The smell of spice cake and fresh cranberry sauce is still lingering as we get back into the flow of classes after a well-deserved Thanksgiving break. It feels like we simply blinked once and the semester was over. Now we are facing the inevitable approach of Finals Week.
Ahh, finals, the most feared and dreaded word that a student can hear.
As most of you know, the weeks leading up to finals the library will be at max capacity. Students will be cramming all the information they need into their brains. And Students will be scramming to get their coffee fix after to a night of sleep deprivation.Everyone will be stressing about what kind of impact their grades will have on their GPA.
#TheStruggleisReal
While this mad rush may be a ritual that every college student is all too familiar with, finals do not necessarily need to be such a stressful time. Here are a 5 important tips to get you through finals:
- Do Any/All Extra Credit That is Assigned
Extra credit can do wonders for your grade. It can bump your grade up by a whole letter grade. What’s even better? Some professors will even open up past extra credit assignments for those students who failed to complete them the first time! Your extra credit assignments have the ability to give you that extra cushion before going into your final, so make sure to get them done!
- Start Studying Yesterday
Studies have shown that cramming before exams is not as effective as one would think. While you may pass the exam as well as the class, most of the information that you crammed into your brain will be forgotten within a couple of days. If you space out your studying between now and finals, you will be more likely to recall correct information more efficiently.
- Get Enough Sleep
The best thing that you can do for your brain before finals is to get an adequate amount of sleep. Being sleep deprived can lower your chances for that top grade that you are striving for. If you manage to go to bed at the same time every night, it will also help with your sleep cycles, which means more REM sleep!
- De-stress
Psychological studies have shown that stress kills your brain cells. If you are studying or going into an exam, the last thing you want to be is stressed! Make sure to de-stress yourself using methods that work for you. Some really popular de-stressors could include going to the movies with friends, playing video games, or getting a massage. Whatever decreases your body’s stress levels, do that! You can also check out NAU Health Promotion’s site for more resources and tips about stress.
- Eat a Balanced Diet
Make sure your mind and body are both properly prepared on the days leading up to your exam with a healthy meal. Skipping out on meals, or eating unhealthy fatty foods can give you some unexpected health problems. And most importantly, be sure to eat a healthy breakfast the day of your exams, especially if you have early morning finals! You don’t want your stomach growling and distracting you.
I would wish you good luck finishing out the last few weeks of the semester, but if you follow our tips you won’t even need it. Make it happen guys and earn a stress free winter break assured of a solid semester on your transcript!