very similar to when you took them in high school, so don’t expect anything too out of the ordinary. Here are some of my favorite tips on how to have a successful finals week.
Go in with a good attitude
“I’m gonna ace this final!” “I’ve got this!” This is the mentality you want to have as you are preparing for your finals, as well as when you are going into them. You want to tackle each final, giving it your all.
If you approach studying with a bad attitude—for example, let’s say you’re in a difficult class and you have the ‘I’m going to fail” attitude—then you will not do well. You want to go in with a positive attitude even if you are struggling. Don’t let that discourage you from trying your best!
Don’t tire yourself out
This is an important tip. We tend to overexert our brains by studying for long periods of time, while trying to absorb bundles of information all at once. Rather than trying to cram in loads of information, it is important to take, what I like to call, “brain breaks.”
Allow yourself short 5–10 minute breaks in between long increments of studying to give your brain a rest. This also helps with long-term retention.
Make a plan
Go in with a game plan. This will help you feel more organized and less stressed come time for finals.
Start by making a detailed plan of what you’re going to study in order of priority and mental intensity. You should put equal effort into each subject, however maybe allow yourself a little bit more time for your more difficult subjects.
Once you’ve prioritized your classes, then create a schedule with a timeline for how long and when you’re going to study for each class.
Review old material
Looking through old exams is a great way to study! Often professors repeat questions or formulate the final to be very similar to previous exams. In addition, pay very close attention to clicker questions that may appear in lecture slides. Those often make an appearance on exams and finals.
Cut out distractions
Distractions make it difficult to pay attention to what you’re doing, which in turn makes it harder to commit facts to memory. Turn off the notifications on your phone, temporarily block your favorite websites or stick to instrumental music while you study (so you’re not tempted to sing along).
Good luck, and remember you’ve got this!
