Eating:
it is imperative that you eat well. It is even more important to fuel your brain with nutrients that will help you study and achieve your goal. If you eat just carbs and a bag (or two) of chips every time you open a book, your brain will get tired, and your body will be too. Feed your body with good food!
apples: it is weird, but apples are supposed to be better than caffeine when it comes to keeping you awake. Plus, an apple a day keeps the doctor away!
blueberries: they are not just delicious and great antioxidants (helloo beautiful skin!) but blueberries will help you improve short term memory. And you know, short memory is the first step towards long term memory! Is that an A on your math exam?
nuts: if you need something crunchy go for nuts instead of Tostitos. nuts have tons of vitamins and nutrients and will help you with cognitive decline.
it sounds scary, right? how are you going to study those 5 chapters of biology, solve all the physics problems, read the novel for your English class and your final paper?
to do lists: writing down what you have to do during the day will help you stay organized. Maybe you are not a total freak when it comes to organizing, and color coding doesn’t work for you, but having at least a post it with the things that most be done will help you visualize, have a sense of achievement and a reminder that you have to do certain things. How many times have you been in your bed, about to fall asleep and you remember you have homework for the next day?
planner: im not recommending this just because i am addicted to my planner, but because it actually works. to do lists are great, but having a place where you can visualize the bigger picture is the key to success. Write down the dates, when you will be studying, and when you will be having me time.
pomodoro technique: i wrote a whole post about this. If you focus on your math problems for 25 minutes, have a small break and then move to another task you will accomplish more.
chunks: and I’m not talking about chocolate chunks. normally finals are cumulative, and if you start studying from day one, the only thing you will have to worry about during finals’ week is reviewing. Study hard for your midterms, review your notes after your classes, read the book as soon as it is assigned and you will do great during this week.
the hardest part
write it down: it is proved that writing down the information will help you retain it better. When I have to study I take hand-written notes and then, when I’m done I re-write them in a prettier way. I read my notes a couple of times and that helps me retain the information and actually understanding it better.
extra credit: I am an overachiever. I will do everything I have to do, plus more. When it comes to extra credit I am the kind of girl who will do it even if I already have an A in the class. You should do the same. Extra credit is not just about having extra points in your final grade, but it will help you learn more about the class, it will show interest and worst case scenario, you do badly at your exam, you will have something that will compensate that.
use the syllabus: it is the last week of class and of course you will forget about this, but normally the syllabus has important information that can help you study in a better way. It can contain the exact pages you will need to learn, or the concepts.
flashcards: personally, im old fashioned and i bbuy flashcards and write on them. But there are also apps that will help you with that. Flashcards is the best way to quiz yourself and memorize information for your exams
gym: going to the gym seems like the last thing you want to do during finals’ week, but it is the perfect break for your brain and body. You’ve been cramming on work and tiring your brain, and obviously you don’t want to do the same to your body. But when you excersice, your body created endorphins, your brain gets more oxygen and you will be able to think more clearly and retain more information. So go for a run or a bike ride and you will feel much better. Plus, after you take a shower you will be so refresh that going back to study wont be a hassle.
nap: i don’t recommend this one because there is a high chance you will wake up feeling worst than before. If you are one of the crazy people who decided to pull an all nighter, then you should take a small nap. An hour and a half is a full REM cycle, and it is the ideal amount of time for a nap. Your brain needs to rest, so do you. Go ahead and fell into Morpheus arms.
fro-yo: caffeine seems like your best friend while studying, and if you are going out with your friends you will choose to go to Starbucks. Going for fro-yo is a great way to keep your body caffeine free and a way to relax with friends. Maybe setting time to do so is impossible, but planning on having at least one break a day will help you go through this stressful time.
what are your tips for finals week?