Emili Lanno – Copy Editor
Now I know I can speak for all of us and say that this has been a long semester of hard work, long nights studying and an alarming consumption of coffee, but I have good news; we are almost to the finish line.
Most students have to deal with a variety of finals like tests, long page essays, or just group projects in your class. If you have most of these if not all, it can be hard to manage your time and can be quite overwhelming, however, it is most certainly possible.
What I like to do at least a couple of weeks before finals, is to plan out my schedule. Now I know it seems like common sense but it is very crucial. Go to the Final Exam Schedule Fall 2014 on the Southern’s website and find out when all of your finals are. This will give you an idea of when each project or test is that you need to study for.
Once you have an idea of when each class will be, get your agenda ready. It’s best to plan out a little time each day until then to plan and study for whatever it is you need to prepare for. On top of that we also have a Reading Day the week of finals which is dated for you to get everything you need to get done.
When it comes to studying, it doesn’t always have to be tedious and boring. Make it more fun by studying with a friend or a classmate. Having someone there to support you and help you is much easier than just sitting there alone trying to memorize everything.
Another important step to staying sane during finals is to not leave anything last minute. Since finals can already be stressful, you don’t want to add that excess, unnecessary stress as well. Trust me, I have done this before and it is not fun. Set some time out each day in order to get everything done. If you know that you need to get a 10 page paper done by next week, don’t want until the night before, write a couple of pages each night.
One of the most important aspects is staying healthy. Sometimes many students forget about this step because they are so stressed about their finals and making sure they memorize every term they need to on their flashcards. Always remember to get a good night’s sleep and eat right. You will need plenty of energy for that week ahead.
Of course we have to get that essay done or put the finishing touches on our projects, but it doesn’t have to be work, work, and more work. Give yourself some alone time to catch a breath. Put yourself on a schedule and say, ‘If I write a couple pages of my essay I can watch an episode of my favorite show’ or ‘Let me memorize these 10 terms and I can watch a movie and relax.’
If you are nonstop studying, you are going to get annoyed very easily and won’t be able to concentrate. You might feel guilty watching a movie instead of focusing on school, but as long as you get the work done before or after, it is perfectly okay.
The last piece of advice I can give you is to just smile. It’s all going to be over soon. The end of finals seems like months away, but actually we will be free in just a couple of weeks. So focus on your studies and doing the best you can, and before you know it, you will be able to relax with a clear mind.
Photo Credit: Christopher Rodriguez
