Verify Details for Exams
Each college and university arranges its finals week differently. This means that your final for organic chemistry may be scheduled at your usual class time — or it may be scheduled on a different day and hour. Be absolutely sure that you know when (and where) your finals will be held. Scrambling to find this information on the day of an exam will only serve to increase your nervousness.
Get Sleep
Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain, and sitting in one place for an extended period of time can lead to a tired, ill-supplied mind. You may not be able to squeeze in a full workout during finals week, but you do have time to go for a short walk or to do two sets of crunches or push-ups.
Eat Well
Eating healthy food is always a great idea. During finals week, you may be tempted to eat and drink whatever items are most convenient. However, the quick calories of processed carbohydrates will ultimately leave you exhausted. Instead, eat foods that are digested slowly: whole grains, fresh vegetables, and lean proteins. A little planning can go a long way as you head into finals week. A loaf of whole grain bread and turkey slices can make a stack of sandwiches. Bags of baby carrots or microwaveable frozen peas can provide a quick, healthy snack, as can a handful of almonds or walnuts.
Before a final, be sure to eat a meal that is high in protein. Most final exams are more than an hour in length, and a sugar rush simply will not see you through. Likewise, taking an important test while hungry can be a recipe for disaster.
Turn Off Phone
The reverse of focusing too intensely is not being able to focus at all. While it is true that devoting too much time to studying can lead to fatigue, dividing your review sessions into too many parts can lead to scattered and ineffectual learning. Turning off your social media for an entire week may not be realistic or achievable for every student. Do, however, consider using it as a reward. Check in on your favorite platforms or websites for 10 to 15 minutes before going to bed or during your downtime. However, be aware of the “just for a moment” syndrome. As most people know all too well, checking news headlines can lead to an entire afternoon of watching hilarious cat videos and reading celebrity gossip. Information credit to Brian Witte.
What's Next?
After the completion of this semester, I will officially be a senior in college! I'm super excited to see what my last year holds for me, considering I'm an entire semester ahead! I really enjoyed this class and working on these blog posts!
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