How to Maintain a Healthier Mindset During College Finals

Alexa Davis

Finals week is notorious for causing an insane amount of stress in college students. The mental health of a college student takes a huge plumet during the weeks before, during, and after finals. It seems to be the week that most students have the worst mental break downs, don’t get enough to sleep or eat, and feel the lowest in their self-esteem. In other words, finals suck! But fortunately, there are a few tips and tricks to make the upcoming weeks of finals manageable and less stressful.

  • Check your exam times and project due dates

Preparing yourself for deadlines and exam times before finals is the first step to mapping out your schedule and making sure you know what you have ahead of you.

P.S. it is also important to check so that you don’t miss a final;)

  • Write it out and create a schedule

Sometimes writing out your tasks and creating a time frame/ schedule for studying can help put your mind at ease and make the chaos feel manageable.

  • Find different settings to study in

Finding quiet and comfortable places to study can inspire the mind to keep going, and changing it up will keep you feeling focused and ready to take on the studying. Note: it is also important to set apart your “study spaces” and your “relaxing spaces”, so try not to do any studying in your bed or bedroom. 

  • Team up with people

Study groups are a great studying strategy to bounce ideas off each other and quiz each other. Just be sure to avoid distractions and stay on task.

  • Fuel your body properly and get a good night’s sleep

It’s plain and simple… the way in which you fuel your body directly affects your mental performance. Getting good sleep before a test is more important than staying up late to study. Take care of your body and mind.

  • Reach out to professors or tutors

If you have an exam that you do not feel super confident in or may have questions about the material, it is a good idea to reach out to professors for any help that you may need. Professors and tutors are there to help you and want to see you succeed in your finals.

  • Take study breaks

It is important to take breaks from projects and studying to clear your mind and refocus later. The recommended study break time is 20 minutes, which is the perfect amount of time to regroup and remotivate yourself when you get back on task.

  • Keep a positive outlook

It is important to remember that grades do not define you and finals are only one week out of the whole semester. Be kind to yourself as you approach each exam and project, and remember to keep things in perspective.

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