How To Survive Finals In Five Simple Steps | Makayla Gubbay

How To Survive Finals In Five Simple Steps

by: Makayla Gubbay

1. Get a Good Night’s Sleep:

This classic yet severely overlooked advice will not only help you get that A, but it will also help you keep some of your sanity while doing it. When students pull all nighters before their tests, they’re not only jeopardizing their cognitive brain’s functionality, but also their emotional functionality. According to various studies, sleep deprivation can result in irritability, mood swings, and a higher level of anxiety. If your goal this year is to get through finals without a mental breakdown, sleep is a must.

1. Take Advantage of Counselors:

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the work ahead of you, your counselor is an amazing on-campus resource. They can run relaxing exercises with you, help you make a study schedule, or even just talk your worries out with you. Their guidance could give you the extra push you need to secure your grade.

1. Plan Study Groups:

One of the hardships of finals week is the toll it takes on the social aspect of your life. You and your friends go from seeing each other everyday and lifting each other up, to running from classroom to classroom like mad men during lunch, or spending every free second cramming in the media center. However, finals week can still be productive without being lonely. By hosting study groups you not only have another person to bounce ideas off of, but you’re also fitting socializing into your schedule.

*BONUS: We’ve all experienced a situation in which we begin to become friends with someone and then the semester switches and we never talk to them again. Inviting this person to a study session is a great way to solidify the friendship right before the class ends!

1. Step Up Your Self Care:

Sadly, we oftentimes let go of our self care during finals week. However, it should be the opposite. During finals week, we need to take care of ourselves the most. So take a bath, do a face mask, or even meditate a bit. It just may be the break your brain needs to power through.

1. Recognize That at the End of the Day, it Doesn’t Really Matter

No matter how much your parents or fellow peers make you believe otherwise, your grades do not determine your future. You’re the only one who cans do that. So if finals week doesn’t work out the way you want it, try to take a deep breath and move on. A few letters on paper do not define your worth.