How to Survive Finals week at LSU

Student Blog by Joseph Bartlam

 

Students studying in Patrick F Taylor.Students have been dreading this week since the dawn of time, but we are here to help.

Some things you must know, whether this is your first finals week in college or you are a seasoned veteran, is that finals week is a roller coaster of emotions. There is the anxiety that comes with waiting on the exam to come. There is the pressure put on students to do well from their parents, perspective employers, and their more competitive friends. There is the realization of what your final grade will most likely be as your professor records your semester work. And then there is the sweet sense of relief after walking out of your final, knowing that you aced it.

As I approach my second-to-last finals week here at LSU, I am met with a sense of sadness that it is almost over and anticipation of what is to come after graduation. I have survived a few finals weeks and here are some tips you may find helpful.

Sleep: I know that for some reason you may think that spending three days-straight in the library automatically earns you an A. This is not the case; your body needs sleep and you will find that your brain function is significantly reduced without it. Buy an extra finals week blanket if you need to, but get your sleep.

Diet: This is another key factor that is often overlooked when preparing for grueling exams. If you forget to eat, with the exception of a Pop Tart and some Kraft Easy Mac, your body and brain will not be operating at peak performance come test time. Some healthy brain foods you can be on the lookout for this week are apples, any sort of nut (cashews or almonds are the best), granola, and fish for those omega-3 fatty acids. So, take a break every once in a while and get a good meal in. Your body will thank you.

Stress: Believe it or not, college-aged young adults weren’t meant to sit hunched over a desk for days at a time. Make sure to get out and exercise this week. Sports are fun anyway, so do them. Exercise has been proven to be a great way to relieve stress, and I find it more helpful than some other top stress relief methods chosen by students.

Planning and Organization: Perhaps the most important tip I can give a person new to finals week or to someone who hasn’t quite mastered this daunting series of days is that “proper planning prevents poor performance.” Take 5-10 minutes out of browsing Instagram or playing Call of Duty to sit down and plan how much time you want to allot each class and designate when you will study for them. What I have found is that if you physically write something down, it seems way more important and pertinent than just thinking about doing something.

So try and stay off of Netflix, grab some food every once in a while with some friends, don’t over think everything, and keep your mind in that happy state where its ready to absorb a semester’s worth of information for five different classes in a short period of time. You might discover that you actually enjoy a subject after creating a deeper understanding of it after countless hours in the library. Coming from experience, if you follow these tips, you will do more than just survive finals week at LSU. Good luck on finals and Geaux Tigers!