In just a short while they’ll be here – the dreaded FINALS! Many students have already experienced the fear and anxiety of finals and how to prepare or what to expect. Others have no clue on where to start and find it all very intimidating. A little stress can help you stay alert and ready to do your best, but too much stress can make you feel exhausted and miserable. The key is to find a balance of stress that you can control. Below are some suggestions for helping you to manage the stress of finals.
STUDY TIPS
- Don’t study for more than two hours on one subject.
- Take a break in-between studying. After about two hours, take a 15-minute walk to relax and refresh yourself.
- Eliminate distractions. If you want to study with friends, choose friends who won’t be starting up frequent conversations.
- Watch what you tell yourself. Change your “Isn’t it horrible thoughts” to “I’m going to do the best I can.”
- Studies show that students should get seven to nine hours of sleep a night in order to function at their fullest potential. Try to get at least six!
- Eat a balanced diet and try to avoid “stress eating.” Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it gives you energy to get you through the day.
- Get some exercise every day. It can clear your mind and reduce the feelings of stress.
- For the java junkies – try to avoid excessive coffee, tea and soda because they may “hype” you and make you unable to think clearly.
- Avoid procrastinating – use a planner or “to do lists” to organize test dates and study time, also to avoid cramming.
TEST TAKING TIPS
- Stop the studying an hour before the test. You probably won’t learn anything new in an hour but you may see something you don’t know, which could stress you out.
- Don’t talk about the test with other students once you get there. Everyone is anxious and anxiety can be contagious.
- When you get the test, take a deep breath and relax.
- Read the entire test before starting and write down a few notes. This can help to jog your memory later as you go through the test.
Finals may feel like the most important thing in the world but in reality, they are just a small part of life. Managing stress effectively, while you are still young can help prevent diseases and illness in the future. If you are experiencing stress symptoms that persist and you would like to understand and cope with stress more effectively, you may want to seek the advice of a health care provider or counselor.
Sources:
Dawgnet.butler.edu
Collegelife.com
Studhlth.pitt.edu