YouAlberta
There’s no doubt that finals season is a trying time in any student’s life. During this time, you must regurgitate all the information you’ve been given for your classes in a minimal amount of time, which can be highly intimidating. I have found some great ways to lower this pressure, depending on what I do before finals season. Here are a few things I have learned.
Do your homework
As annoying as this sounds, it works. Homework is a great way to establish what you know and what you need to work on. The classes where I push through each assignment are the ones in which I do the best. My advice with homework is to try it before asking for anyone else’s help because it’s usually more fulfilling and easier to remember when you figure things out yourself. The other convenient thing about homework is seeing how your instructor asks questions and what is expected of you. It's like a mini-practice final!
Start early
The incredible thing about right now is that it’s not too late to flip the narrative completely! Mapping your weekly plans ahead of time and sticking to them could help with reducing that stress. This requires consistency, which is something I struggle with. I find that setting alarms or mapping everything out in my Google calendar helps hold me accountable. This period is also the time to surround yourself with people who motivate you to stick to your schedule. One mistake I made with this when I started implementing it in my life was that I set unrealistic goals. My calendar had me working from dusk till dawn, which was unhealthy and only brought about frustration when I could not meet the unattainable standards I had set for myself. Just remember that you are not a machine. Pace yourself and be patient. The last thing you want to happen is massive burnout.
Find a study strategy that works for you
This point is the most overlooked yet the most important. I was holding on to the methods other people found useful and assuming they would work for me. Eventually, I decided to do my own research. I don't want to be dramatic, but my life was eternally transformed after making this decision, and it was all thanks to YouTube. People like Ali Abdaal, Vee Kativhu, and Mike and Matty changed the entire game for me. What resonated with me the most about these YouTubers was how open and honest they were about their university experiences. They also create credible and relatable content based on personal experience and research. The bottom line is that finding a method for YOU is a game changer, but it takes a bit of trial and error.
Set out a proper study environment
My favourite study environment is one where I can be comfortable and efficient. My bed is a no-go area because I always end up sleeping, and sometimes libraries aren’t my cup of tea either because I feel a little under pressure. I have found that I study best when I regularly switch up my environment. At times you'll find me in a random room in ECERF, and other times I prefer being in a tall building with a view. The space you study in is based on how it makes YOU feel. Another healthy tip for optimizing your environment is to find a place that reduces sensory overload. I like to go to a quiet space with few distractions. I also recently discovered the benefits of listening to white noise when I study through a friend of mine. White noise has allowed me to focus for extended periods! Optimizing your study environment requires you to test a couple of places yourself. Place yourself somewhere with a motivating ambience. If you're interested, more study environment tips can be found here!
Practice self-care
Mental focus is a massive part of using your study time effectively. Breaks are essential for maintaining your mental focus, making them a crucial part of sustainable studying! Your brain is said to work better when you know a break is coming. The type of break you take is also necessary, so look for an activity that makes you feel well-rested. Aside from breaks, respecting your time off is highly fundamental. This means solely focusing on your time off rather than the work you still need to get done.
I do this by turning off my notifications and placing myself in a relaxing environment. It’s a game-changer. To top it all off, YOU NEED TO SLEEP. Write that down and stick it on your wall as a reminder. We’re all aware of this, but I understand that sometimes we can’t help it. The sad reality is that your brain cannot function at its best without sleep. Sometimes it feels a little counterintuitive because you’d think you need to be hitting the books more to do well, but that is, in fact, never the case. Respecting your naps and your sleep schedule could go a long way!
You should remember that being a university student is an enormous enough achievement. You are phenomenal! You have gotten this far in the semester, so let's end it with a bang!
