"The final project you ~should~ have been working on throughout this semester will be due April 21," said all of your professors.
The end of the semester and finals week can be brutal, but with a little strategy, we can soften the blow.
Professors love to administer and assign tests, projects, and essays all at the same time, which can be intimidating and make it easier for us to procrastinate.
I currently don't have an insane amount of homework at the moment (hence the blog post), but I have major essays due in a couple of weeks and a handful of exams that contain information I currently don't know much about.
SO here is where the strategy comes in. It appears I have two options:
gradually prepare, study, and work on things now,
or throw an all-nighter (maybe 2) and do it all then!!
Interesting options. I'll have to think about it.
Here are some measures and strategies you can take to be smarter than your due dates and survive the end of the semester without drinking ~too~ much Redbull.
1. Write it out
This is going to save you a lot of headaches and help you maintain ~some~ of your sanity. Look through your syllabi and write out all the assignments and exams you have for the rest of the semester in chronological order. I recommend pairing each one's due date next to it.
Then, try using the ABC Priority list.
I learned about this method from not two but three of my classes last semester, so it must be pretty effective. The ABC Priority system simply consists of making a to-do list and then putting an
"A" next to majorly urgent tasks
"B" next to important but not urgent tasks
and "C" next to not-so urgent tasks.
This method works wonderfully with schoolwork and can help you gain perspective on what to work on/study for first.
I've used this system to prioritize my week in not just school but all the other life stuff. It helps me stay on top of things, not procrastinate, and not feel as if everything I have to do is absolutely pressing.
Writing it out can help your work feel more doable. It can help you feel less overwhelmed and a bit more motivated to get started.
2. Break it up
Create a loose calendar spreading out your study. This is where the promise of a less-caffeinated and mostly well-rested you comes in.
Starting NOW, and using the chronological and prioritized list you just made, create a fluid calendar/schedule of what you need to do from now through the end of the semester.
I just did this myself, and it made my time seem more expansive and my list more manageable. Whether in your physical or mobile notebook or calendar, write down and plan out what few things you are going to work on and/or study for each day, keeping in mind their deadlines and your prioritization of them.
This made studying for my 12-chapter, comprehensive statistics test significantly more reasonable and relieving. Instead of cramming it all in for hours and hours the night before, I only have to look over one chapter each day preceding the final exam date.
Breaking up your study like this will not only lift some stress, but you will learn and retain the information a lot better than if you were to frantically cram it.
Procrastination actually takes heaps more energy than gradual practice and study. A little effort and planning now will save you a crucial amount of energy later.
3. Take a break(s)
You deserve it. Go out with friends one night. Eat some food. Get some sleep. Listen to music.
Take little breaks throughout your study and try not to study from dawn to dusk.
Not only is it crucial for your mental health to take breaks while studying, but it is actually beneficial for your learning. Take short breaks throughout your study to both maintain your memory and your sanity.
Try keeping study and mealtime separate. Let your meals be a break from your study, phone, and any other stimulation or obligation. They can be great opportunities to rejuvenate and let your mind rest for a bit.
Don't completely drain yourself before your exam days. You want to have the energy to do well on your exams and for your summer and/or Christmas break.
Listen to your mind and body. It knows what it needs.
4. Take care of yourself
Drink water. Get 7-9 hours of sleep. Get some nutrients. Eat breakfast. Move, stretch, or exercise. Go outside. Get some sunlight. Take a nap. Also, human interaction is pretty good for you too. Self-care is so important.
Taking care of your body and mind during finals week (and always) will both reduce your stress levels and help you retain and remember your content better.
5. Do your best—and that's it
The more you study and prepare for the end of the semester, the better you'll do and the less you'll have to worry. Use any stress or energy you have as motivation and desire to do well. If you care about your grades, show it. Show up. Do your best.
After that, that's it. That's all you can really do.
Work hard and then let it go after you fill in your last Scantron. Have confidence in yourself and your abilities. Go into the testing center or classroom with the mindset that you have done your best and will do your best. Hold those power poses and repeat those positive mantras.
Don't let it consume you. You are much more than your chemistry grade and much, much more than your GPA. Work hard, learn, and give it your all–then let it go.
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