It is that time of the year again when a good night of sleep becomes rare, stress runs high and motivation levels plummet. In this culmination of the school year, students become inundated with final essays, projects and assessments. Whether it be loading up on caffeine to pull an all-nighter or working tirelessly to finish that last review worksheet, the stress that manifests itself during finals week is undeniable.
Even so, there are numerous steps one can take to reduce anxiety, increase motivation and persevere through the last stretch of the school year. With finals right around the corner, here are five tips for surviving the final few days.
Create daily to-do lists
It is remarkably easy to get caught up in the seemingly endless assignments and assessments amid finals week. Creating a daily to-do list facilitates organization and ensures that all tasks are effectively prioritized and completed in a timely manner.
Utilizing a cohesive to-do list substantially increases productivity as it guarantees that all tasks are accounted for and provides a platform with which to plan out increments of work time in advance. Several programs have been made available to those seeking task-tracking methods during finals week, including Trello, Any.do and Todoist.
Sleep for seven hours
Sleep is a necessity often lost in the sea of finals week priorities. However, sleeping for seven consecutive hours each night, according to an article from “Sleep Foundation,” is imperative to maximize cognitive functioning. Moreover, according to a study from MIT, there is a direct correlation between sleep and academic performance. Students who consistently sleep for an average of seven hours each night receive significantly higher grades.
Ultimately, sleep is a crucial aspect of higher performance throughout finals week. While it may be tempting to stay awake and work until dawn, prioritizing sleep is critical to success and might be worth sacrificing last-minute cramming.
Spend time outside
As the long winter draws to a close and the temperature begins to rise, spending some time outdoors is the perfect way to relax, refresh and escape the stress of finals week. London offers a litany of outdoor activities, from picnics in the park to walks along the River Thames to boating along the Little Venice canals. It is well worth spending an afternoon or evening enjoying the summer weather. For more outdoor activity recommendations, check out this article.
Exercise everyday
What better way to manage stress and remain physically active than exercising? Dedicating 15 minutes every day to set up an at-home yoga mat, make a trip to the gym or get out of the house and go for a walk or run has substantial benefits on mental and physical health.
According to Healthline, exercise releases endorphins to improve overall mood and regulate feelings of stress or anxiety while simultaneously improving memory retention. Exercising daily is a fun and easy way to take a brain break, improve physical fitness and stay healthy.
Spend time with friends
Amid incessant academic commitments, spending time with friends is essential to strike a balance between work and fun. Whether it be going out to lunch, having a picnic or simply studying together, spending time with friends has countless benefits and will help relieve stress.
In fact, studying for finals with friends is particularly effective as it can incentivize note sharing, introduce new perspectives and improve accountability when completing work. Taking the time to step away from schoolwork to spend time with friends is paramount to get through finals week.
