Start Prepping For Finals Now

By Christina Oehler on April 27, 2015

Finals week, the nationwide, mental epidemic for college students, is quickly approaching. The excessive intake of caffeine, lack of sleep and the stress of acing each final is enough to drive anyone crazy; it’s amazing we can actually pass our exams!

Everyone’s heard the common remedies for stress — go to bed early, workout, eat well — but there are ways to alter those activities to fit your exact needs and interests.

There are a few things collegiates can do to help switch up the same old study routine and de-stress in a more unique way, such as changing study venues, trying unique forms of exercise and rewarding yourself after a productive study session.

Change Location

Almost every normal evening during the school year, UIUC’s undergraduate library (UGL) is teeming with frantic students shuffling around both floors, mumbling about their classes and exchanging notes. With finals week rapidly approaching, an environment where everyone is pressed for time creates an ambiance that is anything but peaceful.

For those who need peace and quiet to study, this creates a more stressful setting and trying to retain information becomes nearly impossible. Of course, this isn’t the only option for students here. While the UGL and the Union can be nice places to meet your friends and study, some of the more unfamiliar places can be a great alternative if you’re looking for a relaxing study session.

Because we have such a large campus, we have the luxury of having a variety of places to study. Just south of the quad lies Temple Hoyne Buell Hall. This building is home to multiple lecture halls, but has a large open area filled with tables and chairs for studying.

Also, Gregory Hall has its own communication library, which is usually pretty empty. Most campus buildings have areas for students to work, so exploring campus is a great way to find these places.

Get Your Blood Flowing

If you’re a committed ARC member, you may notice that evenings tend to be pretty crowded. Your favorite elliptical might be taken, there may not be enough mats to do crunches or the track may be congested with runners. Not only can it become crowded, but a daily 30-minute treadmill run can become a bore.

Luckily, group fitness offers a variety of options for any interest. Yoga isn’t your thing? Try an introductory belly dance or a water cardio class. Group fitness caters to a wide range of interests for any student looking to take a study break. Physical activity is a natural, proven stress reliever and bringing a friend to the group class can make it fun!

Reward Yourself

Countless hours at the library can become a dizzying cycle of continually staring at the same screen until all focus is lost. Because we realize that studying for final exams requires so much time and energy, we can become weary more easily, thus making focusing on a subject even harder. While taking breaks is a great way to collect ourselves and refocus our energy, being in a time crunch doesn’t always allow for such luxuries. Rewarding yourself for being productive is a great way to save time and retain mental stamina for the long week.

Turning your iPhone on “Do Not Disturb” mode allows you to still use certain apps, such as listening to music or using your calculator, without the distraction of texts. However, once you turn off that setting, you will receive any texts you were sent while it was on. This way you can conquer a chapter without distraction, and then reward yourself with a quick discussion with your friends.

Similarly, the Mac “Self Control” app allows you to set an amount of time where you block all distracting websites (Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest etc.) while still using the internet.

Fortunately, we are ultimately rewarded for our studying with a month-long holiday break, so with these ideas and that prospect in mind, finals week might not be so painful this semester!

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