By Maggie O’Donnell
When everyone back at home is getting in the holiday spirit, it makes the idea of finals week much harder to think about. The thought of sitting down for 2 hours to take the exam you’ve been losing sleep over is nothing compared to the thought of sleeping in your own bed. But, nevertheless, here we are about to put all our hard work to the test and it’s the little things we can do to make this week a little more tolerable.
First, and this is probably the most repetitive piece of advice I’ve received—but it’s helped the most: get a good night's sleep, or just sleep in general. Find the time to go to bed early or even get an extra hour in the morning or even take a power nap. The work you get done well rested is going to be much more beneficial to you in the long run as opposed to sloppy, overtired work.
During exams, it’s also so easy to become a hermit and isolate yourself from friends just to power through work. But, sometimes this really takes a toll on your mental health which leads to poor effect on your work and your ability to sit and take the test. Take and hour or two out of the day to either grab food with a friend or get a study-buddy from one of your classes. This can add some fun to your week and hopefully distract from those never ending to-do lists you’ve been making.
Especially in Amherst, it’s easy to find a change of scenery. Being locked up in the library, dorm room, and review sessions can become overwhelming and sometimes even distracting if you’ve been stuck in the same place for long hours of the day. Also, these are areas that are usually very bland which can put you in a bad mental state—not ideal for studying and getting work done. My personal favorite change is going to the Isenberg building and getting a spot in one of the light blue chairs by the window. Another suggestion is to make a trip to Amherst Center and try one of the awesome coffee shops great for getting work done. The bus is great but it’s less than a 20 minute walk from Southwest (which is an added benefit of being outside).
Finally, make an effort to check in on how you are. Take note of your stress and make time, even just 15 mins, to do things that you actually enjoy. A good study tip I’ve learned is to study for 20 minutes and then take a 5 minute break. This helps me so that my brain isn’t fried and I can thoroughly get my work done.
These small things are just the start of them—this week is already starting to be stressful but stay positive by taking a few of these suggestions for our big week ahead. Break is just around the corner!