How to stay sane during Finals

1. Find the Right Location

The first place everyone goes to study during finals week is the library. Even people who have never been to the library before will be there. This can create an overcrowded area, meaning that there will be a lot of noise. If you have to be in the library and you are serious about studying, I would suggest heading to the bottom or top floor. Yes, there is more to the library than the main floor. If you find that you cannot focus in the library, try going to a quiet study room if your dorm has one, or find a nearby coffee shop. Starbucks and the Gryphon Café are located right in Wayne.

2. Make Sure to Sleep

Avoid all-nighters at pretty much all costs. All-nighters ultimately mean cramming, which is never good to do the night before a test. If you still feel like you are not familiar with your material and it is getting late, follow the saying, “if you don’t know it by now, you never will.” You may actually know the material more than you think. Your exam performance will be better if you are well-rested.

According to a study completed at Stanford University, “the average sleep requirement for college students is well over eight hours; if this amount is not obtained, a sleep debt is created, all lost sleep accumulates and does not go away or decrease, the only way to reduce the individual sleep debt is by obtaining extra sleep above the daily requirement.”

3. Take Breaks

It is important to take breaks while studying in order to give your brain a rest. Study in chunks. For example, try studying for about 20-50 minutes, and then take a 5-to-10-minute break. Use your break time for your daily routines. For example, if you usually go to the gym every day, use your break time to head over there or at least do a few exercises and stretches.

4. Eat Healthy

Continue to eat at every meal and have snacks handy. Caffeine and sugar are not the best options.  They may seem like a good idea at the time, but their benefits are short-lived. Caffeine is a stimulant that works by increasing your body functions, like heart rate. You become addicted to it and feel as though you need it to get you through the day. As soon as the rush wears off, you will crash. You will feel sleepy but at the same time jumpy, which will keep you from getting anything accomplished. Instead, choose snacks that give you fuel to healthfully and effectively power through that dreaded studying.

5. Don’t Panic

You are going to be nervous. It is basically a given. Just think of this as another test, and, as long as you have prepared to the best of your ability, you should be fine. Having confidence in yourself will decrease your stress because you will feel well-prepared.

6. Enjoy Your Days Off

As long as you are well-prepared, there is no harm in taking off half a day, sometimes even a full day, during finals week.

7. Create a Study Group

Many people find study groups to be helpful. It can be good to study with others who may bring up important information of which you were previously unaware. However, study groups are not for everyone. If you find it confusing when your answer and another person’s do not match up, or if you know that you or your classmates tend to get off-topic, then it might be best to stick to studying alone.

Source:

http://www.stanford.edu/~

dement/sleepless.html