As the semester winds down and comes to a close, the next few weeks are bound to be full of bittersweet goodbyes, last minute packing and unfortunately, final exams. As stressful as finals week can be, there are a multitude of ways to keep your anxiety from kicking into high gear. Fortunately, VALLEY has a quick-start guide to preparing for finals season!
Always Study Outside Your Bedroom
Whether it’s your dorm or your bedroom inside an apartment off campus, it’s natural to spend quite a bit of time curled up in the comfort of your own room. However, when it comes to studying, a change of scenery is extremely beneficial. Our brains typically correlate bedrooms with going to sleep, which means attempting to study in that environment could be difficult. Thankfully, Penn State has a number of great locations to study in, such as the Pattee and Paterno library, the HUB and the Business Building.
Keep Track of Your Time Management
One of the most important aspects of a successful study routine is good time management. Set aside certain hours each day that are dedicated to a specific course or exam. Once that time is up, move on to the next, and remember to allow yourself breaks and time to relax. Studying for hours and hours on end is not only exhausting, but will eventually burn you out and leave you with no motivation to keep going.
Practice Self Care
Arguably one of the most important parts of a productive, healthy finals week is practicing self care. It’s not uncommon to see college students studying well past midnight and isolating themself from friends or ignoring other responsibilities during finals season. While studying should be your top priority, it is just as important as getting the right amount of sleep every night, taking care of your body and your mind. In between study sessions, take naps, meditate or put on a face mask and watch your favorite show. It’s important to prioritize your mental health during such a stressful time of the year. Your overall happiness and exam scores will likely reflect the time you spent keeping yourself relaxed and productive!
How do you survive finals season? Tweet us, @VALLEYmag, and let us know!
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