Take a walk on campus and it’s easy to hear snippets of conversations about novel sized research papers and how someone wants to strangle their team member in a group project.
Never fear, CU students, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. There are various ways to combat the stress that comes with finals week.
Plan Ahead
There is nothing worse than a cramming session a couple hours before the test, so it’s important to plan your study sessions in advance. Whitney Tingle, a 20-year-old junior integrative physiology major, said she believes that this is one of the best ways to do well during finals.
“Plan each day at least a week prior to your exams and write down which classes and which aspect of the class you need to study on each day,” Tingle said. “Be present in your studies, but not worried.”
If it’s too late in the game to plan a week ahead for the exam, use the time you have left to plan. This way you won’t be so overwhelmed with everything on your list.
Be Active
If a certain concept isn’t clicking, take a small walk around the block. Moving around and being active is proven to relieve stress. Make sure to keep healthy foods in your diet. Though that huge can of Pringles and Rockstar energy drink may seem like a good idea at the time, it’s not. Fruits and vegetables provide you with the energy to keep studying and working on those assignments.
Turn Off the Distractions
If it’s an emergency and you really feel like you need to crank out the books, it might be best to turn off your biggest vices.
Sreyas Krishnan, a 19-year-old junior mechanical engineering major, said that some sacrifices have to be made.
“Get as far away from your biggest distractions as possible,” Krishnan said. “If you love TV, unplug it. If you are addicted to Facebook, disconnect your internet.”
Arrive and Leave With Confidence
This may seem like a simple step, but arrive early to your test. You will feel more prepared stepping into a room and giving yourself time to calm down. There is no better feeling than putting the pencil down, turning in your test and walking out of the test center. The second you leave the test, forget it and move on to the next one.
Don’t Panic
Most important, don’t panic! Find a method that works for you and stick with it. Caleb Kissell, an 18-year-old freshman business open-option major, said he took some advice from friends that are upperclassmen.
“The best advice I’ve received so far concerning finals was to just calm down,” Kissell said. “It’s still important to stay focused and don’t let the ‘easy’ classes slide.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Taylor Evans at Taylor.evans@colorado.edu.
