5 Tips to Overcoming Finals
Everyone on campus is back for the final two weeks of class and….inevitably…finals. The whole semester has been a whirlwind of fun, activities, and, of course, work. College defininately isn’t all play. I love running, so I compare this period of time to sprinting. We have been long-distance running the whole semester: we have had a few breaks in between to catch our breath and a bunch of hardships and fun times, but now it is crunch time, time to sprint our way to the end line and finish strong.
Here is what is going to get me through (and what you should try out too!):
1) Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Last Drop Coffee Shop:
These are delicious! When you need your extra kick of caffeine to cram in some necessary late night studying for that one exam they are readily available at Last Drop (a Meal Plan location on campus) for those of us that need to fulfill our affinity for Starbucks Holiday Drinks. Also, if you have any extra meal money leftover from the semester, this is a great way to use it!
2) Pastries at Grins:
I know, I know, two of my tips have been on food. But…really…everyone could use some comfort food to get through the exam week. Vegan Snickerdoodles? Pumpkin Cream Cupcakes? Carrot Cake Cookies? I really can’t say no.
Every end of the semester, the Programming Board at Vanderbilt hosts one of my favorite events: Stress Fest. You can book a free massage, get henna tattoos, watch movies, eat Loveless Cafe food. What a perfect way to relax. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this!
4) Plan ahead and Sleep
Create a quick timeline for what you have to do and give yourself time-frame with enough time to study; planning ahead will help you avoid cramming. Sleep, of course, is the last ingredient to success. After a while, all that studying becomes ineffective if you’re brain hasn’t had time to rest. You will process a lot faster and have extra time to go through your test if your brain is fully awake! I am no neuroscience major, but this one is necessary.
5) Breathe and look at the big picture
Okay, this one’s a little silly, but its true. I tend to freak out right before an exam. Especially, right when the Teaching Assistants had out the exams face down on your desk and tell you not to flip them over yet. Take this time to take some deep breathes and think about the big picture. You are almost done. Deep breaths help relax your muscles and release all that built up tension. Don’t feel weird. Just do it! Think about how close Christmas vacation is and know that it will soon be all over.