By Isabella Brand
Title photo retrieved from lifehack.org
Welcome to finals week! Some students have already left campus for winter break, while others still have one more week. Here are some tips for getting through the semester’s last few days.
- Get Enough Rest
One of the most important tips is getting enough sleep. As a college student, I can attest that this is one of the more challenging things to overcome. If you tend to procrastinate, you may do average bedtime procrastination and complete most of your homework around midnight. But the brain needs seven to nine hours of sleep. Getting six hours of sleep or less can greatly affect memorization.
2. Find a Good Study Spot
It can be tempting to study in your room, but you may often find yourself getting distracted. While the campus offers many quiet locations to study in (Check out this article for a list of spots!), it may also be helpful to study off campus. Food chains like Panera and Starbucks offer a chill atmosphere if you enjoy background noise, or a public library may prove fit if you need less noise.
3. Eat a Balanced Diet
According to an article from Healthline, eating certain foods can promote academic performance1. Examples include nuts, berries, citrus fruits, fish, avocados, beets, cocoa products and eggs. Red, orange and green vegetables are also said to improve brain function.
4. Plan Out a Schedule
Depending on how many finals you have, it can be overwhelming to decide when to study. Instead of trying to study the night before, try studying for a few minutes each day. This helps you gain a better understanding of the material.
5. Take Breaks
This may depend on what type of student you are, but it is beneficial to take a break even for five minutes. It’s recommended to look around the room after staring at a computer for 30 minutes. You could even try the Pomodoro technique. This includes setting a timer for typically 25 minutes and studying the whole time. After the 25 minutes are up, you take a five minute break and repeat the process all over again. This technique is good if you are prone to procrastination.
6. Figure Out The Most Effective Way To Study For You
Using the tips above, hopefully you are willing to try new things and figure out the best method of studying for you. I know some people who can only study for 10 minutes, study in a certain location and need to take many breaks. All of this is okay; you need to find what works for you.
Campus Activities Board is providing many stress-reducing events that are free to attend. Consider taking a break and enjoying the festivities.
Monday-Wednesday (December 9th – 11th):
- Stress Fest Freebies 12-3 pm at the Lair while supplies last
- Therapy Dogs 1-3 pm at Holman Library
- Finals Week Dodgeball 11 pm at IM Gym
- Granola bars, fruit snacks and stress balls provided by Phi Kappa Phi 7:30 am-11 pm at Holman Library
Only Monday (December 9th):
- Massage Therapists 4-6 pm at the Lair
- Student Affairs Pancake Study Break 9 pm at Ames Dining Hall
- Study Break Karaoke 9:30 pm at Ames Dining Hall
Only Tuesday (December 10th):
- Late Night Nuggets 9:45 pm at the Lair
Only Wednesday (December 11th):
- Waffle Wednesday 7-10 pm at the Lair
- Late Night Ice Cream Treat 9-10 pm at the Lair
Reference
1Kubala, Jillian. “The Top 9 Brain Foods for Studying and Exams.” Healthline, October 12, 2020. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/brain-food-for-studying
